The Benefits of Seeing A Chiropractor For Knee Pain

Everyone, irrespective of age, might experience some kind of knee pain at some point in their lives. In fact, it is the second most common type of chronic pain American adults experience.  

Knee pain can take a major toll on one’s life, so most people believe surgery is the best solution. However, there are plenty of non-invasive treatments, like chiropractic care, that can offer better pain relief results.

In this article, we’ll discuss the reasons behind knee pain and the symptoms of knee pain. We’ll also go over how chiropractors diagnose knee pain, the techniques they use to alleviate it, and the benefits you can expect from getting chiropractic care.

Brief Anatomy of Knee 

The knee joint is highly vulnerable and bears a great deal of stress from day-to-day activities such as walking, kneeling, and lifting, and high-impact activities such as jogging, playing sports, and doing aerobics. The knee joint contains three parts:

Tibia – This is the larger bone of the lower leg.

Femur – This is the upper leg bone or the thighbone.

Patella – This is the kneecap.

Each bone end of the knee joint is covered with a layer of cartilage that protects the knee by absorbing the shock. Basically, this joint contains two long leg bones held together by ligaments, muscles, and tendons and cushioned by cartilage to make sure the bones don’t rub together. 

You might experience knee pain for many reasons, such as if you suffer from a cartilage injury or if one of the ligaments is torn.

What Are the Common Causes of Knee Pain?

There are many possible culprits behind chronic knee pain, and each requires a different approach to treat it. The severity of the knee pain varies depending on its cause and how old the issue is since knee pain grows with time. Below we have listed some common causes of knee pain.

Knee Ligament Injuries 

If you have an injury to the ligaments of the knee joint, it may cause sharp pain. The ligaments hold the lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) to the thigh bone (femur). They also provide stability to the movements of these bones while keeping the knee together.

Knee ligament tears and sprains are common causes of injuries and can occur to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL). 

These injuries may occur from high-intensity impacts such as those experienced in motor accidents or while playing sports. The ACL is the primary ligament that runs through the middle of the joint between the shinbone and the thigh bone. Typically, athletes and people with a highly active lifestyle are prone to this type of knee injury. The common symptoms of this knee injury include:

• Swelling within 24 hours of the injury 
• Sudden and severe pain in the knee joint 
• Popping noise in the knee 
• Pain that persists while walking

Any ligament injury can cause severe knee pain, and you should seek treatment for it right away. Non-invasive treatments such as chiropractic care are often helpful for alleviating knee pain.

Contact Oak Brook Medical Group to book an appointment with the best chiropractors who know how to treat the causes of knee pain and other symptoms.

Arthritis of the Knee

Arthritis is a chronic condition that affects nearly 24% of American adults, making it a fairly common condition. It can cause neck pain, wrist pain, hip pain, back pain, and especially knee pain.

This condition, if not treated, may get worse over time and eventually require surgery. There are three types of arthritis in the knee:

• Post-traumatic arthritis
• Osteoarthritis 
• Rheumatoid arthritis 

Post-traumatic Arthritis

Post-traumatic arthritis can result from a serious knee injury, including ligament tears and bone fractures. Common knee injuries, such as broken bones, might not heal properly, then wear down over time and result in arthritis. Post-traumatic arthritis can also cause damage to the cartilage in the knee as you get older and may lead to:

• Stiffness 
• Swelling
• Pain 

Osteoarthritis 

The most common type of knee arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a progressive condition, in which the cartilage wears out over time. Osteoarthritis is often the result of bones rubbing against each other, and it can be extremely painful.

This condition occurs mostly in people over 50 because age plays a crucial role in it, but it also may occur because of weight, genetics, infections, illnesses, and so on. It is typically more prevalent for those with certain occupations such as manufacturing and construction. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis 

This is an autoimmune condition that causes the tissues around the knee joint to become thickened and inflamed. Chronic inflammation then often leads to loss of cartilage and may damage the knee.

While rheumatoid arthritis is not a very common problem, it affects approximately 0.24–1% of the U.S. population. The symptoms of this knee condition include knee pain, knee swelling, stiffness, and difficulty in bending the knee.

Meniscus Tears 

Cartilage in your knee is a semi-hard tissue that covers the end of the bones and it also includes the two menisci on each side of the joint.  Furthermore, meniscus tears can occur in the cartilage of the knee joint and will become more common as you age because the cartilage loses its flexibility and strength. While they commonly require surgery, chiropractic care helps in reducing the pain and other symptoms such as swelling.

Bursitis

A bursa is a sac that holds a certain amount of lubricating fluid which prevents friction between the knee joints. Repeated bending, overuse, and kneeling can irritate the bursa on the top of the kneecap, thus, resulting in severe pain. Another symptom of bursitis includes swelling in the affected area.

