Knee Pain and Chiropractic Care: What May Help

Knee pain is one of the most common complaints among active adults, and it usually has more to do with how you move than with one single injury. Chiropractic care is not a first-line treatment for most knee problems on its own, but it may support recovery as part of a broader plan built around exercise, movement and education.

The knee sits between the hip and the ankle, and the way those joints move affects the forces the knee absorbs with every step, stair climb and run. That is one reason knee problems are so common in runners, hikers and people who play court or field sports: small imbalances in strength or movement get amplified over hundreds of repetitions.

Three types of knee pain are especially common. Patellofemoral pain, often called runner's knee, shows up as an aching pain in the front of the knee, behind or around the kneecap, and typically flares with running, stairs or squatting. Patellar tendinitis, sometimes called jumper's knee, causes pain and tenderness just below the kneecap and is common in sports with jumping. Knee osteoarthritis, where cartilage gradually wears down, becomes more common after about age 45 to 50 and causes stiffness, swelling and pain that flares with activity and eases with rest.

Common contributors to knee trouble in active people include a sudden increase in training, weak hip and thigh muscles, tight hamstrings and calves, and poor movement patterns that put extra load on the joint. For older adults, cartilage wear is often the driving factor.

For knee osteoarthritis specifically, the major clinical guidelines put exercise, education and weight management at the center of care. Reviews of manual therapy for knee osteoarthritis have found short-term pain relief when it is added to exercise, but the evidence for long-term benefit is limited, and some guidelines do not recommend it as a routine add-on. The honest takeaway: hands-on care may help some people feel better in the short term, but it works best alongside strengthening and activity, not instead of them.

If you come to Dr. Gregory Martin with knee pain, he starts by listening: when it started, what makes it worse, and what activities matter to you. Then he looks at how your lower back, hips, knees and ankles move, because knee strain often traces back to how the joints above and below are working. He will tell you honestly whether chiropractic care fits, and when a medical evaluation is the better first step.

Some knee symptoms warrant prompt medical attention rather than chiropractic care: pain after a forceful injury with a pop, a knee that locks or gives way, rapid swelling, or not being able to bear weight. If self-care and activity changes have not helped after a couple of weeks, an evaluation is a reasonable next step.

If knee pain is keeping you from the hiking, running or sports you enjoy, an evaluation can help you sort out what is going on and what is worth trying. Dr. Gregory Martin has practiced chiropractic since 1996 and sees patients in Sparta and Morris Plains, New Jersey. Call or text (973) 699-4100 to schedule an appointment.