Knees

Many people suffer from knee pain, from an occasional niggle to severe pain from the slightest movement. Belmont Chiropractic can help prevent minor knee pain from reaching the point when your mobility is drastically affected.

 
GET IN TOUCH

Runner's Knee/Patella Tendonitis

Runner’s knee and jumper’s knee are similar conditions, but there are differences that require a proper diagnosis to ensure you get the correct rehabilitation treatment programme to bring pain relief. Jumper’s knee affects the patella tendon located at the bottom of the knee cap, while runner’s knee affects the patellofemoral joint. Your chiropractor will provide an accurate diagnosis and help you heal from either injury.

  • In runner’s knee, there is dull pain at the front of the knee, and the knee hurts when you touch it. The pain worsens during certain movements, including climbing stairs, kneeling, and squatting.
  • Pain may occur after you’ve been sitting for a long time.
  • There’s a grating feeling when the knee bends, and it feels unstable.
  • In jumper’s knee, there is a sharp pain and swelling at the bottom of the knee. 
  • The pain worsens when bending and straightening your knee and when you try to place weight on it.
  • Runner’s knee can be caused by changes in how you exercise, including increased intensity, particularly in exercises that strain the patellofemoral joint.
  • Little or no recovery time after strenuous exercise is a common cause of runner’s knee.
  • Injury to any of the leg joints, ankle, knee, and hip.
  • Weak thigh muscles place undue stress on the knee joint and cause damage over time.
  • Inflexibility causes tightness in leg muscles, hamstrings, and Achille’s tendons.
  • Feet rolling inward while the thigh muscles pull the kneecap outward can result in runner’s knee.
  • Jumper’s knee can be caused by overuse or sudden stress on the joint, like stopping, jumping, or changing direction suddenly.
  • Landing or falling awkwardly after jumping.
  • A sudden or pre-existing injury that weakens the tendon.
  • Your chiropractor provides stretching exercises to improve flexibility.
  • Strength exercises are included in your rehabilitation programme to strengthen surrounding muscles.
  • Myofascial release relieves the pressure in the injured area’s tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
  • Pain control modalities, including bracing provided or recommended by your chiropractor.
  • Supportive strapping provides stability to reduce the pain caused by runner’s knee.
  • Corrective actions, including adjustment to realign the joint.

ITB Issues

Your iliotibial band is a strong tendon that runs from the outside of your hip bone down to your outer knee and the top of your shinbone. It rubs against your hip and knee bones when the tendon and surrounding muscles become too tight, for example, when long-distance runners overuse the muscles and tendons. It can swell, become inflamed, and irritate the surrounding tissue, causing pain.

  • Burning pain that extends from your knee to your hip.
  • Pain occurs when you repeatedly bend and extend your knee, for example, using stairs and running, causing the muscle and tendon to tighten. 
  • In severe cases, pain continues after you’ve stopped the activity.
  • Clicking during movement.
  • Your knee becomes inflamed and swollen.
  • The knee feels warm and has red discolouration.
  • Friction over the outer bones of the hip and knee.
  • Compression of the tissue beneath the tendon.
  • Repeated bending and straightening of the knee.
  • Sports, including running, cycling, soccer, and skiing. 
  • Pain due to running is aggravated by running on uneven ground, wearing old and worn shoes, and running when it’s cold. 
  • Pain due to over-exercise is aggravated by not stretching or warming up properly beforehand, not cooling down properly afterward, and pushing too hard.
  • Excessive foot pronation is when your foot rotates inward instead of outward.
  • Weakness in your hip, which prevents it from rotating properly.
  • Your shinbone is twisted towards your body, pulling the tendon closer to the bone.
  • Genetic or pre-existing iliotibial band tightness.
  • Knee arthritis, flat feet, inflexibility, and sitting for most of the day cause the tendons and muscles to contract and tighten.
  • Your chiropractor provides stretches after a diagnosis.
  • Strength exercises your chiropractor has included in your rehabilitation programme.
  • A fully qualified chiropractor should only carry out Cold Laser Therapy.
  • Ultrasound is a non-invasive treatment that eases discomfort and brings pain relief.

Ligament Disruptions

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects the thigh and shin bones via the knee, stabilising the knee joint. Excessive stress can cause knee strain or cause the ligament to tear or snap. The pain is exquisite, but sessions with a chiropractor can bring pain relief and help strengthen the knee.

  • A loud pop or snap is the first sign of injury.
  • Inability to put weight on your knee. It feels as though your knee will buckle beneath you.
  • Severe pain when walking or moving the knee joint at all.
  • The knee swells and becomes inflamed.
  • A loose feeling in the joint.
  • Difficulty putting weight on the joint without pain.
  • Sudden movements, including sudden stops and changes of direction.
  • Twisting the knee without moving your foot.
  • Landing or falling awkwardly.
  • A direct blow.
  • Sports with sudden stops and direction changes, including soccer and rugby, where tackles are also dangerous. Playing on astroturf is an additional risk factor.
  • Sudden or pre-existing knee dislocations. 
  • Joint instability.
  • Myofascial release using equipment provided by a chiropractor.
  • Pain control modalities, including OTC pain medication and a knee brace that a chiropractor correctly fits.
  • Joint mobilisation, which includes gentle, passive movement.
  • Stabilisation or manipulation, including manipulations to improve flexion and extension.
  • Corrective actions, an adjustment by your chiropractor as part of your personalised rehabilitation programme.

Patella Tracking

Patella tracking disorder occurs when your kneecap (patella) slips out of its groove and goes to either the outside or inside of your knee. It’s a relatively straightforward diagnosis for a chiropractor, who will then devise a rehabilitation that considers your specific injury.

  • Pain in the front of the knee during any movement strains the knee, for example, going up and down stairs, squatting, and kneeling.
  • Popping or grinding feeling when bending and straightening your leg.
  • Weakness in the knee, as if it can’t carry your weight.
  • Swelling around the knee.
  • Repetitive twisting movements that strain the knee.
  • Tendons, ligaments, and muscles that are either too tight or too loose.
  • Sports that put undue stress on the kneecap, including squatting, and short and long-distance running.
  • The knee joint is out of alignment.
  • A direct blow pushes the kneecap out of its groove.
  • Being knock-kneed, having flat feet, and arches that are too high.
  • Myofascial release to release trigger points and relieve tight muscles.
  • Pain control modalities, rest, wearing proper footwear, and OTC pain medication.
  • Joint mobilisation should only be carried out by a qualified chiropractor as it involves precise application of pressure on the kneecap to get it back in its groove so that it moves up and down and side to side.
  • Stabilisation or manipulation, including stabilisation and strengthening exercises for thigh muscles. Your chiropractor will include these exercises in your rehabilitation programme.
  • Corrective actions could include an adjustment to realign the kneecap.

Costs

Initial ConsultationFollow Up Consultation
Medical Aid RatesR850R750
Private RatesR800R700
Scroll to Top