How Chiropractic Care Can Help Reduce Your Knee Pain

Knee pain is not limited to the older generation. High school athletes often have knee injuries. That 30-something that steps off a curb wrong or lands wrong on the ski slope can injure their knee. And, the pain is only part of the issue. The knee is key to your body’s overall mobility and balance.

In a recent BMJ study reported on by the New York Times, many of the knee replacement surgeries or arthroscopic operations to repair the ACL were compared to non-surgical treatments; and the success rate scores were basically the same. When patients exercised and did physical therapy, they improved their pain scores as much as those having invasive surgery. 

Knee pain is one of the most common complaints among our patients, and one that is taken seriously for overall wellness. Chiropractic care can help reduce knee pain in a natural and non-invasive way. 

Common Causes of Knee Pain

Your knees can be injured through direct trauma or may be affected by disease or dysfunction. That injury could come from a car accident or sports injury. Other times it is related to a disease or disorder. Common causes include:

• Knee joint misalignment

• Flat feet

• A pinched nerve in the lower back

• Arthritis

Although the severity may vary, the symptoms may cause stiffness, swelling, weakness (or instability), redness or warmth, clicking or popping sound, or an inability to fully extend the knee. 

Chiropractic Help for Knee Pain

Because the knee is a key joint for weight-bearing as you move through life, you should not give in to a wait-and-see attitude when it comes to dealing with your pain. The actual source of your knee pain could be coming from miss-alignment in your lower back or hips. 

The first thing your chiropractor will do is take a full assessment of your body and medical history. 

Next, if there is any inflammation, cold therapy (cold packs) may be applied to reduce the swelling.

Then, different manipulation techniques could be applied to loosen joints and increase ease of movement. Alignment techniques are not limited to the knee, because the key here is to have the entire body in proper alignment for optimal healing and performance. 

Lastly, the only way to maintain alignment and improve stability is to do strength and movement exercises regularly. The key to feeling better is to provide your knees with muscles trained to support them properly. 

Common knee exercises include:

• Leg raises

• Half-squat

• Knee extensions

• Inner thigh leg lifts

• Heel and calf stretches

• Hamstring stretch

• Calf raises

• Hamstring curl

• Prone leg raises

Light resistance training (like with resistance bands) and yoga are excellent for getting your body conditioned to better support your knees. Stay away from high-impact sports until your knee is feeling better. 

Also, consider the shoes you are wearing. Wear shoes that provide your feet with good support on top (like a lace-up), around the heel, and in the sole with good arch supports. Additionally, stay away from high heels. 

If you are experiencing knee pain, schedule an appointment at Skyline Chiropractic for a full evaluation.