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knee pain treatment

Knee Pain Treatment: Home Remedies Plus Chiropractic Solutions

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Knee pain treatment at home

Has a sudden, sharp pain in your knee ever stopped you in your tracks? If so, you’re not alone. Knee pain is a common complaint for those of us who lead active lifestyles, spend long hours on our feet, and even sit at a desk all day. And you don’t have to just live with it. Knee pain treatment works.

Many knee pain causes exist. They include injuries, arthritis, or underlying health conditions. So, you must get to the root cause to experience relief from joint pain.

That’s what we’re here to help you do. Because knee pain, my friend, is no joke.

In fact, according to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, nearly 20% of Americans report severe knee pain at some point in their lives.

This article gives detailed information on knee pain.

  • What causes it?
  • Are your knee pain symptoms trying to tell you something?
  • And what is the best knee pain treatment based on your unique symptoms?
  • Could knee pain treatment without an operation work for you?

You’ll find what you’re looking for here. But first, if you’re unsure what’s causing your knee pain, we invite you to explore knee pain causes.

What Is Knee Pain?

Knee pain is any pain or discomfort you feel inside your knees. It can be in the front, back, outside, or where the knees come together. That pain may be sharp, dull, sudden, or persistent.

It’s an inconvenience at best and debilitating at worst. It can hamper your daily activities, keep you sedentary, and impact your sleep.

What Causes Knee Pain?

Your knees hurt for one or more of these reasons. Here are some top culprits.

Overuse injuries

These are pretty common. Just think about how much work your knees do every day!

They bear the weight of your body and help you move around. So, it’s not surprising that they might get worn out or injured from time to time.

Sudden Injuries

Accidents can damage tendons and ligaments. Imagine twisting your knee during a football game or falling awkwardly while hiking. Ouch!

These kinds of incidents can lead to serious knee injuries like sprains or tears. And what’s worse, you keep reinjuring it while it’s trying to heal.

Arthritis

Here’s another common culprit. Inflammation in the joints causes severe discomfort and damages the tissues further. You need to get that inflammation down so the joint can heal.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 54 million adults in the U.S. suffer from some form of arthritis.

Underuse

This may seem counter-intuitive. But not using your knees can also cause pain. The tissues surrounding the joint weaken. As they do, the knee experiences greater pressure during everyday activities. It’s more likely to get injured. And it may hurt for seemingly no reason.

What are the Symptoms of Knee Pain?

Knee pain symptoms include:

  • Stiffness

  • Swelling

  • Popping or crunching sound

  • Redness or warmth

  • Limited ability to extend the leg

  • Weakness

  • Instability

Knee pain can be a real nuisance, right? It’s like that one friend who shows up uninvited and overstays their welcome.

When you move your leg, you may feel a little uncomfortable or have a lot of pain when resting. Some people describe their knee pain as a dull ache. Others say it feels like their joint is on fire!

It’s all relative, as they say. Pain is a very subjective experience but no less real.

The condition can be so severe that you have swelling around the joint or trouble moving the leg.

But here’s what’s important:

If you notice any redness around your knee or if it feels warm when touched, these could be signs of an infection. In such cases, it’s best to seek medical attention immediately. 

Home remedies for knee pain are not an alternative to medical treatment. They can only be a complement to it. They promote your body’s natural ability to heal itself.

The American College of Rheumatology suggests that you should see a doctor if your knee hurts for more than a week or if you have a fever or unexplained weight loss. Remember, early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent long-term damage to your knee.

Now that we’ve covered what knee pain is, its causes and symptoms, I bet you’re wondering how it’s diagnosed.

But you can explore more knee pain causes here if you’d like.

How Is Knee Pain Diagnosed?

Diagnosis starts with a thorough medical examination. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, how bad your pain is, and what might have caused it. They’ll also want to know about any past injuries or medical conditions.

Next comes the physical examination. Your doctor checks for swelling, tenderness, and warmth. They look for visible bruising on your knee.

They might also move your knee into different positions. How far can you move your knee back and forth before it hurts? Where do you feel the pain—outside of the knees, between the knees, front, back, to all over?

This allows them to identify which ligaments or parts of the knee are affected.

Sometimes, the initial exams can’t find the exact cause of your knee pain. So, doctors use imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds to diagnose medical conditions. These tests provide detailed images of the structures inside your knee—bones, cartilage, tendons… you name it!

Unfortunately, X-rays can’t detect all problems.

For instance, they can reveal if you’ve got a fracture or arthritis. But you’ll need an MRI to detect damage to soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons.

Sometimes, when there’s a concern about infection or gout, doctors may do a procedure called arthrocentesis. They take fluid from your knee joint to examine under a microscope.

Sounds scary? Don’t worry! It’s done under local anesthesia. So. you won’t feel much discomfort during the procedure.

Now, let’s move on to home remedies for knee pain relief, San Francisco! 

You can also schedule an initial consultation to learn how misalignments contribute to your pain. Schedule your initial consult and get your first Knee on Trac treatment same day. It’s included with your first visit.

What Is the Home Remedy For Knee Pain Relief?

Knee pain self-treatment is possible. You may not need surgery.

When knee pain is serious takes you out of the game, many home remedies might do the trick. So, it’s crucial to explore knee pain treatment options that are natural and non-invasive when possible.

How is Knee Pain Treated at Home?

One popular method is using heat and cold therapy. To get started, use a hot pack to loosen stiff joints or a cold pack to reduce inflammation and numb the area. Alternate.

Remember, using too much heat or cold or for too long could harm your skin. So, don’t leave either on the skin for an extended time.

Heat should be tolerable. Cold should have something between your skin and the ice.

OTC Pain Killers

Painkillers aren’t our first choice. But they can be very effective—especially short-term.

Try ibuprofen (such as Advil) or acetaminophen (such as Tylenol). These medications can help manage mild to moderate knee pain. But don’t use them long-term without talking to a healthcare professional.

Even OTCs have side effects when overused or misused. These can include liver damage, uncontrolled bleeding, and tinnitus (ringing of the ears).

Essential Oils

You’ve probably heard about the benefits of essential oils, right? Certain oils, like lavender and eucalyptus, may reduce knee pain when massaged onto the area. They have anti-inflammatory properties.

Knee Pain Lotions

Creams with capsaicin, a pain-relieving substance found in chili peppers, create a sensation of warmth. Apply it on the skin over your painful knee joint. This helps distract your brain from the underlying pain.

Menthol also has both anti-inflammatory properties and a heating sensation. 

Knee Pain Treatment Exercises

Exercise plays an integral role in managing knee pain.

Even gentle activities like walking strengthen muscles around your knees. These muscles stabilize the joint and reduce pressure on it.

Flexibility activities help, too! Regular movement across your entire range of motion keeps tissues like tendons, ligaments, and fascia healthy. The joint can move with greater ease. It doesn’t have to compensate for tightness by moving awkwardly.

Being active helps blood flow. This speeds up the healing of injured tissues.

Swimming and cycling are better for your knees than running or jumping. Low-impact exercises reduce the risk of aggravating an existing injury.

But remember, it’s all connected. Do exercises for your quadriceps and hamstrings to reduce knee pain and strengthen them. Weakness in a different area will force the knees to work harder and less efficiently.

Yoga is another excellent choice for those suffering from knee pain. This practice emphasizes balance and flexibility. Poses such as the chair pose or warrior pose can help strengthen your knee muscles. But they don’t put too much strain on them.

Lastly, don’t forget about stretching! Regularly stretching your legs can improve flexibility and reduce stiffness in your knees. Just remember to warm up before you start to prevent injuries!

This seems counter-intuitive. You’ve undoubtedly seen runners stretch before physical activity.

But stretching knees that are stiff from sitting or lying can actually make it worse. Walk around or gently extend them before going for deep stretch.

Managing Knee Pain with Food

 

Believe it or not, knee pain treatment food is possible. What you eat can have a significant impact on your knee pain. Eating foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts can help manage knee pain caused by inflammation. These foods have compounds that science shows reduce inflammation.

On the other hand, foods high in sugar and saturated fats may increase inflammation. They make knee pain worse. So, try to limit your intake of processed foods and opt for whole foods instead.

And yes, fruits are okay despite the sugar. The benefits of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins are greater than the harm from sugar within a well-balanced diet.

Knee Pain Relief Supplements

Glucosamine and chondroitin are also believed to promote joint health by helping rebuild cartilage. Cartilage is the tissue that cushions your joints. So, yes, you want to protect that tissue.

However, you should only take them under medical supervision. They may interact with other medications.

As you can see knee pain treatment is more than taking a pill or getting surgery. A holistic approach to knee health includes home remedies, regular exercise, and a healthy diet. Often, this resolves the problem entirely.

What Are Knee Pain Home Remedies for Bursitis, Meniscus Tear, Etc.?

If you’ve been diagnosed with a certain type of knee pain, you may be looking for knee pain treatment specific to that type of knee pain.  
 

Knee Pain Meniscus Tear Treatment

A small meniscus tear can heal with rest, hot/cold, and low-impact exercise. But it does take some time to heal—sometimes a year or more. You may also reinjure it as it closes, causing scar tissue. Strengthening the surrounding muscles protects the meniscus as it heals. A significant meniscus tear will probably need surgery. And if you’re an athlete or have a demanding job that increases reinjury risk. Surgery is usually a better option for you.
 

