Leaders in Knee Pain Chiropractic

Common Causes of Knee Pain

Although knee pain is common, it can have many different causes. Searching the internet for "knee pain treatment near me" will not help diagnose or create an individualized treatment plan for this condition. Knowing the underlying cause of knee pain helps us create treatment plans that provide relief. In our experience, some of the most common causes of knee pain include:

• Injured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL), or other ligament injuries

• Sports injuries from running or jumping

• Osteoarthritis

• Sprains and strains

• Bursitis

While these are the most common causes our knee pain chiropractor sees here at Health From Within, there are many other reasons why a patient may have knee pain. These include medical conditions such as Osgood-Schlatter Disease, Plica Syndrome, and gout. Certain lifestyle factors also cause this condition or make painful knees worse. These include consuming tobacco products, excess weight, and poor ergonomic patterns.

Symptoms of Knee Pain

Whatever causes problematic knees, they can be very painful. Our patients have used many terms to describe how their knees feel. Some of them are not words we can share on our family-friendly website. That's how miserable knee pain makes our patients.

Some patients have described dull, constant aching. Others have reported sharp, stabbing pain that occurs when they try to bend or straighten their legs. Some patients say they have more of a burning sensation.

One of our patients' most disturbing sensations is grating or grinding when they try to use their knees. This is caused by bone rubbing against bone. In addition to making our patients feel on edge, bone-on-bone friction intensifies the pain.

No matter how our patients describe their pain, problematic knees can also become debilitating. Considering that the knee provides stability and support for the leg, this difficulty is not a surprise. The knee makes walking, sitting, bending, and squatting possible, so everyday activities can become difficult or impossible when the knees aren't working correctly.

Health From Within’s chiropractic care can alleviate several conditions linked to knee pain. As with any condition, chiropractic knee pain treatment focuses on the underlying cause of symptoms. Since an individual's knee pain can be caused by one or more of these factors, treatment can vary wildly. Below is a sampling of some of the most common types of knee pain we treat.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the age-related degeneration of knee cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. As these supportive structures wear down, the bones begin to rub against one another. Factors such as excess weight, inefficient gait, or poor footwear can worsen knee osteoarthritis pain and disability. Our chiropractor prefers heat therapy, exercise, and other conservative chiropractic treatments for knee osteoarthritis.

Bursitis

Another condition we use conservatively manage is bursitis or inflammation of the bursa. The bursa around the knee is a fluid-filled sac that protects the joint from excess friction. When this sac becomes inflamed from injury or wear-and-tear, bursitis occurs. This condition causes painful swelling around the kneecap, making moving and kneeling excruciatingly painful.

Athletic Injuries of the Knee

Running, walking, or even a quick pickup game of basketball are all great ways to stay in shape. Unfortunately, they're all very demanding for the knees. Jumper's knee and runner's knee are two common conditions among athletes.

Jumper's knee or patellar tendonitis is a painful tendon inflammation that connects the shin to the kneecap. It makes bending and straightening the leg difficult. Runner's knee or patellofemoral pain syndrome results from a skeletal misalignment that can occur anywhere from the hips to the feet. This condition causes a grating or clicking sound and a dull-aching pain that intensifies during stair climbing, squatting, or kneeling.

Here at Health From Within, our conservative chiropractic care offers a healthier alternative to potentially addictive prescription painkillers and risky surgical procedures. Our knee pain chiropractors enjoy helping relieve our patients' pain with minimal side effects. Patients enjoy the convenience of very little downtime and interventions that improve their overall health.

Sprains and Strains

Ankles aren't the only body part that can suffer a sprain or strain. The ligaments around the knee can easily be torn, resulting in a painful sprain. One of the most common types of sprains is the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL tear. Torn ACLs famously sideline NFL players and other athletes every season with painful swelling following dramatic tackles or other injuries. While a wholly torn ACL requires surgical repair, the more common partial tears respond well to conservative chiropractic care.

While muscle or tendon strains aren't as well known as their more famous counterparts, they are still responsible for knee tenderness, sharp pain, and regional bruising. As with a sprain, a partially torn muscle or tendon responds well to chiropractic management. A fully torn one requires repair surgery.

Sometimes, the iliotibial (IT) band that runs from the hips to the shin along the outside of the leg can cause pain when the knee moves. The IT band is the longest tendon in the body, so any problems it develops can cause widespread pain and dysfunction. Running is a common cause of IT band tightness, pain, and strain. Fortunately, restorative chiropractic techniques can help loosen and stretch tight tissues.

Pain Traveling to the Knee

Sometimes, knee pain isn't caused by an issue with the knee. This referred pain is most frequently caused by sciatic nerve compression. Other causes of knee pain can include cervical spine and sacroiliac joint injuries. Since our chiropractic treatment targets the underlying cause of knee pain, it can also help diminish referred pain to the knees.

Here at Health From Within, our chiropractors specialize in finding and correcting the root cause of knee pain. We provide non-invasive interventions that correct the underlying issues responsible for knee pain. Our patients also enjoy the enhanced health they experience from following our customized lifestyle recommendations.

For example, correcting a spine, hip, or knee misalignment takes the pressure off nerves and restores normal pain perception and knee function. Helping patients optimize their posture can also take excess weight off of the knee to reduce pain. Sometimes, complementary therapies such as trigger point therapy or massage can help improve blood flow to the knee, bringing additional healing nutrients and vital oxygen to the area.

While treatment varies between patients, there are three basic techniques we use here at Health From Within to provide knee pain relief. Myofascial release involves pressing and releasing stiff areas to release muscular tension. Articulatory exercises involve bringing the knee through a complete range of motion. The functional technique is a helpful addition to articulatory exercises that include applying and releasing gentle pressure as a joint reaches its maximum range of motion. We also develop strategic movement plans for our patients based on their range of motion and movement goals.

Knee pain only worsens without treatment. If you have painful knees, please see us. The longer you delay knee pain treatment, the more wear-and-tear-related issues will progress. Please don't wait until surgery or pain pills are your only two options. Give our Health From Within team a call at (708) 478-9850 for a comprehensive knee pain evaluation today.