How A Chiropractor Can Help Your Knee Pain

Chiropractic care is recognised as the most effective treatment for spinal-related issues, such as back pain, scoliosis, and poor posture. A lesser-known fact, however, is that a chiropractor can also help with knee pain.

Chiropractors' expertise extends to the body’s musculoskeletal system, including the spine and back, neck, shoulders, hips, and knees. While it may seem odd to visit a chiropractor for help with knee pain, real-world studies show a strong relationship between chiropractic treatment and knee pain relief.

What Causes Knee Pain?

Before getting into the specifics of chiropractic treatment for knee pain, it’s important to realise that a wide range of injuries and conditions can cause knee pain.

Knee pain occurs when there is damage or misalignment in the knee, which can happen due to:

Overuse of the knee joint and muscles due to repetitive motions at high physical stress levels (such as sports activity), causing aching pain around the knee cap and areas of swelling that are tender to the touch.

Knee injuries where the knee is hit or twisted, causing meniscus tears or bone fractures around the knee joint. Knee injuries can cause pain and stiffness when bending or putting pressure on the knee.
Arthritis conditions like psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis. The soft cartilage in the knee joint is worn down or attacked by the body’s immune system causing chronic pain and stiffness especially after long periods of activity.

How Does Chiropractic Care Help Knee Pain?

So, how does chiropractic care help with knee pain? Chiropractors look at the source of the knee pain and how the rest of the body’s musculoskeletal system contributes to it.

The knee joint bears much of the upper body's weight, meaning that small imbalances and misalignments in the body can cause the knee to be placed under more physical pressure than usual. An improper distribution of body weight can make existing knee pain feel much more intense and may even hamper the knee's recovery.

Adjustments

Chiropractors treat misalignments by making gentle adjustments to the spine to restore proper balance to the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic adjustments lead to less pressure on the knees and decreased knee pain.

Posture correction

Improper posture puts added pressure on the knee joint, causing pain. Chiropractors correct posture to relieve excessive pressure on the knee, reducing pain.

Manual therapy

Knee pain caused by misaligned muscles or ligaments can be treated by chiropractic manual therapy. Chiropractors use a type of remedial massage known as trigger point therapy to release trapped tension and reduce pain in the knee.

Common Knee Conditions Chiropractic Care Can Treat

Knee injuries:

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)
Patella Tendinopathy
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears
Kneecap Dislocation

Knee conditions:

Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome
Chondromalacia Patella
Knee Joint Misalignment
Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Patellofemoral Syndrome
Baker’s Cyst
Referred Pain
Knee Valgus (Knock-knees)
Knee Bursitis
Gout
Patella Mal Tracking

How Effective is Chiropractic Treatment for Knee Pain?

Multiple published studies support chiropractic treatment for knee pain. A 2000 study on the effect of chiropractic manual therapy on the spine, hip, and knee demonstrated that it effectively reduced knee pain over a period of two weeks.

In another 2006 study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, chiropractic treatment combined with exercise was found to reduce knee pain and improve physical function over time.

Seeking chiropractic care for knee pain is a practical option, especially for chronic knee conditions that do not recover independently. As Townsville's leading chiropractic treatment provider for knee pain, Spinal Works can help you find relief from knee pain with tailored treatments for athletes, working adults, and children. Book an initial consultation with us today to find out how we can help with your knee pain.