Knee Pain Bursitis Treatment

Bursitis responds well to anti-inflammatory drugs, low-impact exercise, and a focus on strengthening the whole leg.

Knee Pain Cartilage Treatment

Rest, hot/cold, and low-impact strengthening exercises can help with pain caused by cartilage loss.

However, it’s essential to realize that poor body alignment and balance can wear cartilage down faster than it can heal. Knee pain chiropractic treatment helps restore knee stability.

Knee Pain Tendonitis Treatment

Anti-inflammatories and gentle exercise can help ease the pain while the joint heals.

Knee Pain Swelling Treatment

You may have an infection or serious injury if you have significant heat or swelling. Please see a doctor.

Holistic Knee Pain Treatment

In all of these cases, your Truspine chiropractor can assess your condition, order imaging, and build a knee pain treatment plan that includes both home remedies and holistic, natural treatments like:

 

 

 

When Should You Seek Medical Knee Pain Treatment?

If you have mild to moderate knee pain that is relatively new, the above knee pain home remedies can help.

But when is knee pain serious?

You may need to see a doctor and get medical knee pain treatment if:

  • Pain is severe
  • Moderate pain persists for several days even with rest and OTC medicine
  • Mild pain persists for weeks despite home remedies
  • You can pinpoint a cause back to a specific injury
  • You can’t fully extend your leg
  • You limp or try to walk a certain way to avoid pain
  • You struggle to perform daily activities. Have you started walking less or avoiding the stairs? Do you sit down on a stool to avoid squatting when reaching under the sink? You’re doing your body a disservice. These seemingly small reductions in activity make it worse over time. They will age you beyond your years.
  • You think you may have a soft tissue tear. Soft tissue tears can take a long time to heal on their own because you keep reinjuring them. So, delay only makes it worse. If the manual examination indicates you may have a soft tissue tear or fracture, we can order imaging. This guides your knee treatment plan.

  • You also have swelling, redness, and fever. These could be signs of an infection or an inflammatory condition like arthritis.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, about 18 million patients visit a doctor or hospital yearly due to knee problems.

When you choose Truspine for your chiropractic care, you get an evaluation plus your first Knee on Trac treatment during your first visit.

We want to get you on the path to relief quickly.

Other Indications That You Might Need Medical Knee Pain Treatment

Sometimes, the symptoms aren’t as evident as intense pain or swelling. Perhaps you’ve noticed a grinding sensation in your knee when you move it. Or maybe there’s been an unusual increase in joint stiffness when you wake up in the morning.

These subtle changes can also indicate underlying issues such as osteoarthritis.

Injuries from sports or accidents often need medical attention, too. Have you fallen recently? Did you hear a popping sound followed by immediate pain in your knee? These could signify ligament damage. It needs urgent care.

It’s important not only to focus on physical symptoms though. Psychological factors play a part too!

Is constant worry about your knee problem causing stress and anxiety? Is it affecting your quality of life? Don’t hesitate to get those knees checked out!

It’s better safe than sorry!

Lastly, remember those statistics we mentioned earlier? Early intervention can greatly improve outcomes for knee pain. So if you’re in doubt, getting checked out is always a good idea.

Now that we’ve talked about when to see a doctor for knee pain, let’s discuss knee pain treatments for severe cases.

What Are The Medical Treatments Available For Severe Knee Pain?

Any knee pain becomes a constant reminder that something is not quite right. As you go about your day it’s always with you. But sometimes, the pain is beyond what’s bearable.

Even here, knee pain treatment can get you back on your feet.

What Does A Surgical Procedure Involve?

Doctors often recommend surgical options such as arthroscopic surgery or total knee replacement. Either you’ve already tried conservative measures. Or they know they won’t work because it’s bad.

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure. Doctors make tiny cuts and use special tools to find and fix problems in the joint. This method can remove small amounts of damaged or diseased parts and close tears.

On the other hand, total knee replacement replaces the damaged parts of the knee joint with an artificial one. Doctors make an incision over your knee to expose the joint.

They can then remove damaged tissue. After that, they insert artificial pieces made of metal and plastic. This restores their function. It reduces pain.

Surgery can sound scary. But knowing what to expect can help ease your nerves. But it’s not just about what happens during surgery. Recovery is equally important! After surgery, you’ll likely need to stay in the hospital for a few days before returning home. You’ll also have regular follow-ups with your doctor to monitor your progress.

And you’ll also get physical therapy to help the joint stay mobile as it heals. 

According to The American Journal of Medicine, 90% of people who undergo total knee replacement experience substantial improvement in their ability to perform common activities like walking or climbing stairs.

But we don’t want to leave you with the impression that surgery is your only option—even for severe knee pain.

Non-surgical treatments can also manage knee pain.

How Does Physical Therapy Treat Knee Pain?

Physical therapy sounds fancy doesn’t it? But trust me, it’s pretty straightforward stuff! Physical therapy helps you regain movement and function in your body after an injury or illness. It includes guided exercises and personalized home exercise programs. Physical therapists focus on strengthening muscles around your knees.

Different types of therapies are used depending on what’s causing your discomfort. For instance, let’s say you have arthritis causing you grief. A physical therapist may suggest Aquatic therapy. The water provides resistance without putting too much stress on joints.

Therapists often use their hands to apply pressure on muscles and manipulate joints, known as manual therapy. A study in a medical journal discovered that 72% of knee osteoarthritis patients had less pain after manual therapy. So, don’t underestimate the power of a good rubdown!

Now that we’ve covered treatments for severe cases of knee pain let’s move on to something equally important – prevention! Because, as they say, prevention is better than cure.

Now that we’ve covered treatments for severe cases of knee pain let’s move on to something equally important – prevention! Because, as they say, prevention is better than cure.

How Do You Prevent Knee Pain?

First, the home remedies we suggested above will also go a long way toward preventing knee pain. They can also reduce the chances that it gets worse.

But you can do more to keep knee pain from stopping you in your tracks.

It’s all about making lifestyle changes and caring for your body.

Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

Body weight is more than a vanity metric. Extra weight puts more stress on joints than they’re built for. When your weight shifts from side to side, it’s pulling the joint in unnatural ways. This is made worse if you also have weak muscles around the joint. So, you may become injury-prone.

Jumping or running amplifies the weight. So, it’s no wonder you may exhaust more quickly than normal-weight people. You’re doing more work than they are.

That added weight may also discourage you from being as active as you would otherwise. This can start you down a slippery slope. Extra weight presses down on the joints. Knee pain starts. You become less active. It gets worse. And so on.

It doesn’t matter if you’re carrying extra muscle or extra fat. Losing a bit of weight can help your knees.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, every pound of excess weight exerts about 4 pounds of extra pressure on the knees! So losing just 5 pounds could take 20 pounds of pressure off your knees. That’s pretty impressive, right?

Regular physical activity lowers the risk of knee pain, according to a study in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. To stay healthy and prevent knee pain, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight and stay active.

Wear Supportive Shoes that Fit Well

If your feet and ankles are shifting side to side, your knees will adjust to the movement. This wears down cartilage and causes pain. So, think about what your feet want when buying shoes. Supportive footwear maintains proper leg alignment and balance. It reduces strain on your knees.

Avoid Prolonged Sitting or Standing

Do you sit and stand for long periods throughout the day? You likely notice your knees feel stiff after a while.

When the knees aren’t moving for a time, they lose lubrication. The surrounding tissues tighten. Now what happens when you transition from an extended period of no activity to intense movement?

That lack of lubrication coupled with tightened tissues increases discomfort. It also causes joint damage.

A better strategy for sitting or standing in one place for a long time is to change your position several times an hour. Tools like a footstool, balance board, or massaging mat can help. Try walking in place or tapping your foot for a period.

Maintain Good Posture

Good posture goes a long way toward keeping those pesky knee pains away!

Avoid letting yourself settle into slumping positions, Whether sitting, standing, or running. These “lazy” body positions don’t engage muscles, making them weak.

Weak soft tissues make hard structures like your spine, or pelvic bones misaligned. Knee pain occurs because they must compensate.

Get Knee Pain Relief with Effective Knee Pain Treatment

Many home remedies can effectively reduce your knee pain. But to get the right treatment, you need to know what’s causing the pain and know when home remedies don’t work. 

We invite you to find out what’s causing your knee pain. To get your comprehensive knee pain evaluation and first Knee on Trac treatment, schedule an initial consultation.

Download our Knee on Trac Brochure.

Learn all about the conditions treated, benefits and contraindications.

Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Pain Treatment

What are the most common causes of knee pain?

Injuries cause ligament tears or cartilage damage from sports or accidents. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage breakdown. Overuse can lead to Meniscus tears, tendinitis or bursitis.

How many types of knee pain?

Many, all with different causes.

  • Sharp and stabbing. This means there may be an injury like a tear.
  • Dull and Aching. This is usually from arthritis or overuse. Bone-on-bone contact in arthritis causes a grinding sensation.
  • Swelling and stiffness can occur from injuries or joint inflammation.
  • Instability and Giving Way may be due to ligament damage.

When should I see a doctor about knee pain?

You should see a doctor if the pain is severe or persists for more than a few weeks despite self-care. If it worsens over time or you have swelling, redness, or warmth in the joint, it’s time to check it out.

