The knee is the dumbest joint in the entire body.
That’s because the knee just compensates for the hip and the ankle. Now, just because it’s the dumbest joint, doesn’t mean we don’t love treating it.
In fact, the knee is one of my favorite joints.
It’s estimated that over 6 million people will have a knee injury each year. And over 25% of adults will have a knee injury at some point in their adult life. It can affect the young, with acute and traumatic injuries, or the aging, with chronic and degenerative changes. It does affect women slightly more than men. The knee is full of ligaments, tendons, and cartilage, and each can be injured. All this to say, there are so many things that can go wrong with the knees, and it can impact so many different people.
Plus, the way we treat the knee has changed drastically over recent years. Many of these acute injuries that were often surgical options are now turning into safe and effective nonsurgical options. Utilizing rehabilitation, knee decompression, shockwave, and deep tissue laser, we can correct things like meniscus or ligament injuries. Chronic issues like cartilage degeneration or arthritis are common, with around 1.3 million knee replacement surgeries performed in 2024. It is obvious that many people struggle with chronic knee pain.
The good news is that there are other answers besides knee replacements. Knee decompression can help turn back time on your knee, increasing blood flow to the area and joint space. Shockwave and laser treatments are both going to expedite healing, helping it function like it is supposed to. Rehabilitation exercises are going to help load the knee appropriately and aid in returning to your everyday activities.
So, whether you are young or old, male or female, have a recent injury, or have been dealing with it for years, chiropractic is a fantastic first stop for figuring out how to correct your knee pain. We want to get you back to doing what you need to do, want to do, and love to do.
$99 New Patient Special
Includes consultation, exam, doctors report of findings, PosturePro analysis, and first adjustment.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Better
No matter where you start, we can improve together. The first phase focuses on making progress in your current ailments. Typically, this means alleviating pain and helping you return to your daily activities as smoothly and quickly as possible.
2. Stronger
Now that you’ve made progress, how do we KEEP it? We’ve all experienced improvements, only to regress when our focus shifts. This phase empowers your body to sustain the hard-earned progress you’ve worked so diligently to achieve.
3. Healthier
True HEALTHcare! So often, we are only concerned with our sickness and dysfunction, seeking treatment only when we experience symptoms. This is SICKcare. During the healthier phase, we focus on your overall health and maintaining your well-being.
How We Treat Knee Pain In Fuquay-Varina, NC
Chiropractors work to keep a body in alignment so your knees can function normally without pain. They are experts in recognizing the source of a problem and building short and long term solutions.
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
A large majority of knee issues could be prevented if the biomechanics in the hip and ankles were sound to begin with. This is why every patient with a knee complaint in our offices gets a comprehensive exam of not only the knee, but the hip, the ankle, and the lumbar spine.
Dysfunction in any one of these areas could be the root cause of your knee issue, even if the knee injury is acute. Once we have determined the cause of your knee pain, we can create a plan tailored to you. We can treat it with adjustment, rehabilitation exercises, laser, shockwave, and knee decompression.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Fuquay-Varina, NC
A subluxation is the inability of a joint to move correctly, creating a disconnection between the joint and the brain. Proprioception is your body’s ability to know where it is in space. Every muscle, tendon, and ligament is in constant communication with your brain so you can move and function correctly.
A subluxation means there is a miscommunication between that joint and your brain. Here at Pinecrest Chiropractic, we are going to do a complete and comprehensive examination to find the root cause of the problem. For so many different injuries, a subluxation is a component of the issue. Adjustments to a knee injury are going to remove those subluxations, increase the communication between the brain and the joint, and allow the rest of the treatment plan to progress forward in the fastest way possible. By neglecting to correct the subluxation, you are increasing the amount of time it will take your body to heal and respond in the way it is made to.
Soft Tissue Work
Soft tissue work is crucial for restoring proper motion and stability with a joint, but especially the knee. As we have discussed, the knee compensates for the hip and the ankle. So any dysfunction within that kinetic chain will create more tension and issues within the knee. We have multiple soft tissue modalities to break down those trigger points and scar tissue and allow the proper range of motion to return. Our top treatments are:
- Shockwave
- Dry Needling
- Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
Shockwave is the most common and works by using pressure and sound to penetrate the tissues. This build-up of pressure is directed using a handheld device, operated by one of our staff members, which directs the force into a specific location. It feels like a mix between a TENS unit and a massage gun. With this, you can feel an immediate change in the tissue tension, melting away those trigger points and creating an opportunity for our body’s natural healing process to take over and work the way it is intended to work.
Dry needling is performed with a thin, solid needle inserted directly into the muscle belly. This needling creates an inflammatory cycle directly in the muscle and tendon where the needle is inserted. For the next two to three days following treatment, your body will work through the healing process, clearing away the inflammation and tension.
