What Can a Chiropractor Do for Knee Pain?

Have you recently suffered a sports injury? Have you been experiencing knee pain? Knee pain is not pleasant and can negatively impact your quality of life.

Did you know some chiropractors treat joint and knee pain? Unfortunately, there is a misconception that chiropractors treat only the back and neck — buthiropractic treatment encompasses the entire musculoskeletal system. 

Chiropractic care can provide you with relief from joint and knee pain without the need for surgery. 

In this article, you will learn: 

• How a chiropractor can help with knee pain
• When to see a chiropractor for knee pain; and
• Best treatments for knee pain

Table of Contents

• Can a Chiropractor Help With Knee Pain? 
• How Can Chiropractors Help Knee Pain?
• Chiropractic Adjustments for Knee Pain
• Our Process for Determining the Best Treatment for Your Knee Pain
• When Should You See a Chiropractor for Knee Pain? Examples of Ailments We Can Help Treat
• Overcome Knee Pain With the Chiropractors at Cascade Spine & Injury Center

Can a Chiropractor Help With Knee Pain? 

The knee is one of our most frequently used body parts.

Anything involving the lower body, such as …

• Sitting
• Standing
• Getting out of bed 

… activates these muscles. 

As a result, our knees often have to work overtime for us, which can cause knee pain. 

Many people are not looking for another pill to take when their knee hurts, so chiropractors are becoming more popular among knee pain sufferers. Chiropractic care does more than heal back injuries; it is a valuable weapon in the fight against knee pain.

So, can a chiropractor help with knee pain? The answer is not a simple yes or no. Some chiropractors can help with knee pain, but it is dependent on the type of knee pain. 

Chiropractic care for knee pain is not the specialty of all chiropractors, but the team at Cascade Spine and Injury Center has been trained to diagnose and treat knee pain.

How Can Chiropractors Help Knee Pain? 

Chiropractic care can be used to treat knee pain in several ways. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common treatments:

Chiropractic Adjustments for Knee Pain

For people suffering from knee pain, chiropractic adjustments are a non-invasive method of getting relief.

The common symptoms that may indicate you need a chiropractic adjustment for knee pain are: 

• Clicking
• Popping
• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Weakness
• Feeling the knee might buckle 

During chiropractic adjustment for knee pain, your knees and spinal joints receive: 

• Gentle
• Well-ordered; and 
• Directed adjustments

Soft tissue massage is often included to restore optimum movement and improve the overall functioning of the joint.

Even though knee pain is targeted with chiropractic care, spinal adjustment might also be included in treatment. This is because all joints, including the knees, are put under additional pressure by misalignment of the spine.

Spinal adjustment aims to reestablish alignment and balance. 

During these adjustments, knees are restored to their functional state, reducing wear and tear on the joints.

Stretching

Stretches can be a very effective way to relieve knee pain.

It is not uncommon for sports injuries to result in a limited range of motion in the knee. However, getting your entire range of motion back after an injury is crucial to the functioning of your knee — stretching can help you do this. 

Another common cause of knee pain is sitting too long. You might need to stretch because sitting for long periods can stretch and weaken our gluteal muscles, while our quadriceps are short and tight. The tight quads can compress and hyperextend the knee. 

Other Chiropractic Modalities Including Laser & Ultrasound Therapy 

Traditional chiropractic care can be combined with laser and ultrasound therapy for knee pain.

Some chiropractors have used laser technology to help their patients find relief from pain and discomfort. Generally, chiropractors use cold lasers, also known as low-level laser treatments or cold therapy.  

Cold lasers generate less heat than traditional high-intensity lasers and are, therefore, gentler on the skin. 

Together, laser therapy and chiropractic care can help patients heal from injuries or chronic pain by: 

• Reducing pain levels
• Stimulating nerve regeneration; and
• Decreasing inflammation

If you’re looking for a chiropractor in Portland who specializes in a variety of injuries, including knee pain, you’ve come to the right place. We at Cascade Spine and Injury Center use various advanced chiropractic techniques and state-of-the-art equipment. 

Our Process for Determining the Best Treatment for Your Knee Pain

Often, knee pain will continue to worsen without treatment. Your daily pain can be reduced and you may be able to resume an active lifestyle with chiropractic treatment.

Let’s take a look at our process for determining the best treatment for your knee pain:

Step 1: Determine the Injured Structure

There are a variety of structures that may cause knee pain. Therefore, many different areas must be examined to identify the affected structures.

The knee’s stability and function are dependent on:   

• Muscles
• Ligaments
• Tendons; and 
• Other joints  

Also, knee pain can originate in other parts of the body, including:

• Hip
• Lower back; and 
• Pelvis

These structures should be examined when determining the cause of knee pain. This is because when all structures that are affected are treated, long-term results are achieved.