If knee pain prevents you from doing your normal activities, causes instability, or you have clicking or giving way of the knee, don’t delay scheduling an appointment. Sudden onset of severe pain after an injury also requires prompt medical evaluation.

What tests will the doctor do to diagnose knee pain?

Common tests to diagnose knee pain include a physical exam where the doctor checks for swelling, range of motion, ligament stability and meniscus function. Imaging like X-rays can check for arthritis or fractures. MRIs can see soft tissues like cartilage, ligaments and tendons. Finally, an arthroscopy uses a tiny camera through a small incision to look inside the joint. Lab tests can confirm infections and measure inflammatory markers for arthritis.

Which treatment is best for knee pain?

The treatment for knee problems depends on the cause. Home remedies include rest, ice, compression, and anti-inflammatories. Other non-invasive treatments include physical therapy, injections, and braces. If pain or knee damage is severe, you may need surgery for tears or loose bodies. In extreme cases, knee replacement for severe arthritis. Avoid reaching this stage through lifestyle changes. Weight loss, low-impact activities, and diet can all directly impact knee health.

What is the best knee pain relief at home?

Common home remedies include RICE therapy. That stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Knee braces, a knee pain relief sleeve, or tape for support are temporary solutions. They can cause weakened muscles with everyday use.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce inflammation and pain for a short time. This gives you a window to exercise or receive knee pain therapy like Knee on Trac to strengthen knee muscles and promote healing.

Knee pain topical medication creams containing menthol or capsaicin have a burning sensation. They work by distracting the brain.

Knee wraps, low-impact exercises like swimming or biking, knee pads, and losing weight if overweight are also effective. Invest in good footwear. A doctor, physical therapist, or chiropractor who knows about your knee pain cause can suggest the safest exercises for it.

When is surgery recommended for knee pain?

Surgery is usually recommended if non-surgical treatments like physical therapy, knee pain treatment injections and braces have failed. For surgery to work there must be a clear mechanical problem like a torn meniscus or ligament. Or x-rays/MRI show significant arthritis damage. Some common knee surgeries include arthroscopy for tears, loose bodies or debris removal, meniscus repair or removal, ligament reconstruction, and total knee replacement for end-stage arthritis.

What are some exercises for knee pain?

To help with knee pain, try gentle exercises like swimming, water aerobics, or stationary cycling. You can also try knee-friendly yoga, walking in a pool or on soft surfaces, or leg lifts without weights. Physical therapy exercises that focus on range of motion, strengthening, and proprioception can also be helpful. Avoid high-impact activities like running that may aggravate knee problems.

Will knee pain go away?

Knee pain can go away through knee pain treatment at home. Strategies like low-impact exercise, diet improvement, and weight loss can help. But it’s important to realize some knee injuries require medical attention. If you experienced a known injury or if the pain is severe, accompanied by heat, or doesn’t resolve in a few weeks with home remedies, you should get it checked out.

What is the recovery time after knee surgery?

The time it takes to recover depends on the surgery. For arthroscopy, it’s usually 2-6 weeks. Meniscus repair takes 6-12 weeks. Ligament reconstruction takes 6-9 months. Total knee replacement takes 4-6 months. Physical therapy is vital after all surgeries to regain motion, strength and function. After minor procedures, most people can go back to their daily activities within a few weeks. However, returning to sports may take longer.

How can I prevent knee pain from getting worse?

Lose weight if you’re overweight. This works wonders. Start or maintain a low-impact exercise routine, including stretches and strength. Wear proper shoes and use braces during more intense activities. But don’t wear them all the time. This has a worsening effect. If you’re injured, get treatment.

Avoid high-impact activities if possible. Manage arthritis with medications and lifestyle. See a doctor for an early evaluation to identify and address the underlying cause.

To get your comprehensive knee pain evaluation and first Knee on Trac treatment, schedule an initial consultation.

Medial Knee Pain

Knee Pain Medial: What Causes Knee Pain from Inside?

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Knee pain Medial

Is knee pain your ever-present companion? Or maybe you’ve just started experiencing knee pain symptoms? Either way, it’s crucial to consider where the knee hurts. It gives you clues about what’s causing knee pain and what to do about it. Knee pain medial (or medial knee pain if you prefer) should never be ignored.

It not only brings discomfort. Lack of mobility keeps you from doing what you love, which can make the pain worse over time.

Find out what’s causing your knee pain now!

What Is Medial Knee Pain?

Medial knee pain refers to the discomfort felt on the inner side of the knee closest to the other knee.

So, which side is the medial side of knee? Left or right? This can cause some confusion when you Google search “what causes knee pain left side” or “knee pain right side”.

Instead of thinking right or left, realize that the knees mirror each other!

This part of the knee is called “medial” because the medial collateral ligament (MCL) connects the thigh bone to the shin bone on the inner sides of each knee. If you’re experiencing knee pain inside (between your knees), this ligament is what you feel.

On the other hand, if you have knee pain on the outside, that’s lateral knee pain. You’re feeling the Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL).

Anatomy of Medial Knee Pain

Where is medial knee pain? That’s not a trick question.

It often originates as knee pain inside below the kneecap. But it can extend to the upper leg.

The pain might worsen with specific movements. So, you may have knee pain walking up stairs, knee pain on the side when bending, or medial knee pain with flexion (trying to bend your knee as far as it goes).

The inner side of your knee might be tender to touch.

To learn more about the anatomy of knee pain, here are more resources you’ll want to check out.

What Causes Pain on the Inner Side of Knee?

Sudden Inner Knee Pain

3 common events lead to sudden knee pain medial:

  • Falls
  • Sports injuries, like a medial collateral ligament injury
  • A sudden increase in activity without adequately preparing the body

Chances are one of the above culprits is to blame if this is a new pain.

Ongoing Inner Knee Pain

Knee pain medial can also be an ongoing issue with the musculoskeletal system, like these:

  • Osteoarthritis is a slow degeneration of joint tissue accompanied by a slowing repair rate as you age. While it’s associated with age, factors like excess weight (muscle or fat), lack of exercise, and poor spinal alignment can significantly hasten the degeneration an individual experiences, if any.
  • Torn meniscus (cartilage) may occur when the knee is not properly supported by strong leg muscles.
  • Pes anserine bursitis is inflammation of the fluid-filled bursa that reduces ligament friction, usually caused by improper knee alignment or weak leg muscles.
  • Medial plica irritation. Media plica are folds in the joint that cover the knee. The constant rubbing can cause them to thicken and become less pliable, usually caused by poor body alignment.

As you can see, it’s all connected. The musculoskeletal system is complex. When something goes wrong in one area, other tissues must overcompensate. This leads to chronic pain throughout the body.

You can learn more about how these misalignments contribute to your pain, and what we can do about it when you Schedule an initial consultation for evaluation and first treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of Knee Pain Medial?

Symptoms of inner knee pain include:

  • Sudden pain on the inside of the knee (injury-related)
  • Swelling
  • Knee pain inside when bending.
  • Bruising
  • Instability
  • Stiffness
  • Difficulty walking
  • Locking of knee joint
  • Feeling like your knee is going to “give out” when you stand up
  • Cracking in the knee

how to treat medial knee pain

Chiropractic care offers non-invasive, drug-free, and effective options for alleviating medial knee pain. We first perform a thorough examination to identify the root cause of your pain. We then apply manual techniques to adjust and manipulate the affected areas, promoting natural healing.

Treatments for Medial Knee Pain

Each chiropractic treatment plan is unique. We design one specifically to help you achieve your goals. A chiropractic treatment plan for knee pain may include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

You may think of the back when we say “chiropractor”. And we won’t diminish the importance of the back because that’s where the spine is. But chiropractors are trained in “whole body” alignment. When the mechanical issues with the body are fixed, the body can start healing itself.

Learning Proper Form

Posture is more than how you sit or stand upright. You need to move so your posture is dynamic. Every activity you perform requires posture. When you bend, lift, squat, reach, pick something up, turn, and more, you’re applying a posture technique.

If this technique is off-balance, weight is unevenly distributed. Some tissues strengthen more than others, causing misalignment. So, re-learning how to move effectively is essential.

We show you how as part of your knee pain treatment plan! And we send you home with an exercise plan to practice and strengthen supporting tissues.

To get your comprehensive knee pain evaluation and first treatment, schedule an initial consultation.

Ultrasound therapy

Ultrasound is a well-established healing practice. We use a device to send sound waves at 800,000 Hz and 2,000,000 Hz through your knee. This can reduce swelling and promote blood flow to oxygen and nutrient-starved tissues.

Stretching for Relief

Stretches targeting the inner side of your knee can help alleviate knee pain medial. Gently stretching the muscles around the knee joint and hip can improve flexibility and reduce tension. Your Truspine chiropractor guides you with specific medial knee pain stretches that suit your condition.

Knee on Trac

Knee on TracTM is a specialized traction device we use in the office to isolate and strengthen knee tissues. It ensures your knee movements use proper form while taking the knee through a set of static and intermittent movements. This helps ensure the knee is not re-injured during exercises, while reducing any discomfort your may feel.

Download our Knee on Trac Brochure.

Learn all about the conditions treated, benefits and contraindications.

Sports Medicine

In the short term, our focus is reducing pain and helping your body heal. But we also want to prevent future injuries. Your inner knee pain treatment plan may include developing a training strategy to reduce your risk of future injury. Sports medicine is for everyone. Athletes and weekend warriors alike.