Dislocated Kneecap

A dislocated kneecap, typically resulting from an accident, is a common knee condition where the kneecap slides out of its position. The common symptoms of this condition are knee pain and swelling.

Note:

It is important to see a knee doctor or orthopedic surgeon for a dislocated kneecap. However, to get rid of the pain and for treatment after-care, you can see a knee pain chiropractic specialist in Oak Brook to alleviate pain.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Tightness, muscle imbalance, and alignment problems in the leg can all cause patellofemoral pain syndrome. During this condition, your knee sometimes fails to bear the weight of the body, which can result in pain. 

It is often called a runner’s knee, but the condition is not a result of injury and can happen due to factors like age and genetics. Women are more prone to patellofemoral pain syndrome as compared to men.

What Are the Symptoms of Knee Problems?

Besides knee pain, there are certain symptoms of knee problems that you should not ignore. Sometimes, you might not experience pain in the initial stage of an issue, but severe pain may develop if you ignore the condition. Here are some common symptoms of knee problems that indicate that you should see a chiropractor.

• Burning, prickling, and tingling sensation in the knee 
• Pain in hip, thigh, calf, and shin
• Inability to extend the leg or weakness while extending the leg 
• A feeling of locking, stiffness, or buckling in your knee 
• Warmth, swelling, and redness in the knee

Are you experiencing any of these symptoms and knee pain? Oak Brook Medical Group is a team of professional chiropractors and other care providers that can help you alleviate knee pain. We determine the condition and create an individualized treatment plan that benefits you in the long run. Call us at 630-317-7478 or book an appointment online.

The Benefits of Seeing a Chiropractor for Knee Pain

Chiropractic care is one of the best non-invasive treatment options you can opt for to get rid of knee pain. The treatment can not just relieve you from pain, but can also help in treating the root cause of the issue. 

Here are some benefits of seeking chiropractic care for knee pain.

Identify the Root Cause of the Problem 

There are several potential reasons for knee pain, and getting chiropractic care works by determining the root cause of the problem. At Oak Brook Medical Group, we use several methods, such as X-rays and ultrasounds, to figure out the main problem, such as broken tendons, torn ligaments, cartilage damage, or other issues.

We then create an individualized treatment plan that works for you.

Helps with Pain Relief 

Living with knee pain can detract from the quality of your life. It might affect your appetite, cause mental health issues, or disrupt your sleep. 

With a combination of spinal adjustment, light physical therapy, massage techniques, and decompression, our chiropractors can offer you pain relief. Treatments provided by chiropractors in Oak Brook help strengthen the knee joint, which treats the pain and the root cause of the pain.

Avoids Pain Medications

Many medical practitioners, such as orthopedic doctors, rely heavily on prescription medication for the treatment of knee pain issues.

However, medications do not address the root cause of the issue, rather, they work on covering the pain. There may be a time when your body becomes resistant to these medicines, and they stop working as well.

Getting chiropractic care does not involve the use of medicines and is completely non-invasive. Treatments such as joint injections and trigger point injections are good alternatives to using medications. These treatments offer excellent pain relief results and do not affect your central nervous system or immune system as medicines do.

Improves Mobility and Flexibility 

When the knee joint hurts, it restricts an individual from moving their knee properly. The longer this goes on, the higher the likelihood of loss of flexibility and mobility. 

With the use of proper joint/spine adjustments and trigger-point massage techniques, chiropractors can help you get rid of pain and improve the flexibility and mobility of your joints. It also improves the strength of the knee muscles and might prevent future knee issues, so you can comfortably do day-to-day activities.

Reduces Inflammation 

A knee injury doesn’t just come with pain, it also comes with inflammation in and around the affected area. Since the inflammation can persist for some time, it may increase the intensity and severity of the pain. When inflammation is the proximate cause of knee joint pain, it becomes a chiropractic professional’s top priority. 

Chiropractors use several types of techniques and massages to reduce inflammation and help the area heal quickly. You can expect relief from inflammation after a few sessions of chiropractic care.

Improves Blood Circulation 

One of the greatest healing elements in the human body is the proper supply of blood. Chiropractors in Oak Brook know this well, and they use several techniques to increase the flow of healthy blood into the knee when you are suffering from pain.

The improved flow of blood also boosts metabolism and reduces inflammation. The ultimate outcome of chiropractic care is promoted healing that helps restores the muscle health in the knee joint. 

Minimal Side Effects 

Chiropractic care is a non-invasive method so it does not have any severe side effects like using pain medication often does. You may see symptoms such as slight swelling, however, these symptoms will typically go away after a few days and you can expect relief from pain.

