Knee Pain
What knee conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractors treat several painful knee conditions affecting mobility:
- Osteoarthritis (OA): Involves breakdown of knee cartilage leading to bone friction, pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): An autoimmune condition causing inflammation, swelling, and potential long-term damage to bones, joints, and cartilage.
- Meniscal injury: Tears in the knee's meniscus due to aging, arthritis, or sudden twisting motions.
- Patellar tendonitis: Repetitive strain injury causing inflammation and weakness in the patellar tendon, commonly seen in athletes.
- Chiropractic treatment extends to post surgery rehabilitation, overuse injuries, and athletic injuries like sprains and strains.
- Excess body weight places additional strain on the spine, hips, and knees, leading to inflammation and knee pain.
- Additional causes of knee pain include:
- Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS)
- Anterior knee pain syndrome
- Chondromalacia patella
- Knee joint misalignment
- Kneecap dislocation
- Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Patella tendinopathy
- Patellofemoral syndrome
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
- Baker’s cyst
- Referred pain
- Knee valgus (knock-knees)
- Knee bursitis
- Gout
How do chiropractors treat knee pain?
Chiropractors treat several painful knee conditions affecting mobility:
- Assessment and Diagnosis: Identifying the cause, symptoms, and contributing factors such as excess weight, poor posture, or ergonomic issues.
- Treatment Plan Development: Tailoring treatment based on whether the knee pain is primary or compensatory (related to other body areas).
- Comprehensive Approach: Addressing not just the knee but also related areas like the neck, spine, and hips to alleviate contributing factors.
Common Chiropractic Treatments:
- Manual Manipulation: Adjusting spine and joints to reduce stress, enhance posture, and improve mobility.
- Electrotherapy: Using devices like TENS units to deliver electric pulses, easing swelling, tension, and enhancing blood flow.
- Cold Laser Therapy: Aiding inflammation reduction and speeding up healing.
- Home Exercise Program: Customized rehabilitation exercises and stretches to strengthen knee and supporting muscles.
Additional Recommendations:
- Physical Therapy: Complementary exercises and techniques to improve strength and flexibility.
- Orthotics and Supports: Devices to stabilize and support the knee.
- Bladder function
- Hot and Cold Therapy: Alternating applications to manage pain and inflammation.
- Kinesiology Tape: Application to provide support and enhance healing.
- Herbs and Supplements: Recommendations to support inflammation reduction and healing.
- Yoga: Practices to improve flexibility, strength, and posture.