Getting Back to What You Love

With each treatment, you’ll feel less pain. You can move with ease and get back to activities you enjoy. This “getting back to what you love” is vital to the healing process. As you do, you’ll strengthen the surrounding muscles and other tissues to support and maintain alignment. This can provide you with long-term relief from the annoyance of knee pain.

Why Chiropractic Care for Knee Pain Is Different

Chiropractic care stands out due to its emphasis on functional healing without medications. Unlike medications that may have side effects, chiropractic treatments target the root cause of the pain.

This means that as chiropractors, we not only focus on the symptoms. We aim to identify any underlying issues contributing to your medial knee pain. This approach can lead to long-term improvement and prevention of future injuries.

Let’s fix this at the source!

Sometimes, pain in the knee can be referred from the hip. Very often, misalignments in the spine contribute to poor knee alignment.

So, we address all of it to provide whole-body pain relief, increased mobility, and improved function.

What’s more, when you choose Truspine for your chiropractic care, you get an evaluation plus your first treatment on the same day. We want to get you on the path to relief quickly.

Embracing a Life without Knee Pain

Medial knee pain shouldn’t hold you back from living your life to the fullest. With chiropractic care, you can address the pain on the inner side of your knee and regain your mobility.

If you’re struggling with knee pain on the inner side, chiropractic care provides a promising avenue for relief. By targeting the root causes of your pain, chiropractors can help you overcome discomfort and improve your overall quality of life. Say goodbye to persistent knee pain and embrace a pain-free, active lifestyle with chiropractic solutions.

Let our Truspine chiropractors get to the root cause of your knee pain. Schedule an initial consultation and get your first treatment same day!

Muscle Scar Tissue Removal

Graston Technique for Muscle Scar Tissue Removal

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Home » Archives for Supreet Shah
Muscle Scar Tissue Removal

You’re tired of battling the limitations that muscle scar tissue imposes on your life: the throbbing, annoyance, limited range of motion, and hindered sports performance. You look forward to the freedom to move without pain and stiffness. You dream of a life unencumbered by scar tissue restrictions on your muscles. We share your dream!

The Graston Technique for scar tissue at Truspine Chiropractic can unlock the doors to the future of healing and revitalization you’re seeking! In the post, you’ll explore this cutting-edge therapy and how it can help you bid farewell to muscle scarring and welcome a new era of mobility and vitality!

What Is Muscle Scar Tissue & Why It Happens?

Muscle tear scar tissue, also called adhesions, are clumps of dead fibrous tissue that form in the muscles, of course, but can also happen in the other tissues of the musculoskeletal system: fascia, ligaments, joints, and tendons. This scar tissue feels tight and restricts fluid movement. Because it lacks blood flow, it can also reduce blood flow and hinder messages sent through the nervous system, slowing response times. Over time, this leads to more cellular death, growing the adhesion.

You may feel pain, swelling, tissue tightness, redness, and inability to move as fast or fluidly as you usually would—directly impacting performance in sports and daily activities. You may even feel a muscle scar tissue lump through the skin.

Don’t let scar tissue muscle knots steal your performance and mobility. Schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive muscle scar tissue evaluation and first treatment.

Muscle Tear Scar Tissue Is a Natural Part of Healing

As an active person, you probably already know that to grow muscle, you must push it slightly past its limits. This causes micro-tears in the tissue that heal, developing the muscle. Scarring is a natural part of this healing process. If the body stopped here, your muscles would become more scar than muscle. So, there’s a next step.

The Body Replaces Scar Tissue Muscle Knots with New Muscle

In the ideal situation, the body replaces the scar tissue with healthy new muscle strands. This typically takes 24 hours. But after an intense workout (or day on the job), it may take up to 3 days. That’s why professional athletes and fitness influencers have leg and arm days to let those muscles heal. If the muscle is re-injured during the healing process, some scar tissue remains each time rather than being replaced.

Muscle Adhesions Can Happen to Anyone

“Permanent” scarring can happen to anyone. But it’s common in performance athletes, those who keep a regular training schedule, and people who perform repetitive manual tasks, such as working on an assembly line. Muscle scar tissue after surgery is also common. Scar tissue muscle knots occur post-surgery because the body is overwhelmed with trying to heal many tissues simultaneously.

The Graston Technique for muscle scar tissue effectively reclaims past performance and functions at your best.

The Graston Technique works on the fascia tissue between your heel and the foot’s ball, too. Find out more about Graston Technique Plantar Fasciitis.

How the Graston Technique for Muscle Scar Tissue Works

At Truspine Chiropractic of San Francisco, we firmly believe in offering our clients the most advanced and effective treatments available. Graston Technique is one such therapy! It’s meticulously designed to target scar tissue in muscle and promote efficient muscle scar tissue removal. Ultimately, you’re giving the muscle a second chance to heal properly this time.

We use specialized tools, including the Graston Tool for Scar Tissue, for gentle yet powerful soft tissue mobilization.

Many want to know Is Graston Technique Dangerous? Find out.

The Graston Tool for Muscle Scar Tissue Removal

Graston Technique for Muscle Scar Tissue

At the heart of the Graston Technique lies a set of uniquely designed stainless steel instruments. In the skilled hands of your Truspine chiropractor, these tools are carefully glided across your skin in precise motions to break down scar tissue muscle adhesions.

With rounded edges and varying shapes and sizes, our Graston tools are tailored to suit different areas of your body, ensuring the most effective treatment. Because of this unique design, the Graston technique can manipulate muscle tissue deep under the surface while remaining a non-invasive muscle scar tissue treatment.

Personalized Treatment Plans

Whether you’re dealing with old scars from a car accident, sports injuries, or surgery…or you have newly formed scar tissue, each situation and person is unique. For this reason, Graston Technique is very versatile and adaptable. You need a personalized treatment plan to get the best results. Rest assured that the therapy plan at Truspine Chiropractic aligns with your body’s specific requirements at different stages of healing.

Graston Technique is most effective within a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan, which may include:

  • Chiropractic Adjustment to realign the spine and musculoskeletal structures that may have become weakened and misaligned from too many scar tissues
  • Neuropathy treatment is the scar tissue has led to nerve damage
  • Sports Medicine to address other issues that may be impacting sports performance. We share strategies and techniques to reduce future scar tissue formation and help you stay at peak performance.

Don’t let scar tissue muscle knots steal your performance and mobility. To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive muscle scar tissue evaluation and first treatment.

The Holistic Benefits of the Graston Technique at Truspine Chiropractic

Choosing the Graston Technique at Truspine Chiropractic means embracing holistic benefits and contributing to your overall well-being. After just a few treatments, most will experience these benefits:

  1. Improved Circulation: Our Graston Technique enhances blood flow, oxygenation, and nutrient delivery to the affected areas, accelerating healing and nourishing muscle tissues for efficient muscle scar tissue removal through your lymphatic system and replacement by healthy muscle tissue.
  2. Reduced Pain and Discomfort: You’ll likely feel sore for a couple of days after a session, similar to an intense workout. But as the muscle begins to heal, you’ll notice pain you may have experienced before is reduced or gone.
  3. Enhanced Mobility: With scar tissue in muscle diminishing, your range of motion improves, allowing you to move more quickly and fluidly. If you’re a performance athlete, you can expect to maximize your performance potential through
  1. Non-Invasive Approach: At Truspine Chiropractic, we prioritize your comfort. Our Graston Technique is a non-invasive procedure that promotes healing without incisions or downtime. It is important to allow the muscle to heal for a couple of days, but you can otherwise perform normal daily activities.

To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive muscle scar tissue evaluation and first treatment.

The Graston Technique in Action at Truspine Chiropractic: What to Expect

Assessment by Your Truspine Chiropractor

At Truspine Chiropractic, our priority is your well-being. Our experienced chiropractor begins by conducting a thorough assessment of your scarring. Through palpation (touch) and observation, we identify the extent and location of the scar tissue in the muscle, tailoring a personalized treatment plan to suit your unique needs.

We can also order an MRI or CT so that you can see for yourself the presence and extent of scar tissue. Just ask! Imaging can also help us understand the extent of muscle scarring.

Your assessment appointment includes your first treatment session. We want to start you on your journey to relief from day 1. This sets us apart from other providers of therapeutic services like Graston Technique.

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Targeted Treatment by Your Truspine Chiropractor

With precision and expertise, your Truspine Chiropractor commences the Graston Technique session. We can target several areas during one session, and we target each area for about 30 to 60 seconds before moving to a different area. However, if this is your first Graston Session, you may have multiple adhesions in a small area.

By skillfully gliding the specialized Graston tools over the affected areas, we gently break down scar tissue on muscle. The controlled pressure applied during the process stimulates blood flow, promoting natural healing and reducing muscle scarring as the muscle begins to regenerate this time.

A Path to Recovery with Your Truspine Chiropractor

At Truspine Chiropractic, we view your journey to recovery as a partnership. With each Graston Technique session, you’ll witness the scar tissue in muscle becoming less rigid and more pliable. As adhesions break down, your range of motion improves, and discomfort dissipates. Any muscle scar tissue pain you may currently have diminishes as the muscle heals. Our use of the Graston Technique for muscle scar tissue not only treats existing issues but also prevents future injuries by enhancing flexibility, overall muscle function, and blood flow.