Other Health Benefits 

Some other health benefits of chiropractic care for knee pain include:

• Better eating and sleeping habits 
• Improved mental and physical health 
• Better immune system and increased flow of blood 

Are you suffering because of knee pain and want to get rid of it? Schedule an appointment with Oak Brook Medical Group, and our chiropractors will provide you with the best non-invasive treatments. 

The Chiropractic Solution to Knee Pain: How Does It Work?

No matter what the cause of the knee pain is, your chiropractor will create a thoroughly targeted treatment plan that’s designed especially for your condition. Since there is “no size fits all,” the chiropractors at the Oak Brook Medical Group ensure that the right approach is being taken and that the results and progress are measurable.

Here are some methods we use to treat knee pain in several ways:

• Sometimes the spine may be the primary cause of the knee problem, so correcting it is important to fix the main issue. Our chiropractors can make several adjustments to fix the spinal misalignment or to bring the spine back to its natural position.
• For long-lasting results, chiropractors perform knee and hip manipulation. It helps reduce inflammation and improves the range of motion, so you experience better flexibility and mobility.
• If the reason behind knee pain is due to improper distribution of body weight, the chiropractor will help fix it by correcting the posture so that the knee joints get the body weight evenly. Therefore, lessening the burden of stress on the affected area.
• Physical therapy delivered by chiropractors is useful for rehabilitating injury and helps in promoting long-term healing. Also, the targeted exercises alleviate knee pain and improve the flexibility of the joint.
• Complementary treatments such as myofascial release and trigger point therapy work great by alleviating knee pain. These treatments help improve the flow of nutrients to soft tissue.

Common Treatments Chiropractors Use for Knee Pain 

There are several treatments chiropractors use for treating knee pain. From therapeutic exercises to spinal traction, there are several methods that relieve you from debilitating knee pain while treating the root cause of the issue.

Soft Tissue Manual Therapy

The knee joint contains several soft tissues that can cause chronic pain if they are injured. By using a variety of hands-on soft tissue therapies, chiropractors improve the function of the muscles, tendons, joint capsules, and ligaments. These therapies include stretch and pin, also known as the active release technique.

Therapeutic Stretches

Following an injury, therapeutic stretching is an effective way to keep scar tissue from forming. This treatment also helps in improving the flexibility of the tissues while increasing mobility. With these exercises, chiropractors will recommend you follow proper stretching techniques to help your muscles get comfortable for reduced pain.

Spinal Traction 

Sometimes the pain in your knee starts from the spine caused due to a pinched nerve. For treating such conditions, chiropractors use spinal traction gently separate the vertebrae in order to reduce nerve root pressure and alleviate the pain. 

Physical Therapy Modalities 

Muscle Stimulation – This treatment involves the use of light electrical pulses that are transmitted to certain areas of the body through a medically-certified electrode placed on the skin. There are a few different types of electric stimulation techniques that chiropractors use to alleviate pain and inflammation. 

Ice and Heat Therapy – This therapy has been in use for decades and offers proven results in treating many conditions, including knee injuries. Ice treatment is helpful in reducing swelling and controls the pain immediately after an injury. Heat therapy works great for increasing circulation and provides relief to patients with chronic pain. 

Trigger-Point Injections

Trigger points are localized areas where the nerves converge. Trigger points are often associated with muscle spasms and other painful conditions like arthritis or tendonitis. Chiropractic injections can help relax those trigger points, reducing pain.

These treatments involve the injection of local anesthesia into the muscle or tendon sheath, which decreases the sensitivity of the nerves and reduces the spasm.

Viscosupplementation

You should talk to your chiropractor about viscosupplementation procedures if other treatment methods have not worked. They contain hyaluronic acid, which helps heal the collagen within the knee cartilage. With this procedure, the patient gets the solution injected directly into the damaged joint.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

In recent years, platelet-rich plasma injections have become a popular treatment among athletes, professional sports teams, and even everyday people who want to enhance their performance. PRP treats arthritis, sports injury, microfractures, and tendonitis. It is a novel treatment for managing degenerative joint diseases like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other ailments.

When PRP is injected into the knee, it acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent and stimulates fibroblasts that promote healing.

Ready to See a Knee Chiropractor in Oak Brook, Illinois?

At Oak Brook Medical Group, we have a team of certified and trained chiropractors that offer the best treatments for knee pain. Whether the knee pain is due to an injury, chronic condition, or a genetic problem, you can visit our clinic to get relief from the pain. We will create an individualized treatment plan based on your needs with the aim of improving your quality of life. 

Fill out our online booking form or call us at 630-317-7478 to schedule your appointment.