If you’re wondering if a chiropractor can help with knee pain, the unequivocal answer is yes! Using several different techniques and therapies, chiropractors can help to greatly reduce knee joint pain.
Our knees are one of the most used parts of our body. We activate them when sitting down, standing up, getting out of bed, and with anything having to do with our lower body. All in all, our knees often have to work overtime for us, which in turn, can cause knee pain.
Not everyone is looking for another pill to take when a part of their body aches, which is why more and more knee pain sufferers are turning to chiropractors for relief. Chiropractors don’t just heal back injuries; they are a valuable tool to have in your arsenal in your battle with knee pain.
What Causes Knee Pain?
The knee is a delicate joint that takes a lot of abuse from daily tasks like lifting and kneeling, as well as high-impact exercises like running.
The following components make up the knee:
- Tibia- The shin bone
- Femur- The thigh bone
- Patella- The actual kneecap
Each of these components needs to work together smoothly if the knee is to function without pain. If even one of these three parts is damaged, it can cause severe knee problems.
Some of the more common causes of knee pain are:
- Trauma- Excessive or painful movement that damages the knee
- Overuse- Overworking the knee
- Osteoarthritis- Degenerative joint disease
- Nerve Compression- Direct, painful pressure on a nerve
Do Chiropractors Work On Knee Problems?
When someone thinks of a chiropractor, the first thing most people think of is therapies for back issues, but did you know chiropractors can help with so much more than just back pain?
Chiropractors commonly work on knee problems, helping to relieve pain and improve the joint’s functionality and range of motion.
When you first arrive at the chiropractor with knee pain, they will perform a thorough examination to determine the source of your pain and how best to treat it. Once the examination is over, the chiropractor can create a personalized treatment plan to best suit your individual problems.
There are a number of different methods a chiropractor may use for someone suffering from knee pain. No two injuries or pains are alike, so there is no one-size-fits-all treatment.
A few of the different treatment options a chiropractor may use are:
- Massage therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Adjustments
- Cryotherapy
- Trigger Point Therapy
Massage Therapy For Knee Pain
Massage therapy uses massage techniques to relieve pain and return ease of movement to parts of the body, knees included.
One of the biggest culprits of knee pain is actually not the knee itself. Instead, the structures, like muscles and tendons around the knee, can become inflamed or damaged and cause pain.
Chiropractors will use specified massage techniques to loosen these sore and stiff muscles. Once the muscles are no longer tense, they won’t pull or put pressure on the knee. Massage therapy can quickly and effectively provide much-needed pain relief.
Physical Therapy For Knee Pain
Physical therapy works to alleviate knee pain using a combination of mobility exercises and rehabilitation. According to the University of Sydney, exercise can reduce pain related to osteoarthritis of the knee.
Chiropractors use physical therapy to strengthen the knee and the surrounding muscles so the body is better able to support the joint. With proper muscle support and increased mobility, chiropractors can make knee pain a thing of the past.
Adjustments For Knee Pain
A chiropractic knee adjustment, or knee manipulation, uses targeted adjustments on the knee itself and occasionally the spine to correct posture, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation.
Even though it seems strange to adjust the spine to help the knee, bad posture is one of the leading causes of pain in the hips and the knees. Bad posture causes weight to be unevenly distributed on your hip and knee joints, which in turn can make knees and hips ache. Once your posture is fixed, your hips and knees will be carrying the correct amount of weight, which lessens both inflammation and soreness.
Cryotherapy For Knee Pain
Cryotherapy is the use of extreme cold to combat acute and chronic pain, including pain in the knee.
Cryotherapy is a relatively new form of therapy that is offered by chiropractors, but it shows plenty of promise. The relief provided by cryotherapy can be fast-acting and powerful.
Cryotherapy can be targeted to a certain area, or it can be used as a full-body therapy. Either way, it is fantastic and relieves pain and inflammation. It can also be useful to lessen inflammation and soreness post-chiropractic adjustment
When To See a Chiropractor for Knee Pain
There are dozens of over-the-counter treatments for knee pain, but unfortunately, many of them involve numerous pills and other chemicals that you don’t want to put into your body. It has become almost unthinkable to treat pain without pain medication, but there is a better, more natural way.