Embrace the Future of Healing with the Graston Technique at Truspine Chiropractic!

You’re on the path to swift recovery with Graston Technique at Truspine Chiropractic! Our skilled practitioners and advanced tools are here to support your journey towards freedom from muscle scarring. Embrace this innovative therapy and unlock the power of healing with Truspine Chiropractic!

You can trust us to bring you the best in chiropractic care, and together, we’ll pave the way to a healthier, more vibrant you. Don’t let scar tissue muscle knots steal your performance and mobility. To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive muscle scar tissue evaluation and first treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Muscle Tear Scar Tissue

Why do scar tissue muscle knots happen?

The human body produces scar tissue to patch damaged tissue immediately. It then replaces this rough tissue with new, healthier tissue. But this doesn’t always happen if the muscle is re-damaged during the 1-3 days this takes to happen.

Can you get rid of scar tissue in muscles?

The Graston Technique is a non-invasive way to effectively target and break up scar tissue for muscle scar tissue removal through the body’s natural detoxification processes.

Can you get rid of scar tissue in muscles?

The Graston Technique is a non-invasive way to effectively target and break up scar tissue for muscle scar tissue removal through the body’s natural detoxification processes.

To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive muscle scar tissue evaluation and first treatment.

Knee Osteoarthritis Relief

Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Getting Knee Deep in Relief

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Osteoarthritis of the knee

Are you tired of living with the discomfort of osteoarthritis of the knee? Relief is possible! Chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to managing knees with osteoarthritis. Discover what this condition is and how a chiropractor can help you find relief from osteoarthritis in the knee.

Do you have knee osteoarthritis or something else? See other knee pain causes here.

What Is Osteoarthritis of the Knee?

It’s a degenerative joint disease that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 32.5 million U.S. adults currently suffer from it.

It occurs when the protective cartilage in the knee gradually wears away.

Your cartilage is like a slippery surface that a bone can glide against. You don’t even feel this glide when this surface is healthy and new. It’s that smooth. But one of the first signs you are developing osteoarthritis in the knee is that you do start to feel this movement, even if you wouldn’t yet call it “pain”.

First, the layer gets rough, so your knees don’t move as well as they once did. Then it thins until you have bone-on-bone friction.

Everyone’s knees are constantly in a state of wear and repair. And as we age, the “wear” can start to outpace the “repair” and those wear patterns become uneven, allowing the bone to work through your protective cartilage layer. This wearing away of knee cartilage is known as “knee osteoarthritis”.

Common Arthritis Knee Symptoms

Do you believe you may have arthritis in knee symptoms? Then, chances are you’re experiencing these 2 or more of these knee osteoarthritis symptoms:

  • Pain
  • Aching feeling
  • Stiffness
  • Decreased knee flexibility. It may feel like it’s getting stuck before fully extending.
  • Swelling

The pain may come and go. And it’s possible to have it only in one knee. Some people will feel the pain in a specific place on their knee, like the front or one side.

You may notice your knee feels slightly unsteady when you try to go up or down stairs. It usually hurts more going down than when you went up.

This pain may keep you up at night as it throbs for no apparent reason, and you may feel stiff when you get out of bed. Creaking and crunchy sounds are also common symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

Find out more about common knee pain causes here.

Getting to the Root Cause of Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis pain is not a certainty as we age, and even after you begin experiencing symptoms, relief is possible.

Each time the cartilage renews itself, it changes shape a little based on factors like how you use it, bodily alignment, weight distribution, and nutrition. Over time, this structure alters to maximize your ability to move with the least effort.

That sounds like a good thing, doesn’t it?

But if your body isn’t correctly aligned, the wear becomes uneven. One or the other side of your knee does more work, and the musculoskeletal system it works within is also off-balance. Since wear is not evenly distributed, the bones work through the protection, and you begin to notice more arthritis knee symptoms.

This isn’t just about having good posture—or not. Alignment is a dynamic, whole-body activity that begins with the spine. If this pillar of your bodily structure is off-balance, everything else will try to adapt, and you have knee osteoarthritis.

This spinal misalignment is the root cause of knee osteoarthritis. The only way to find lasting knee pain relief is by getting to the root of the problem.

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The Chiropractor’s Approach to Osteoarthritis in the Knee

When it comes to managing osteoarthritis in knee joints, we take a personalized and comprehensive approach because, as you can see, the location of the osteoarthritis and how it’s impacting you can vary.

Our goal is to help you experience knee pain relief quickly and improve function while we focus on the longer-term solution of stopping that uneven wear so the repair can outpace the wear again. To do that, we must develop a personalized plan to realign your musculoskeletal system and strengthen the muscles and connective tissues around your knee joint.

To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive knee pain evaluation and first Knee on Trac treatment.

What a Knee Pain Treatment Plan Looks Like

Depending on your knee pain causes and other factors, your plan may include:

  1. Manual Adjustments: Chiropractors use gentle, controlled movements to realign the knee joint, reducing stress on affected areas.
  2. Joint Mobilization: The chiropractor employs techniques to improve joint mobility and decrease stiffness in the knee.
  3. Therapeutic Exercises: Weakness in the supportive structures around the joint puts extra strain on the cartilage, amplifying pain and the wear rate. Customized exercise programs in the office and at home can strengthen the knee muscles, providing better support to the joint. This promotes better alignment and creates an environment where the joint can heal.
  4. Nutritional Guidance: A chiropractor may offer dietary recommendations to support joint health and reduce inflammation.
  5. Knee on Trac: A knee pain therapy that involves a specialized machine that gently takes your knee through its range of motion or holds your knee in a specific position over a session to restore function
  6. Acupuncture: A non-invasive ancient Chinese technique that uses tiny single-use needles to reduce pain and inflammation for up to a few days while increasing blood flow to promote healing. This gives you time to perform exercises and treatments to realign and strengthen tissues for longer-term results.
  7. Shockwave Therapy: A therapy that uses a specialized machine to send acoustic waves that target tissue at various depths to compress and manipulate them. Like acupuncture, this can also reduce inflammation and pain while improving blood flow to promote healing.
  8. Ultrasound Therapy: A therapy involving a specialized machine that sends sound waves between 800,000 Hz and 2,000,000 Hz into tissues. This causes tissues to vibrate, increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation.

Download our Knee on Trac Brochure.

Learn all about the conditions treated, benefits and contraindications.

How Chiropractic Care Helps

It’s non-invasive. Chiropractic care offers a non-surgical and drug-free approach to managing knee osteoarthritis.

You can have pain relief now while we restore function and mobility. Through gentle adjustments and targeted therapies, chiropractic treatments can alleviate knee pain.

Get your mobility back. Chiropractic techniques help restore flexibility and range of motion in knees with osteoarthritis.

Take back your quality of life. By addressing the underlying causes of knee pain, chiropractic care can improve your daily functioning and overall well-being.

To learn more about whether chiropractic therapies may relieve your knee pain, check out other knee pain causes.

To get to the root cause of this pain and find lasting relief, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive knee evaluation, treatment plan, and an initial adjustment and/or knee on Trac treatment.

Prevention and Self-Care Tips for Knee Osteoarthritis

  1. Work Toward and Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight puts additional stress on the knees, contributing to arthritis symptoms. The closer you can get to and stay at a healthy weight, the better your knees will feel and perform.
  2. Stay Active: Engage in low-impact exercises like swimming and walking to keep your knees moving without excessive strain. It may seem counterintuitive, but the worst thing you can do when experiencing knee pain is stop moving. Lack of movement will weaken supportive structures even more.
  3. Use Assistive Devices: Knee braces or orthotics can support and reduce discomfort during daily activities. But it’s important not to think of braces as a long-term solution since your body can become dependent on them, worsening the wear over time.

Living With Osteoarthritis Of The Knee

To say it’s challenging would be an understatement. For most, being able to walk without pain means freedom, independence, and getting the most out of life. But you don’t have to endure the pain alone. With the help of a skilled chiropractor, you can find relief and improve your quality of life. Seek professional chiropractic care, follow self-care tips, and take control of your knees with osteoarthritis today.

Remember, the journey to managing osteoarthritis in the knees starts with a single step toward a chiropractic solution. To get to the root cause of this pain and find lasting relief, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive knee evaluation, treatment plan, and an initial adjustment and/or Knee on Trac treatment.

Home » Archives for Supreet Shah
Meniscus Injuries

Meniscus Injuries: Stop the Pain Now & Promote Healing

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Meniscus Injuries
Home » Archives for Supreet Shah

Meniscus injuries can be painful and limit your mobility. But did you know that a chiropractor can play a significant role in your recovery? Whether you’re dealing with a lateral meniscus tear or any other meniscus injury, working with a chiropractor is a non-invasive and effective approach to alleviate pain and promote healing.

How Do Meniscus Injuries Happen?

Meniscus injuries, including lateral meniscus tears, can occur due to sudden twists or impacts on the knee joint. It’s true that mild to moderate meniscus tears can heal “on their own”. But this rarely happens with without some form of care because you will keep re-injuring it, making it worse.

If left untreated, as it gets injured again and again, it begins to significantly impact your daily activities and overall quality of life.

Meniscus tear

Types of Meniscus Injuries

A meniscus is a C-shaped pad made of cartilage on either side of your knee. It works as a shock absorber. There are two main types of meniscus injuries: medial and lateral.

