Knee pain Geelong – Shannon Avenue Chiropractic
Posted on March 9, 2018 in NewsYou may be surprised to know that at our Chiropractic clinic we see numerous patients with knee pain! Knee injuries are becoming a common occurrence as living by the coast (Geelong and across the Bellarine Peninsula) we often live active lifestyles. Knee pain can often have various causes and therefor requirement different treatments techniques.
The knee joint’s primary function is to bend, straighten, and cope with the weight of our body, alongside the ankles and hips. The knee, is actually quite a complex hinged joint, it also twists and has the ability to rotate. In order to freely perform these movements the knee also requires support from the bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
At Shannon Avenue Chiropractic our care for knee injuries will include a thorough examination of the entire knee and surrounding areas including the muscles, ligaments and joints. We may also examine your posture and gait, and discuss any relevant past injuries or lifestyle habits that may be contributing to the underlying cause of your pain.
Common knee conditions we treat at our Geelong based clinic are, Baker’s cyst, Runners knee, torn meniscus and Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injuries as well as general wear and tear including arthritis. Dr Matthew Gooch will focus treatment in and around the knee but will also access the entire body. Often other forms of miss-alignment can be the underlying cause of the knee pain, or at least contributing factor. Our knees often become overloaded when we have limited range of motion in the hips or tightness in the lower back. The correct Chiropractic care can help correct these underlying issues. Conservative treatment such as manipulation/mobilization and/or soft tissue therapies can help prevent the need for invasive surgery
Chiropractic adjustments: This treatment is gentle, controlled, and direct. The adjustment is delivered directly to your knee and spinal joints. This helps to restore optimal movement and function.
Myofascial Release: This modality is used when the knee pain is associated with over tight or over worked muscles in the legs, hip and lower back. MFR technique primarily focuses on the soft tissues the treatment helps relax the muscles, relieve pain and restore optimal function and movement.
Active Release Technique (ART): This is a targeted treatment of specific muscles and other soft tissues to release scar tissue, and improve muscle function. This is also effective for restoring motion of the meniscus, one of the more common causes of knee pain. ART is a rehabilitation methods to help prevent your knee pain in the future! The rehab often incorporates stretches, exercises, foam rolling and may also involve applying a heat or ice pack to the effected area.
A recent study into chiropractic care for semi-professional footballers with lower limb complaints showed positive results. The study found a significant reduction in primary lower limb muscle strains and weeks missed due to non-contact knee injuries through the addition of a sports chiropractic intervention (1). However its not just elite athlete that experience knee pain, we use ours knee’s everyday walking, running, sitting, bending. Its not surprising we can get pain from simple wear and tear!
Chiropractic care is an effective and conservative method of treatment that helps to reduce pain without the need for medications and surgery. Consider trying Chiropractic care at Shannon Avenue Chiropractic next time you experience knee pain.
Dr Matthew Gooch
1. BMC MusculoskeletDisord. 2010 Apr 8;11:64. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-64.The effect of a sports chiropractic manual therapy intervention on the prevention of back pain, hamstring and lower limb injuries in semi-elite Australian Rules footballers: a randomized controlled trial. Hoskins W, Pollard H.