If you’ve tried resting and icing your sore knee to no avail, consider seeing a chiropractor. With the right chiropractic care, you can expect relief from knee discomfort and pain without pills or prescriptions.
Can An Adjustment Help Knee Pain?
Yes, an adjustment can help knee pain. If your knee is popping, cracking, or you are experiencing stiffness and inflammation, a chiropractic adjustment in Tampa could be the answer to your problems.
Adjustments are a holistic way to realign parts of the body that aren’t in their natural position. It involves direct pressure with either hands or a tool to alleviate pain, increase blood flow, and realign parts of the body.
The body’s alignment is a delicate thing, and simple tasks like lifting a heavy box incorrectly or sleeping in an awkward position can lead to bad alignment. Adjustment is a drug-free way to get your body to the way it should be.
A licensed chiropractor can incorporate steady pressure or quick, precise, forceful movements to perform an adjustment. This can be done on the knee itself, or the spine, depending on the underlying cause of the knee pain. During your adjustment, you may hear loud, audible cracks and pops. Don’t be alarmed! This is just excess gas escaping the joints as they are being adjusted, and is completely normal.
Can A Chiropractor Help With Osteoarthritis of the Knee?
Through gentle therapies, massage, and adjustments, a chiropractor can help ease the pain of osteoarthritis.
What is Osteoarthritis of the Knee?
Osteoarthritis is the slow breakdown of cartilage in the knee, eventually leading to a complete lack of cartilage. Without cartilage in the knee, the bones will rub together painfully.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for osteoarthritis, but the right chiropractor can provide relief from the pain that it causes. Since osteoarthritis is such a painful condition, gentle therapies like cryotherapy, stretching, and massage are the first lines of defense. Adjustments can also be performed, but usually on the spine instead of the knee itself, to correct posture.
Stretching and adjustment of the hip joint can also ease the tenderness of knee osteoarthritis by improving gait and correcting improper weight-bearing posture.
Can A Chiropractor Help With Hip And Knee Pain?
Since hip pain and knee pain are commonly linked, a chiropractor may treat both joints concurrently to provide the best, most thorough relief possible.
When someone presents with both knee and hip pain, the chiropractor will still perform a thorough examination and create a personalized treatment plan. Different therapies may be used on each joint to provide maximum relief. For example, an extremely inflamed knee joint could benefit from cryotherapy, but the hip joint may require stretching to prevent the inflammation from returning.
In Summary
In this article, we sought the answer to the question 'Can a chiropractor help with knee pain?' and the answer is a resounding yes! Chiropractors don’t just fix spines, they can also help with acute and chronic knee pain.
Knee pain can be treated with chiropractic care
Knee pain definitely can negatively impact your ability to perform optimally. Oftentimes a licensed chiropractor can tackle underlying causes of knee pain. There are usually several possible ways of treating knee pain. Some common treatments include using ice to reduce pain around the joint and some soft tissue massage to help improve knee flexibility. Doctors can further apply chiropractic manipulation and mobilization procedures in areas of restricted movements in the knee joint, along with associated joints and muscles. The combination of treatments may relieve knee joint pain, simultaneously increasing the overall function of the joints and improving the overall function of the knee.
- Chiropractors may use different therapies when treating knee pain. This includes massage therapy, physical therapy, adjustments, and cryotherapy.
- If you want to avoid chemical medications or expensive, invasive surgery, a chiropractor is a brilliant choice.
- Adjustments can relieve knee joint pain when performed on the knees and the spine, depending on the situation.
- Hip and knee discomfort often go hand in hand. A chiropractor can help relieve both.
- Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease, but gentle therapies from the right chiropractor can help with the pain.
Knee pain isn’t always a simple fix, but the right chiropractor can set you on the right path towards pain-free joints. So, are you ready for your chiropractic treatment and to improve your range of motion and even your quality of life?
Are you in the Tampa Bay area? Visit The Right Spinal Clinic today and take advantage of our chiropractic care! Call us now at (813) 392 2164 to schedule your appointment or schedule an appointment online. Walk-ins are also welcome with no waiting time!
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