The medial meniscus, located on the inner side of the knee joint, is more commonly injured. The lateral meniscus, positioned on the outer side of the knee joint, is less frequently injured.

Both kinds cause similar meniscal injury symptoms:

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Limited mobility 
  • Difficulty straightening or bending the knee
  • Popping or clicking sensations during knee movement
  • Feeling of instability or giving way

To learn about other knee pain causes, check this out.

Both types of meniscus injuries can range from minor tears to severe and complex tears. The severity and location of the tear within the meniscus play a significant role in determining the appropriate treatment approach.

For the vast majority of injuries, a therapeutic approach, such as chiropractic care is your best option. Only in severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to repair or remove the damaged portion of the meniscus. Either way, prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for optimal recovery and to prevent further complications.

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How a Chiropractor Helps Meniscus Injuries (3 Steps)

Chiropractors utilize a holistic approach to treat meniscus injuries and address their underlying causes.

1. Chiropractic Assessment

A medial or lateral meniscus tear can cause excruciating pain. So, we share your sense of urgency to stop the pain and restore function. Those are our two primary goals.

To this end, a chiropractor will conduct a thorough evaluation to identify the exact nature and extent of your lateral meniscus injury. It involves imaging to look inside and identify where the tear is and how bad it is. It also involves a gentle manual assessment of “where it hurts”. This assessment helps your chiropractor develop a customized treatment plan.

To get to the root cause of this pain and find lasting relief, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive knee evaluation, treatment plan, and an initial adjustment and/or treatment.

Download our Knee on Trac Brochure.

Learn all about the conditions treated, benefits and contraindications.

2. Relieving Lateral Meniscus Pain

After the assessment, one of the first things your Truspine chiropractor will want to do—and we think you’ll agree—is to take action to reduce pain levels quickly. We’ll develop a plan to provide quick but short-term relief. This short-term relief gives us a window to start working on therapies that, over time, can improve musculoskeletal alignment, restore functionality, and promote healing for long-term results.

To alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and accelerate healing, we may perform a variety of integrative healing therapies:

  • Gentle and specific chiropractic adjustments
  • Ultrasound therapy
  • Shockwave therapy
  • Laser therapy
  • Acupuncture

3. Restoring Functionality

When you’re suffering from a meniscus injury, restoring mobility and functionality are crucial. Chiropractors employ various techniques, such as mobilization and soft tissue therapies, to restore joint motion, improve muscle strength, and enhance overall knee function.

Your chiropractor will guide you through corrective exercises during your appointment. We also prescribe specific exercises to strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee joint. These exercises help stabilize the joint, enhance flexibility, and promote long-term recovery.

Be sure to check out other knee pain causes that this comprehensive chiropractic strategy can help.

Natural Healing without Surgery

Chiropractic care provides a non-surgical and drug-free alternative for meniscus injuries. By addressing the underlying causes of the injury and promoting natural healing processes, chiropractors help patients avoid invasive procedures and potential side effects.

If you’re suffering from a lateral meniscus tear or any other meniscus injury, chiropractic care can be a valuable treatment option. With our expertise in musculoskeletal health, we can provide personalized care to alleviate pain, restore mobility, and improve overall well-being. Don’t let meniscus injuries hold you back—seek the help of a chiropractor to regain control of your life. To get to the root cause of this pain and find lasting relief, schedule an initial consultation, including a full knee evaluation and an adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?

Walking on a torn meniscus can potentially worsen the injury and cause increased pain or further damage.

Will meniscus injuries heal on their own?

A meniscus tear may not heal on its own as the blood supply to the meniscus is limited, and the healing potential depends on the tear type, location, and individual factors.

How long does a meniscus tear take to heal?

The healing time for a meniscus tear can vary depending on factors such as the severity of the tear, treatment approach, and individual healing ability. It can take several weeks to several months.

Can a meniscus tear heal without surgery?

In some cases, a meniscus tear can heal without surgery, particularly for small tears on the outer edge of the meniscus. However, larger tears or tears in the inner part of the meniscus are less likely to heal without surgical intervention.

Can meniscus pain come and go?

Yes, meniscus pain can come and go, particularly if the tear is unstable or if the person engages in activities that aggravate the injury. Symptoms may vary over time.

Which meniscus injuries are more common?

The medial meniscus, located on the inner side of the knee joint, is more commonly injured than the lateral meniscus, which is on the outer side of the knee joint.

Is a torn meniscus a permanent injury?

A torn meniscus can be a permanent injury, especially if it does not heal properly or if surgical intervention is required. However, with appropriate treatment and rehabilitation, many individuals can find relief and regain functionality.

Be sure to check out other knee pain causes that this comprehensive chiropractic strategy can help. And You can learn more about how these misalignments contribute to your pain, and what we can do about it when you Schedule an initial consultation for evaluation and first treatment.

Knee Pain Causes

Knee Pain Causes: Comprehensive Look at Top Culprits

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Knee Pain Causes
Knee Pain Causes
Home » Archives for Supreet Shah

For many, walking without pain equals freedom, independence, and the ability to continue doing what you love. So when you’re dealing with knee pain causes, it can really put a damper on your day-to-day activities, not to mention your mental state.

If a knee pain x-ray comes back normal, you may jump to the conclusion that it’s arthritis, a “natural sign of aging”. But there are joint pain causes other than arthritis. And contrary to popular belief, arthritis is not “natural”. It’s a sign that something else is going on.

In this article, we’ll explore knee pain possible causes and symptoms. We’ll look at what’s really happening to your knees. And we’ll explore practical steps you can take right now to start experiencing knee pain relief and regaining proper knee function.

Demystifying the Causes of Knee Pain

1. Age-related Wear and Tear

As you get older, your knee joints may start to show signs of wear and tear. This is often due to a condition called osteoarthritis. With this condition, the protective cushioning between your joints wears down. Think of it like the shock absorbers in a car wearing out over time. This can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in your knees.

While this is a common occurrence as you age, the rate of “wear and tear” you experience is within your control. Strategies like maintaining proper body alignment and maintaining a healthy level of physical activity can slow its progression.

Is your knee pain an inevitable sign of “natural” aging? Schedule a knee pain assessment to find out! Get a consultation plus your first treatment.

2. Overuse and Repetitive Movements

Engaging in activities that stress your knees, like running, jumping, or squatting, can lead to overuse injuries. When you repeat these movements repeatedly without proper rest or conditioning, your knee joints can become strained. This is one of the common causes of knee pain when squatting.

It’s like you’re repeatedly bending a wire until it starts to weaken and fray, eventually causing pain and inflammation.

This doesn’t mean you have to avoid these activities altogether.

Many people start an intense new exercise routine without realizing that the body needs time to adjust. Or they perform the activity without knowing the proper form. Muscles and connective tissues need time to strengthen. This is especially true as we age.

So, now what?

If you’re already experienced signs of this knee pain cause, here are some things that can help:

  1. Have your knees evaluated by a professional
  2. Get the inflammation down
  3. Start a home exercise routine to strengthen your lower body. Ease into this new activity.
  4. Consider chiropractic care to ensure spinal alignment and improve your form

3. Excess Weight

Whether you’re carrying some extra fat weight or muscle, this excess can put a significant burden on your knees, causing knee pain. Imagine your knees as pillars holding up a structure. Pillars are designed to hold up a set amount of weight. When you add too much weight to the structure, the pillars can start to buckle under the pressure.

Similarly, the excess weight stresses your knee joints, leading to pain and increased risk of osteoarthritis.

4. Sports Injuries

Sports Knee Pain
Sports Knee Pain

Photo 92715316 © Lane Erickson | Dreamstime.com

Participating in sports that involve sudden stops, changes in direction, or collisions can increase the chances of sustaining a knee injury. These injuries often involve damage to the ligaments that hold your knee together, like the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

These ligaments are like sturdy ropes that stabilize your knee joint. When they’re torn or damaged, they can cause intense pain and instability.

5. Muscle Imbalances

Your knee joint relies on a delicate balance of muscles and tendons to function properly. Sometimes, certain muscles may become stronger or tighter than others, leading to imbalances.

These imbalances can cause the kneecap to track incorrectly, leading to pain and discomfort. It’s like a tug of war between muscles, where one side pulls harder, throwing off the alignment.

Sometimes, knee pain causes back pain. Whenever you have an imbalance in one part of the body, others will try to offset it. So, they experience their own tug-of-war.

Imbalances in the spine, hips, and even the ankles can all become knee pain causes. They often need to be treated together to regain natural, fluid movement from top to bottom. That leads us to the next of the common knee pain causes.

6. Poor Posture and Alignment

Having good posture and proper alignment is crucial for maintaining healthy knees. When your posture is off, or your joints are misaligned, it can create an uneven distribution of force on your knees.

Imagine a building with a crooked foundation. The walls and floors become strained. They develop cracks. Similarly, poor alignment can put excessive stress on your knee joints. The result? Pain and potential damage!

7. Joint Inflammation

Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can lead to chronic knee pain. Inflammation is like a fire within your joints, causing redness, swelling, and pain.

Inflammation gets a bad rap. But it’s the body’s natural defense mechanisms trying to send help to your joints when it senses they’re in distress.

