Knee Pain

Knee pain can come from a wide variety of causes. Common injuries to the knee include to the supporting ligaments, widely known by their acronyms: ACL, MCL, PCL. These ligaments criss-cross the knee joint providing stability to the knee throughout it’s range of motion and to protect it from shearing forces across the joint. Other common injuries are to the meniscus, which are the two pads in the knee that act as shock absorbers. An injury to the ligaments will normally cause the knee to feel “loose,” while injuries to the meniscus will often be very painful and can cause the knee to “lock up.” Depending on the severity of the injury, and whether the tear in these tissues is a partial or complete, surgery could be indicated. In either case, physical therapy is important to strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee and to make sure movement is coordinated across the knee joint.

Treating Osteoarthritis Pain with Chiropractic Care

What about other sources of knee pain? Osteoarthritis is another common source of pain in the knee. This is caused by the gradual wear and tear most of our joints experience over time. Regular chiropractic treatment is an important part of managing joint pain from osteoarthritis. Depending on how advanced the arthritis is, we can usually help manage this type of chronic knee pain.

Knee pain in an otherwise healthy, uninjured knee is often from a biomechanical problem, meaning the joints of the leg are not moving properly in relation to each other. If you think of the ankle, knee, hip, and pelvis as a “chain” of joints that have to work together, you can see how one area can affect another. If there is a restriction in the ankle or hip, they become out of sync with each other, and the knee is the “link in the chain” that often becomes irritated. This irritation over time can lead to swelling and pain. By gently realigning the joints of the pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle, it allows the chain to move freely and reduce the stress on the knee. Give us a call today to schedule an evaluation to see if we can help with your knee pain.