If you suffer from knee problems, you may be wondering whether a chiropractor can help you treat your knee pain. The answer is, it depends.
Knee pain is a common concern that is often caused by ageing, injury, or excessive exercise. Mild, acute knee pain usually subsides within a few days with home remedies. However, chronic and severe knee pain requires treatment to reduce discomfort and prevent it from getting worse.
One treatment option for knee pain may be chiropractic care, which uses holistic methods to treat your entire body and improve overall well-being. A chiropractor may be able to treat some knee pain and address underlying problems.
However, this method may not be for everyone. If you prefer a natural treatment approach, and if your knee pain is not due to an injury or condition that requires surgical intervention, then chiropractic treatment is ideal.
In some cases, chiropractic care may be enough to help reduce knee pain. In other cases, you can use it along with conventional medical treatments.
What knee conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractors can treat many painful conditions and concerns of the knee, especially those that get in the way of mobility.
Osteoarthritis (OA): OA occurs when the articular cartilage of the knee breaks down due to age or injury. The bones then create friction that leads to pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Symptoms of this inflammatory autoimmune condition include swelling and stiffness. Over time, RA can damage bone, joints, and cartilage.
Meniscal injuries: Meniscal tears are caused by aging, arthritis, and forcefully twisting or twisting the knee.
Patellar tendonitis: Patellar tendonitis is a repetitive-use injury that causes inflammation and weakness in the patellar tendon, which connects your knee cap to your shin bone. This condition often occurs in athletes.
How do chiropractors treat knee pain?
Chiropractic treatment for knee pain will depend on the cause, symptoms, and contributing factors, which may include excess weight, poor posture, and workplace ergonomics.
To create a treatment plan, your chiropractor will determine whether your knee pain is from a primary or compensated cause. A compensatory cause occurs when the alignment or function of your knee is compromised to compensate for another problem, such as stiffness in another area of your body.
Treatment will usually involve other areas of your body, including the neck, spine, and hips. Tightness and misalignment in these areas can contribute to knee pain. In addition, you may have developed poor posture and motion patterns to reduce pressure on your knee.
Manual Manipulation: This practical technique involves aligning your spine and joints to reduce tension, improve posture, and promote mobility.
Traction: This technique involves stretching the knee to reduce swelling and promote mobility.
Ultrasound: The massaging effect of sound waves can reduce pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Cold laser: This treatment helps with inflammation and speeds up healing.
Infrared Sauna: Infrared heat can help reduce pain, reduce stiffness, and promote blood flow. Home Exercise Program: Your customized plan will include rehabilitation exercises and stretches to strengthen your knee and its supporting muscles.