Although it is relatively rare in the general population, osteochondritis dissecans, or OCD, tends to be more common in young male athletes. This disorder occurs when part of a bone, typically located in the knee, is injured and cut off from its blood supply. If blood flow is not restored to the area, that segment of bone will eventually die, grow brittle, and get knocked loose from the healthy bone tissue around it. This painful condition can be managed surgically or through physical therapy, but if your child is currently recovering from OCD, you may want to also consider chiropractic therapy.
Recognizing Complications
Chiropractors are experts in bones and joints, and they know how to recognize when a knee isn't healing as intended. It can take months for OCD to clear up, and during that time even mild physical activity can cause setbacks and inflammation. During regular sessions, your chiropractor will be able to monitor the process of the knee, double check that everything is going according to plan, and recommend medical attention when it isn't.
Improving Circulation to the Joint
Besides spinal and other joint adjustments, most chiropractors are also trained in therapeutic massage, which can be used to improve circulation in an affected area. Care must be taken to avoid antagonizing the healing bone, but it can provide much-needed support to the living tissues nearby and help prevent the spread of dead or malnourished bone. Besides the potential health benefits, regular massage can also improve your child's comfort levels while living with an often painful disorder.
Treating Subsequent Joint Disorders
In some cases, OCD does enough damage to cause secondary joint disorders like osteoarthritis. Early arthritis in the knee can leave your teenager feeling stiff and uncomfortable, but chiropractic therapy has been shown to provide significant results in range of motion and pain levels in arthritic patients. Regular chiropractic care may be able to replace long-term medications while still keeping your child healthy and moving. When in doubt, consult with both your doctor and your chiropractor for professional advice.
Managing a Limited Exercise Program
Non-surgical OCD treatment usually mandates many months of restricted activity, which can be agonizing for an athletic teenager. A chiropractor can show your teenager low-impact exercises that will keep pressure off the knee. Just as importantly, it sometimes helps for teenagers to have consistent reminders that they are on a limited activity program. With the help of both your doctor and your chiropractor, your teenager will hopefully emerge from the ordeal without any lasting complications and be ready to hit the field once more.
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