The Root Cause of Knee Pain | Chiropractor in Reading, PA
Hey guys, Dr. McClimon back with McClimon Chiropractic, and today we’re going to talk about how we help eliminate knee pain.
Knee pain affects about one-third of Americans at some point in their lives, and there are many different causes. The key is identifying exactly what’s causing your knee pain so we can treat it appropriately.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
There are several different causes of knee pain.
Being overweight is one of them. In fact, every extra pound of body weight can contribute up to four additional pounds of pressure inside the knee joint.
Some of the other common causes we see include:
- Meniscus injuries
- Osteoarthritis or arthritis of the knee
- Knee sprains and strains
Two of the causes we frequently help with that are different from what an orthopedic specialist typically addresses are:
Subluxation or misalignment of the tibia and femur, creating mechanical problems within the knee.
Pelvic misalignment or imbalance, either from a spinal subluxation or a short leg, which shifts the pelvis, changes your mechanics, and places additional stress on the knee.
A Thorough Knee Evaluation
When you come into our office, we begin by getting a clear history of your injury and your symptoms.
From there, we’ll perform a series of orthopedic tests to determine exactly what’s causing your knee pain.
These tests allow us to evaluate:
- The meniscus
- The medial and lateral collateral ligaments
- The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL)
- Swelling within the knee joint
We’ll also palpate the knee to check for inflammation, tenderness, and swelling, all of which can indicate underlying problems.
The Importance of X-Rays
We also utilize X-rays as part of our evaluation.
X-rays help us determine:
- Whether the joint space is compromised
- If arthritis is present
- The overall alignment of the knee
If our examination suggests a ligament tear or another condition requiring medical intervention, we’ll refer you to an orthopedic specialist for further evaluation.
We can’t repair a torn ligament, and that should be managed medically.
Addressing Knee Alignment
One of the things we can help with that many orthopedic approaches don’t address is knee alignment.
Misalignment within the knee can contribute to:
- Osteoarthritis
- Meniscus injuries
- Chondromalacia patella (runner’s knee)
- Knee sprains and strains
During our examination, we evaluate the relationship between the lower leg bone (tibia) and the upper leg bone (femur).
Sometimes the tibia externally rotates while the femur internally rotates, creating what we call a slingshot phenomenon.
This causes the kneecap (patella) to track more laterally, which can contribute to:
- Chondromalacia patella
- Inflammation within the knee joint
- Wear and tear
- Osteoarthritis over time
The sooner we identify these issues, the better the outcome.
We determine this through a combination of physical examination and X-rays.
If we identify a structural misalignment within the knee, we can perform specific chiropractic adjustments to improve alignment and address the root cause of the problem rather than simply masking the symptoms with medication.
Pelvic Alignment & Short Leg Syndrome
Another cause of knee pain that we commonly help with is leg length imbalance.
Sometimes one leg appears shorter because the pelvis has shifted due to a spinal subluxation. Other times, one leg is anatomically shorter than the other.
Both situations can significantly alter your walking mechanics and increase stress on the knee.
We evaluate this using X-rays.
If we find a pelvic imbalance caused by a short leg or spinal subluxation, we work to correct that imbalance.
Improving pelvic alignment helps restore proper mechanics throughout the lower body, reducing irritation and inflammation within the knee joint while addressing the underlying cause of the pain.
Treating the Root Cause of Knee Pain
Our goal isn’t simply to cover up knee pain with medication.
Our goal is to identify and correct the underlying cause.
By improving alignment in both the knee and the pelvis, we can reduce mechanical stress, decrease inflammation, improve function, and help eliminate knee pain naturally.
Guys, that’s your tip for today. We look forward to seeing you in the next video. God bless!