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) uses a stainless steel tool to scrape the muscle and fascia. We often joke that the tool looks like a fancy butter knife. It is scraped along the muscle belly, breaking down the scar tissue and allowing the body to heal the area correctly.
All three of these modalities are used to treat muscular imbalances surrounding the knee; the specific treatment is patient-dependent.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Similar to the need to address the hypertonic and tight muscles, it is crucial to address the weaknesses and muscular imbalances. We do this by creating a customized exercise plan for each patient. As part of our initial examination, we will go through and find what is causing each patient’s biomechanical breakdowns. We sent each patient home with as many resources as possible, one of which is a customized rehabilitation plan, with explanations and videos of each exercise, so the patient has the information no matter where they go. This content is a very intentional part of our treatment plan to treat every facet of the patient’s biomechanics.
Knee-On Trac
Knee-On Trac is a knee decompression device used in many of our knee rehabilitation programs. The patient is seated with a strap across their thigh. The lower leg is elevated onto a stand and strapped to the decompression device, which provides gentle traction to the knee. The device will pull up to 30 pounds, allowing the knee joint to gap, forcing the body through a few different healing processes.
Decompression for knee pain will increase blood flow to the knee, specifically the knee cartilage and meniscus. With this as a part of their treatment plan, we have seen patients going from needing surgery ASAP to being able to climb stairs with no pain in just a few months. This works great on degenerative knees, arthritic knees, and issues with the cartilage and meniscus.
Deep Tissue Laser
The deep tissue laser works through a process called photobiomodulation. This is the technical way of saying that light is used to create a metabolic change in the tissues. Infrared light is used and penetrates 2-3 inches deep into the tissue, which increases mitochondrial production, making more ATP, as well as oxygenation and circulation.
This is the process by which our body naturally heals itself, using energy (ATP) to bring in more blood flow and circulation. This works extremely well on tissues that don’t naturally heal themselves well, like ligaments and cartilage. Using Deep Tissue Laser has been a game-changer in our ability to treat knee pain complaints effectively at Pinecrest Chiropractic.
Common Causes of Knee Pain in Fuquay-Varina, NC
Torn Meniscus
It’s estimated that 70% of meniscus injuries are non-surgical. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that sits in the joint space of the knee, between the femur and the tibia. It helps act as a guide to make sure the two bones are sitting together correctly, helps the knee glide as it hinges, and acts as a shock absorber. It is a fundamental structure within the knee.
With it doing so much, it is also a very common area to injure. Any weakness in the biomechanical chain increases the likelihood of putting extra stress and, therefore, creating an injury in the meniscus. With only a small portion of meniscus injuries requiring surgery, our office is an excellent fit for getting you back moving the way you need to. We create a specific treatment plan that can include adjustments to the knee, hip, and lower back, shockwave, laser, knee decompression, and dry needling to return you to moving and functioning the best you possibly can.
Patellar Tendinitis
Patellar Tendinitis, also known as “jumper’s knee,” is when there is inflammation in the tendon that connects the patella to the front of the shin. This pain will often be just below the knee cap and gets worse when going from sitting to standing, jumping, squatting, or climbing the stairs. It is called Jumper’s Knee because it is commonly seen in athletes who are increasing their training, including more jumping and/or running.
This issue is usually chronic, and many people play through it until it progresses or until they decide they are ready to treat it. The injury is caused by microtears in the patellar tendon. The risk of playing through or ignoring the injury is that the tears will progress, creating more instability in the knee to the point that it is significantly harder to treat or even create a more catastrophic failure in other areas of the knee.
Arthritis
Arthritis seems to be the diagnosis that many patients are afraid of. What they don’t realize is that there are over 100 different types of arthritis. The most common type of arthritis in the knee is osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the type of arthritis that you have to earn. This is seen in the older populations, with over ⅓ of adults over the age of 65 suffering from knee osteoarthritis. Excessive loading of the cartilage within the knee over time is what leads to osteoarthritis. Other lifestyle factors also contribute, including weight, diet, and some genetic markers. Because knee biomechanics are closely associated with the mechanics of the knee and ankle, patients with osteoarthritis in the knee often present with current or previous injuries to the hip and ankle as well.
Preventing arthritis is a lifelong project in which each patient is responsible for controlling their own destiny as much as possible. Proper loading of the lower extremity now, as well as limiting and treating current injuries, decreases the likelihood.
For patients who are currently struggling with osteoarthritis, hope isn’t lost! There are still multiple things that we can do to increase function and mobility, as well as decrease pain. One of the best treatments for degenerative knee conditions is knee decompression. We pair knee decompression with shockwave, laser, and at-home rehabilitation exercises. We’ve seen patients move from needing a knee replacement asap to after a treatment plan, being able to climb stairs with no struggles. Knee osteoarthritis is one of our favorite conditions to treat, and it is a blast to see patients able to get their life back!