Unfortunately, the immune system sometimes goes into overdrive, attacking the joints by mistake. This ongoing inflammation can erode the protective cartilage in your knees, leading to persistent pain and stiffness.

Wondering that’s causing your knee pain? Schedule a knee pain assessment.

8. Meniscal Tears

A sudden twisting or turning motion can cause a tear in the meniscus. This is a rubbery cartilage that acts as a cushion between your thighbone and shinbone.

Think of the meniscus as a shock-absorbing sponge. When it tears, it disrupts the smooth movement of your knee joint, resulting in pain, swelling, and sometimes a locking or catching sensation.

If you’re wondering what causes sudden knee pain and stiffness? This could be it!

Knee pain meniscus symptoms include:

  • Pain when rotating
  • Pain when running or walking for a long time
  • Limited range of motion
  • Popping sounds during movement
  • Locked knee
  • Fluid on the knee

9. Bursitis

When you overuse your knees or experience direct trauma, the bursae (small fluid-filled sacs) in your knee joint can become inflamed, leading to pain and swelling. The best thing you can do is take it easy and avoid activities that worsen the pain.

But it’s also important to keep the joints moving with gentle movements so it doesn’t lock up. Guided exercises with a professional can help.

10. Patellar Tendinitis

If you frequently engage in activities like running or jumping, you might experience patellar tendinitis. This happens when the tendon connecting your kneecap to your shinbone becomes irritated and inflamed.

11. Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome

Do you feel pain in the outer part of your knee? Outer knee pain causes an IT band irritation called iliotibial band syndrome.

This fibrous tissue, running from your hip to your knee, can become inflamed from repetitive friction. Stretching and strengthening exercises can help alleviate the discomfort.

12. Knee Osteochondritis Dissecans

Sometimes, a small piece of bone and cartilage within your knee joint can lose its blood supply, causing pain. Be mindful of this condition if you’re a younger athlete as its one of the more common joint pain causes among young adults. But if you engage in activities that stress your knees at any age you could develop it.

13. Gout

Experiencing sudden and intense knee pain? It could be gout. Gout is among joint pain dietary causes. Poor diet can cause excess uric acid crystals build up in your joints, including the knee, leading to severe pain, redness, and swelling. Too much red and cured meats are your most likely culprits but fermented foods and seafood can also contribute. All are full of purine when breaks down into uric acid.

Stay hydrated, limit purine-rich foods, and consult a healthcare professional for proper management.

14. Infections

While it’s rare, infections can cause knee pain. If you have an open wound, recent surgery, or notice signs of infection such as warmth, redness, and extreme pain, seek immediate medical attention. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent further complications.

15. Genetic Factors

Sometimes, genetics can play a role in knee problems and chronic pain. Inherited conditions or abnormalities in joint structure may make your knees more vulnerable to injury or degeneration.

16. Improper Footwear

Wearing shoes without proper support or an incorrect fit can contribute to knee pain. Your knees need stability and alignment. Choose shoes that provide adequate cushioning, arch support, and a comfortable fit to minimize stress on your knee joints.

17. Traumatic Injuries

Accidents happen, and direct impacts, falls, or sudden twists can cause traumatic knee injuries like fractures or dislocations. If you experience severe pain, swelling, or visible deformities after such an incident, seek immediate medical attention for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

18. Osgood-Schlatter Disease

If you’re an active teenager, you may be at risk of Osgood-Schlatter disease. This overuse injury can cause pain and swelling just below your kneecap. Resting, avoiding activities that worsen the pain, and doing gentle exercises recommended by a healthcare professional can help alleviate symptoms.

The Root Cause of Most Knee Pain

What Causes Knee Pain?
What Causes Knee Pain?

Believe it or not, the root cause of most knee pain lies in the alignment of your spine. Not all, but many of the above conditions (including those we think of as “age-related” like arthritis and chronic inflammation) start because your body’s core (the spine) isn’t on track.

Your spine acts as the central support structure for your entire body, and when it is misaligned, it can create a chain reaction of imbalances throughout your musculoskeletal system. This misalignment can lead to altered weight distribution, increased stress on your knee joints, and abnormal movement patterns, resulting in knee pain.

By addressing the root cause of spinal misalignment through chiropractic care or other therapies, you can restore balance to your body, alleviate knee pain, and enhance overall well-being

Could spinal misalignment be the root cause of your knee pain? You need to know now. Reach out to schedule a consultation.

Stop Knee Pain: How a Chiropractor Can Help

A chiropractor is a healthcare professional specializing in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions, including knee pain. They use their hands or specialized tools to apply gentle pressure and manipulations to your body, helping to restore proper alignment and function.

Chiropractic Care for Knee Pain

The human body is like a complex machine with many interconnected parts. Your knees, for example, are not isolated entities but are influenced by the alignment and movement of other joints and muscles. A chiropractor looks at your body as a whole and examines how various factors might contribute to your knee pain.

Addressing Spinal Alignment

For example, if your hips or pelvis are not properly aligned, it can put uneven pressure on your knees, leading to pain and discomfort. A chiropractor can use manual adjustments to realign these areas, reducing the stress on your knees and improving their function.

Correcting Muscle Imbalances

Another way a chiropractor can help is by addressing muscle imbalances. If certain muscles are too tight or weak, it can affect the alignment and movement of your knees, leading to pain.

We all get used to doing things a certain way. And the human body naturally tries to take the path of least resistance. Unfortunately, this leads to the strengthening of certain muscles while others remain weak, resulting in strain and overcompensation when you need to use that weaker muscle. A chiropractor can prescribe specific exercises or stretches to help rebalance and strengthen these muscles, supporting your knees and reducing pain.

Assessing Knee Pain Causes & If Chiropractic Care Can Help

It’s important to note that while chiropractic care can be beneficial for many individuals with knee pain, there are certain cases where it may not be the most appropriate treatment option. For example, if your knee pain is due to a severe injury, fracture, or infection, you may require more specialized medical care. A chiropractor will assess your condition and, if necessary, refer you to the appropriate healthcare professional.

Comprehensive Knee Pain Relief Strategies

Furthermore, a chiropractor can employ other therapeutic techniques to alleviate knee pain. This may include nutrition guidance, shockwave therapy, Knee on Trac, and acupuncture. These methods can help reduce inflammation, promote healing, and provide relief while ongoing chiropractic visits can help your musculoskeletal system obtain and retain proper alignment.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the other Integrative health approaches your Truspine Chiropractor may recommend to alleviate knee pain. Reach out to schedule a consultation and get your first treatment.

Nutrition for Knee Pain

Did you know your eating habits can impact your knee health and pain levels? It’s true! Proper nutrition is crucial in supporting your joints and reducing inflammation, which can alleviate knee pain.

Omega 3

One essential nutrient for maintaining healthy knees is omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have found that Omega-3 can reduce inflammation and relieve “tender” joints. These healthy fats can be found in foods like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds. Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce swelling and pain in your knees.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is also important. This vitamin is known for its role in collagen formation, which is a key component of healthy cartilage. Citrus fruits, strawberries, and broccoli are excellent sources of Vitamin C.

Turmeric

Along the same note, the Journal of Medical Food published a systematic review of joint pain studies and controlled clinical trials involving the spice Turmeric. This spice is common in many world cuisines, including Indian, Thai, Malay, and Japanese. Adding this spice to your meals, smoothies, or coffee may support your knee pain relief goals.

Supporting Healthy Weight with Nutrition

Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight through proper nutrition is essential for knee health. As we discussed, excess weight puts additional strain on your knees, increasing the risk of pain and conditions like osteoarthritis. By adopting a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, you can support your knees and promote overall joint health.

Working with the Truspine team, you can learn more about nutrition and stay motivated to eat foods that support healthy joints and whole body health.

Acupuncture for Knee Pain

Chances are you’ve heard of acupuncture by now. It’s an ancient Chinese practice that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body. Believe it or not, acupuncture can actually help alleviate knee pain!

In acupuncture, the belief is that when these specific points are stimulated, it can restore the balance of energy flow throughout your body. Regarding knee pain, acupuncture can help by promoting blood circulation to the area, reducing inflammation, and triggering the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals in your body.

With that said, acupuncture works best for short-term relief. It should be combined with chiropractic care that gets to the root cause (spinal misalignment) that is likely to cause extra stress on your knees. When you realign your musculoskeletal system, you support your body’s natural ability to heal those joints for more lasting relief.

The process of acupuncture itself is relatively painless. The needles are incredibly thin. Most people report minimal to no discomfort during the treatment. Many individuals find acupuncture to be a relaxing and therapeutic experience.

Shockwave Therapy for Knee Pain

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment option that can relieve knee pain. This therapy uses high-energy sound waves to stimulate healing and reduce knee pain.

When the shockwave device is applied to the affected area, it delivers controlled energy pulses. These pulses stimulate your body’s natural healing response by increasing blood flow, promoting tissue regeneration, and reducing knee inflammation.

Shockwave therapy is typically performed in several sessions, each lasting about 10-15 minutes. The number of sessions you’ll need will depend on the severity of your knee pain, your body’s response to the treatment, and how you’re progressing with other therapies like chiropractic.

One of the benefits of shockwave therapy is that it is non-invasive, meaning there are no incisions or needles involved. It is generally well-tolerated and has minimal side effects.

However, it’s important to note that shockwave therapy may not be suitable for everyone. Individuals with certain medical conditions or who are pregnant should consult with their healthcare provider before undergoing this treatment.