Step 2: Determine the Cause of the Pain

There are several factors to consider when determining what causes knee pain.

Knee pain can be caused by direct trauma. Direct trauma includes injuries such as:

• Fall-related injuries; or
• A vehicle accident

It’s important to note that knee pain doesn’t always mean an injured body part. Knee pain can sometimes stem from:

• No or low feet arches
• Abnormal gait; or
• Leg length discrepancy

The correct diagnosis and treatment are essential no matter what the cause of your knee problem may be, whether it is: 

• Wear and tear
• Overuse
• Injury; or 
• Disease

Step 3: Determine the Proper Treatment Plan

After gathering information regarding the cause of your injury, the chiropractor will formulate a customized treatment plan specific to your needs. 

Chiropractic care will focus on: 

1. Pain relief
2. Restoring or improving function; and 
3. Providing you with the tools and knowledge you need to stay healthy and prevent knee pain in the future

When Should You See a Chiropractor for Knee Pain? Examples of Ailments We Can Help Treat

Runner’s Knee

Chiropractic and laser therapy are often very effective in treating runner’s knee.

Chiropractors may perform various chiropractic alignments and manipulations on:

• Spine
• Hip
• Ankle; and 
• Knee  

Laser therapy can help speed up the healing process so your recovery and future performance can both be improved. 

A chiropractor may also provide the following services: 

• Supplements
• Adjustments to your diet
• Developing an exercise plan
• Exercises for stretching
• Kinesio taping

Chiropractic care is effective for treating runner’s knee. The body is brought back into proper alignment, allowing it to function correctly.

Jumper’s Knee

Jumper’s Knee is a very common injury and can be treated with chiropractic care.  

The chiropractor may suggest inflammation-reducing techniques based on the injury and how inflamed the area is.

The following techniques may be used:

• Rest from the sport or activity that contributed to the injury
• Ice; or
• Electromuscular stimulation

As a result of these therapies, the tendon will be loosened and inflammation reduced.

After inflammation has been controlled, the chiropractor may suggest:

• Massage therapy
• Strengthening exercises
• Joint manipulation along with chiropractic adjustments

Ignoring jumper’s knee can lead to worsening symptoms — symptoms are unlikely to resolve on their own. Therefore, scheduling a chiropractor visit can be beneficial in treating knee pain.  

Arthritis of the Knee

Chiropractic care can be a great way to manage and relieve arthritis pain. 

In addition to providing arthritis patients with … 

• Safe
• Non-invasive; and
• Non-addictive alternatives to prescription opioids or over-the-counter pain medications

… chiropractic care can help patients manage their pain.

Chiropractic care for arthritis in the knee often includes adjustments. Adjustments are performed to reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints. This is done to:

• Reduce inflammation 
• Improve the function of both the affected joint and nervous system

Your body can better deal with arthritis symptoms and pain by enhancing joint mobility and improving nervous system function and spinal health.

Preventing Reinjury 

It is never fun to sustain an injury, no matter how big or small it is. As a result, you may need to take a break or slow down from your daily life. Rest may be necessary to expedite healing, but what if there was a better way?

Among the most common types of injuries that can be prevented, overuse injuries are the frequent. An overuse injury is any type of muscle or joint injury caused by repetitive trauma — a misaligned spine is one of the leading causes of overuse injuries.

When the spine is out of alignment, the entire body is thrown off balance. Spinal misalignment can interfere with nerve function, and this can compromise your: 

• Your tissue health
• Your body’s natural healing capabilities; and 
• Your ability to move normally 

As well as spinal misalignment, there are several other things to consider:

• Proper footwear — Your shoes should allow your foot arch to be flexible. When you step down in shoes that are too tight, you will put more pressure on your knees.
• Correct weight-bearing — If you exercise in the gym, be sure to keep an eye on how much weight you bear on your knee joint. 
• Compression socks – If your extremities are swollen, wear compression socks. By reducing blood flow and increasing venous return to a localized area, the tight compression will reduce swelling.

Overcome Knee Pain With the Chiropractors at Cascade Spine & Injury Center

Knee pain is frustrating and debilitating. Chiropractic care may be a good option for you if you need relief.

At Cascade Spine & Injury Center, we have helped many people find relief from knee pain. We are ready to help you, too.

Cascade Spine & Injury Center is a chiropractor in Portland, Oregon, treating knee pain and other conditions.

Among the services we offer to relieve knee pain are:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Exercise rehabilitation
• Massage therapy; and
• Other treatment modalities

There’s no reason not to get started right away with such expert care available. So book your appointment today by clicking below.