Iliotibial band disruption
Your Iliotibial Band, commonly referred to as the IT band, is a tough band of tissue that extends from the outside of the hip, all the way down to the outside of the knee. The IT band is mainly made up of a long, flat tendon that crosses both the knee and the hip joints, contributing to pain at both joints. The IT band can become so tight that it rubs on the outer portion of the femur, which can cause pain or even a popping or clicking sound. This extreme tightness is most common in distance runners and cyclists; however, anyone can experience this type of injury. Treating this injury is essential to reducing the pain it can cause.
Runner’s Knee
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, also known as “Runner’s Knee,” is the most common overuse injury within the knee. These patients usually describe a dull pain around the kneecap. The pain is more often on the top and top sides of the knee cap, and gets worse with things like walking, running, jumping, squatting, and going down stairs. The knee may swell, and patients often describe a “Crunchy” or “grinding” sensation known as crepitus.
Runner’s knee is usually an overuse injury, but it can occasionally be traumatic. Imbalances in the stabilizing muscles of the leg cause the condition. The primary culprits are usually the gluteus medius and the vastus medialis oblique (VMO), which is the quadriceps muscle closest to the inside of the leg. Treating this is crucial. First, it is crucial to decrease the inflammation in the affected tissues, followed by strengthening and correcting the mechanical imbalances.
Check Out Our Location Near You
609 Attain St #141, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chiropractor in Fuquay-Varina, NC, good for knee pain?
Yes. Chiropractors are specialists in musculoskeletal injuries. A thorough examination in our office will allow us to determine the exact cause of your knee pain and create a comprehensive knee pain treatment plan. We can use adjustments, laser, shockwave, and rehabilitation exercises to treat knee pain.
When should you see a chiropractor for knee pain?
The sooner you can get examined and treated, the better the results you will see. When an issue is chronic for weeks, months, or even years, it often causes other biomechanical changes in different areas of the body.
How do I know if my knee pain is serious?
Any level of pain is worth examining. The severity of an issue often dictates the length of treatment. So, examining and treating a problem early on will usually lead to a shorter care plan, whereas procrastinating on an issue will often lead to a prolonged care plan.
How can I stop knee pain?
Stopping knee pain is contingent upon knowing what is causing it. For example, if a knee issue is caused by weakness in the hips, then strengthening the glutes will decrease the pain. But if your knee issue is caused by ankle instability, strengthening the glutes will do little to nothing to decrease the pain. This is why a proper examination is crucial for a successful treatment plan.
Do medical doctors recommend chiropractors for knee pain?
Yes. Chiropractors are musculoskeletal specialists. Medical doctors don’t often treat musculoskeletal issues and usually refer out to chiropractors or physical therapists.
Are chiropractors covered by insurance for knee pain?
Although every insurance plan is different, most insurance companies still cover chiropractic care for knee pain.
How can I relieve knee pain naturally?
Our bodies are made to be healthy and to heal themselves. Chiropractic is designed to help the body do what it naturally does. Chiropractic is a natural solution for knee pain. Knee pain is a mechanical issue, and mechanical issues respond better to mechanical solutions (chiropractic) than to chemical solutions (drugs and medications).
What does arthritis in the knee feel like?
Arthritis will feel different for each person. Often, it feels like steady, constant pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, and a locking or giving way feeling.
Is it better to use heat or ice to treat knee pain?
Heat is known for increasing blood flow, while ice is known for decreasing inflammation. Which one to use depends on the type of injury. If you’re not sure which to use, start with ice. If it improves the pain, continue applying ice. But if it makes little or no improvement, try heat.
Is walking good for knee pain?
Walking is one of the best things we can do for our bodies, including our knees. Although that is a broad and generalized statement, it is important to listen to your body. If walking increases pain or swelling in your knee, it is advised to discuss this with your provider to make sure walking is safe for you.
Should I exercise with knee pain?
Condition-specific rehabilitation exercises are fantastic for exercise when experiencing knee pain. But just because you have pain doesn’t mean you should stop exercising as a whole. Modifying the exercises that cause knee pain is helpful to keep the other muscles around the knee, hip, and ankle moving properly without aggravating the injured knee.
What is the best ointment for knee pain?
Many pain ointments are strictly skin irritants, which means they irritate the skin so you feel that sensation instead of the pain, just distracting you for the short term. That doesn’t mean they are bad or you shouldn’t use them, though. Biofreeze and Icy Hot are great for helping distract you from the pain so you can get through your work day or your rehabilitation exercises. But you need to be aware that the ointment itself isn’t actually healing the joint.
What should I eat if I have arthritis in my knee?
When dealing with inflammation of any type, but specifically arthritis, it is helpful to eat an anti-inflammatory diet. This diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods while avoiding processed foods, sugar, and alcohol.
$99 New Patient Special
Includes consultation, exam, doctors report of findings, PosturePro analysis, and first adjustment.
