According to Gallup, more than 35 million people see a chiropractor every year. Most people associate chiropractors with back and neck injury treatment. Others even visit chiropractors for a natural healing approach to hip or shoulder pain. But can you visit a chiropractor for knee pain?
At Workers-Comp-Doctors, PC, we can put you in touch with a chiropractor in NY, who can help with knee pain and other conditions. Chiropractic treatments address various musculoskeletal conditions beyond solely spinal issues.
What Causes Knee Pain?
ACP reports that one in four people experience knee pain; according to American Family Physician, it results in over four million annual doctor visits. You might develop knee pain for various reasons, such as:
- Injuries: Knee injuries typically occur from blunt force or overworked soft tissues in the knee. You might injure your knee during exercise or physical labor.
- Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis affect stressed, frequently used joints with soft-tissue swelling. This inflammation causes soreness and may limit your mobility.
- Underdeveloped muscles: Some people struggle to exercise following an injury. This lack of movement may lead to weakened muscles. You might reinjure yourself without robust muscles supporting your knees and other parts of your legs.
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome: Children and adolescents sometimes suffer from this condition. Symptoms include pain around the kneecap. Exercise like movement up stairs or slopes, running, and flexing the knees can exacerbate the pain.
- Osgood-Schlatter’s disease: Certain bones in the knee can become inflamed following vigorous exercise or demanding physical labor.
The above-listed conditions are just a few reasons you might develop knee pain. While discomfort may go away without professional treatment, it can also worsen with continued use of the affected knee. This pain can affect your quality of life and ability to move.
How Does Knee Pain Affect Your Life?
You should visit a chiropractor for knee pain when the discomfort restricts your mobility and daily movement. Knee pain often influences more than the injured area. You may struggle with the following issues depending on the severity:
- Sleeping: Pain often interrupts a person’s rest. When you can’t fully relax due to constant discomfort, you won’t get the quality sleep needed to aid your recovery.
- Walking: Getting from one room to another becomes a gauntlet of excessive pain. If you can’t put weight on your knee without suffering, you can’t move from one point to another.
- Exercise: If severe knee pain hampers walking, it’ll affect your exercise routine. Exercise is often essential to the healing process.
- Sitting and standing: Even simple tasks, like sitting down or standing up, become unpredictable obstacles
- Hobbies: If you enjoy activities like gardening, competitive sports, and other hobbies that require knee movement, you could struggle to enjoy these activities without paying a painful price.
- Family time: You need your knees to function when you bend over to hug or pick up the children in your family. Plus, you’ll struggle to keep up with others in your family.
- Occupation: You likely know that knee pain will influence your ability to do physical labor. But it can also make desk jobs strenuous since you can’t sit or stand without excessive pain.
Can Chiropractors Help With Knee Pain?
Knee pain touches every part of your life. Like most people, you want noninvasive treatments that limit your reliance on prescription medication. So, can chiropractors help with knee pain?
Yes, chiropractors can help with knee pain. A case report published in The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association followed the recovery of a woman in her fifties. She experienced a significant increase in her range of motion during a chiropractic treatment program targeting her osteoarthritic knee. Other patients may enjoy similar results depending on the knee condition or injury.
What Does a Chiropractor Do for Knee Pain?
Chiropractors may employ various treatment techniques to help patients recover from painful knee conditions. Some treatments may include:
- Stretches: Guided stretches can gradually improve your range of motion while reducing stiffness and pain.
- Strengthening exercises: Many people favor their hurt knee by placing more weight on the other one. This causes the knee to lose strength and incur further injuries. Gentle strengthening exercises slowly and safely build and maintain much-needed strength.
- Soft tissue massages: Massages can encourage blood circulation and reduce stiffness by moving the soft tissues without straining them.
- Ultrasound massage: Ultrasounds use sound waves to penetrate deep within the affected bones and tissues.
- Electrotherapy: Electrical pulses stimulate blood flow while relaxing stiffened tissues.
- Manipulations: Certain manipulation techniques may encourage more movement and range of motion in the knee joint.
- Alignments: Alignment techniques may improve overall knee function, allowing you to rebuild strength and heal knee joint misalignment.
Your chiropractor may also recommend other treatments alongside their care regimen. Physical therapy, herbal supplements, and dietary changes often improve a patient’s prognosis.
Find a Chiropractor for Knee Pain at Workers-Comp-Doctors
Workers-Comp-Doctors often goes beyond spine and neck conditions. When you contact a chiropractor for knee pain, you might take the first step in a productive, lasting recovery experience. Workers-Comp-Doctors, has the resources needed to get you moving again.
Call (888) 533-0870 to schedule an appointment. Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Treatment for Knee Pain
Can chiropractors assist with misaligned knees?
Yes, a chiropractor can assist with misaligned knees. Chiropractic adjustments are a common treatment for knee joint misalignment.
When should you see a chiropractor about your knee condition?
You should see a chiropractor about your knee condition when you struggle with a limited range of motion and chronic pain. These issues can significantly affect your daily life.
What should you do immediately following a knee injury?
You should follow the RICE protocol immediately following a knee injury. RICE stands for rest, ice application, compression wraps, and elevation. Then, seek a chiropractor for knee pain to improve your recovery experience.
