How Chiropractic Care Addresses Inflammation in Knees, Shoulders, and Other Joints

Joint pain, like stiff knees, shoulder aches, or hip pain, can change how people live, affecting the way they walk, sit, and sleep. Inflammation is often the root of most of this pain. While many people turn to medication for short-term relief, chiropractic care offers a natural approach that focuses on long-term healing and reduced inflammation.

Here’s a look at how chiropractic care supports joint health and offers real relief from inflammation.

Understanding Joint Inflammation

Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury or irritation. It’s a vital process that helps protect and heal damaged tissue. In the joints, this often presents itself as swelling, stiffness, redness, or pain during movement. Inflammation can result from overuse, poor posture, repetitive strain, past injuries, or underlying conditions like arthritis. When inflammation becomes chronic, it can wear down cartilage, increase stiffness, and disrupt everyday activities.

Common Joints Affected by Inflammation

While joint pain can affect anyone, certain areas of the body are more prone to inflammation:

• Knees: Pain when walking, climbing stairs, or squatting is often tied to inflammation of the knee joint or surrounding soft tissue.
• Shoulders: Conditions like rotator cuff tendonitis or bursitis cause sharp pain when lifting or reaching.
• Hips: Hip inflammation can stem from poor alignment or posture, especially if one side of the body is overcompensating for an imbalance.
• Wrists and Elbows: Repetitive use injuries, such as carpal tunnel or tennis elbow, involve inflammation in these smaller joints.

Each of these joints plays a key role in how you move and function.

How Chiropractic Care Helps with Inflammation

Chiropractors don’t just treat the spine. They’re trained to assess and treat inflammation and dysfunction in joints throughout the body. Here’s how chiropractic care can reduce inflammation and restore balance:

1.   Joint Adjustments Improve Motion

Chiropractic adjustments restore proper alignment and mobility in the joints. When a joint is out of place or stuck, it can cause surrounding muscles and tendons to become tight or inflamed. Gentle, controlled adjustments can reduce this tension, relieve pressure, and allow the joint to move more freely.

2.   Improved Blood Flow for Healing

When joints move properly, blood flow improves. Better circulation delivers oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissues, speeding up the healing process. Increased blood flow also helps flush out inflammatory waste products that can build up around irritated joints.

3.   Less Nerve Irritation

Sometimes, inflammation comes from nerves being pinched or compressed. This is common in the neck, shoulders, and lower back, but it can affect the limbs as well. Chiropractic adjustments reduce nerve interference, which can lower the body’s inflammatory response.

4.   Postural Corrections and Muscle Balance

Poor posture can overload certain joints, leading to chronic inflammation. Chiropractors help correct alignment issues not only in the spine but also in the hips, knees, and shoulders. They may also suggest exercises to strengthen weak muscles and reduce uneven strain across joints.

A Whole-Body Approach to Joint Health

Chiropractic care is just one piece of the puzzle. At Collegedale Physical Medicine, the treatment plan is customized for each patient and may include:

• Decompression therapy to relieve pressure and improve circulation
• Physical therapy and mobility drills to rebuild strength and function
• Nutrition and metabolic wellness plans to reduce inflammation at the cellular level
• Same-day assessments and progress tracking to ensure care stays effective and personalized

This multidisciplinary strategy helps you address the pain’s root cause and prevent future flare-ups.

If you’ve been dealing with joint pain for more than a few days, the team at Collegedale Physical Medicine can help. From your first consultation to your final follow-up, the team is focused on helping you move better, feel stronger, and live without limits. Contact them today to book a consultation!