Chiropractic Treatment for Joint Pain in Bradford

Chiropractors treat more than backs. At WellCare Medical in Bradford, chiropractic treatment for joint pain covers the shoulders, hips, knees and ankles as well as the spine. A sore joint is rarely a problem on its own: a stiff upper back can overload a shoulder, and a weak hip can change how a knee tracks. We assess the painful joint and the areas above and below it to find what is driving the pain.

• Shoulder pain. Trouble reaching overhead, pain when lying on one side or a catching feeling when you lift your arm, often linked to stiffness in the upper back and weak shoulder-blade muscles.
• Hip pain. Stiffness when turning or getting out of a car, or an ache at the side or front of the hip, often with weak gluteal muscles.
• Knee and ankle pain. Pain on stairs, when squatting or after walking, sometimes related to how the foot meets the ground.

Joint pain can come from overuse, an old injury, osteoarthritis or simply moving less than you used to.

Depending on what we find, your plan may include:

• joint mobilization or adjustments to restore comfortable movement in the joint and in the spine where it contributes
• soft-tissue therapy for tight or overworked muscles around the joint
• a short, progressive exercise program to build strength and control
• advice on activity, so the joint keeps moving without being flared up

Where foot mechanics affect a knee or hip, we may talk to you about custom orthotics. A family doctor's referral is recommended, and many benefit plans require one.

We ask what the joint stops you from doing, then check its range of movement, strength and stability and compare it with the other side. Your chiropractor also looks at your posture and at how you walk, squat or reach. You will get a clear explanation of the likely cause and a plan before treatment starts. Shorts or a sleeveless top make it easier to examine a knee or shoulder.

See a doctor promptly for a joint that is hot, red and swollen, a joint that gives way or locks, pain after a significant fall, or joint pain with a fever or unexplained weight loss.

Joint problems usually improve fastest when hands-on treatment is combined with exercise. Our physiotherapists run strengthening programs for joint stiffness and muscle tightness and for tendon and ligament injuries. For stiff joints specifically, see chiropractic adjustments for restricted joint mobility.