The licensed professionals at Truspine can evaluate your condition, determine if you’re a good candidate, and provide the appropriate treatment plan for your specific needs.

Ultrasound Therapy for Knee Pain

Have you ever wondered how ultrasound technology can be used to treat knee pain? Well, wonder no more! Ultrasound therapy is a non-invasive treatment option to help alleviate knee pain and promote healing. Physical therapists, chiropractors, and medical doctors commonly use it because it works.

Ultrasound therapy involves using high-frequency sound waves that penetrate deep into the tissues of your knee. These sound waves create a gentle heat within the targeted area, promoting increased blood circulation, relaxing tight muscles, and reducing pain and inflammation.

The procedure is painless and typically takes only a few minutes. A healthcare professional will apply a gel to your knee and then move a handheld device, called an ultrasound transducer, over the area. You may feel a warm sensation during the treatment, but it should not be uncomfortable.

The benefits of ultrasound therapy for knee pain are numerous. It can help to decrease swelling, improve flexibility and range of motion, and accelerate the healing process by promoting the delivery of nutrients to the affected area. Ultrasound therapy is often used in conjunction with other treatment modalities to maximize its effectiveness.

Therapies like this temporarily provide relief, allowing you to perform manual or guided exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscles and tissues for more lasting results.

Knee on Trac

Knee on TracTM is a specialized traction device that isolates the knee and takes it through targeted movements using proper. This strengthen knee tissues to support good knee alignment and retrained the knee to function more effectively going forward. Through continued treatments it can:

  • Increase range of motion
  • Reduce swelling
  • Improve oxygen and nutrient delivery to deprived cells
  • Speed the knee healing process

Get lasting relief from knee pain. Reach out to schedule a consultation with first Knee on Trac treatment.

Download our Knee on Trac Brochure.

Learn all about the conditions treated, benefits and contraindications.

Effective Treatment and Prevention for Most Knee Pain Causes

Remember: if you’ve had knee surgery, post-operative complications such as infections, blood clots, or poor healing can cause pain, you need medical care. Follow your surgeon’s instructions, attend follow-up appointments, and report any concerns promptly. The therapies discussed here are not an alternative to medical care.

With that said, knee pain causes are most often mechanical in nature. Fixing how your body moves can stop the pain and further damage (depending on the cause). In many cases, you won’t need surgery.

Understanding these causes of knee pain empowers you to take better care of your knees, seek appropriate treatment, and make lifestyle adjustments to prevent further discomfort.

The team of licensed professionals at Truspine would like to support you through that journey. We can evaluate if mechanical factors like misalignments, imbalances, or muscle weakness are among your knee pain causes and develop a plan to reduce the pain and keep you moving and enjoying what you love. Reach out to schedule a knee pain assessment and even get your first Knee on Trac treatment.

FAQs about Knee Pain Causes

What causes sudden knee pain and stiffness?

Sudden knee pain and stiffness can be caused by acute injuries such as ligament sprains, meniscus tears, or muscle strains.

What is the most common cause of knee pain?

The most common cause of knee pain is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that results in the breakdown of cartilage. Other common causes of knee pain include overuse injuries, ligament tears, and tendonitis. It’s important to remember that these don’t just happen. Something caused it. That something is often another cause we’ve discussed, like spinal misalignment, overuse, and underuse. Yes. Sitting and lying around a lot leads to a lot a knee pain.

Chiropractic care can reduce the pain experienced from these by getting to the root cause and helping you strengthen and align supportive structures to reduce inflammation and pain.

What causes knee pain and swelling?

Knee pain and swelling can be caused by various factors such as injuries, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or infection.

What makes your knees hurt?

Several factors can contribute to knee pain, including overuse, repetitive strain, improper form during physical activities, muscle imbalances, excess weight, or structural abnormalities in the knee joint.

What causes knee pain when bending?

Knee pain when bending can be caused by conditions such as meniscus tears or arthritis.

What causes knee pain on the side?

Knee pain on the side can be attributed to conditions like iliotibial band syndrome, lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury, or meniscus tears. A thorough evaluation can help identify the specific cause and determine if chiropractic care can reduce knee pain.

What causes knee pain when running?

Knee pain when running can be caused by several factors, including overuse injuries like patellofemoral pain syndrome, IT band syndrome, or stress fractures. Evaluating running technique (including spinal alignment), wearing proper footwear, and gradually increasing intensity can help prevent running-related knee pain.

Can knee pain be caused by obesity?

Yes, whether it’s made of muscle or fat, excess weight puts additional stress on the knee joints, increasing the risk of knee pain and conditions like osteoarthritis.

Are sports-related injuries a common cause of knee pain?

Yes, sports-related injuries, such as ligament and meniscal tears, are common causes of knee pain, especially in activities involving sudden stops or changes in direction. Your Truspine chiropractor can perform imaging tests to evaluate the cause of your knee pain and build a plan that supports your healing process.

Can improper footwear cause knee pain?

Yes, wearing shoes without adequate support or a proper fit can contribute to knee pain by altering your gait and placing additional stress on the knees.

Can knee pain be caused by muscle imbalances?

Yes, muscle imbalances, where certain muscles are stronger or tighter than others, can affect the alignment and movement of the knees, leading to pain.

Reach out to schedule a knee pain assessment and even get your first Knee on Trac treatment.

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Acupuncture for Back Pain Treatment: Getting Results

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Home » Archives for Supreet Shah

At any given moment, 23% of the world’s adults are experiencing chronic low back pain. 84% of adults will suffer with the condition during their lifetimes. It impacts their ability to work, socialize, and enjoy a quality of life.

Many turn to acupuncture for back pain treatment. But like any respected ancient alternative healing practice, it’s essential to understand what acupuncture can and can’t do—according to the science. This will allow you to get the most out of your sessions.

Is Acupuncture Good for Back Pain?

Many people who have back pain benefit from acupuncture. Studies have shown that It can be a safe and effective way to manage both acute and chronic back pain if performed by a licensed acupuncturist who understands how this ancient Chinese medicine practice works.

A review of over 30 clinical trials and studies by scientists asked the question, “will acupuncture help back pain?” They found “moderate-certainty evidence” that when compared to no treatment, “acupuncture produced greater and clinically important pain relief {and} improved back function.” with no reported “adverse events”.

Does It Work for Chronic Back Pain?

Acupuncture can be an important tool for managing pain, especially in the short term. It relieves the immediate discomfort without medication while you address the root cause of that pain over the longer term. Depending on the cause of pain, this alternative therapy can be combined with other methods like nutrition therapy, ultrasound therapy, disc herniation treatment, home exercise, Graston therapy, and chiropractic adjustments to optimize your body’s natural healing ability and experience longer-term relief from pain.

These sessions can complement conventional medicine back pain treatments as well. They can eliminate the need for addictive pain medications or lower the dose needed, reducing the risk of dependence while a back injury heals.

Those with chronic back pain know how debilitating the pain can be. It makes it hard to do anything, including taking action to treat the cause of the pain. So, a person often tries to move as little as possible, and the pain worsens. Acupuncture gives people a relief window to take the actions needed to experience longer-term relief.

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What Does Acupuncture Do for Back Pain?

An acupuncturist inserts single-use, ultra-thin needles into specifically mapped-out points on the body to redirect the energy flow. This directly disrupts pain signals and activates the body’s natural healing processes. It also starts a chain reaction of stress-reducing chemicals in the brain, which can both improve your mental state and cause your back to temporarily “let go” of tension that may be contributing to your pain.

For example, you have four low back pain points on one either side of the lumbar spine (lower back) about two fingers width from the spinal column. You have two additional low back pain points on your feet. These are two fingers width up from the base of the big and second toe, resting between the toe bones.

And while it might sound strange, studies show acupuncture in the ear for back pain can also reduce pain intensity. This is a common addition to the therapy.

Other types include:

  • Acupuncture for upper back pain
  • Acupuncture for back pain sciatica
  • Acupuncture for back nerve pain

In each case, they have specific points to target.

Acupuncture for back pain treatment

What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture for Back Pain?

Acupuncture benefits for back pain include:

  1. Disrupting pain signals
  2. Decreasing back pain intensity
  3. Stimulating the nervous system to promote healing
  4. Reducing chronic inflammation
  5. Activating the body’s natural release of pain-reduction chemicals
  6. Improving mood (which can reduce back tension)
  7. Temporarily reducing pain to allow time for longer-term treatments to work
  8. Complementing conventional medicine
  9. Reducing the need for pain medications and the risks associated
  10. Reducing the need for surgery (if you take action to reduce the cause of your pain during your relief windows)

To experience the benefits of acupuncture, schedule an initial consultation for evaluation and first treatment.

Any Side Effects?

Side effects are typically mild and resolve within minutes to hours. They include site redness, irritation, pricking discomfort, and slight bleeding. More adverse events are extremely rare and unheard of when acupuncture is administered correctly by a licensed professional using single-use needles. Wait a few hours to work out after acupuncture since the needle sites could bleed, if stimulated.

How Long Does Acupuncture Last for Back Pain?

When receiving this treatment, most will experience significant relief for 24 to 36 hours, after which the discomfort may slowly return. Most can move more freely during the pain relief window, maintain a stretching routine, and complete complementary therapies to achieve longer-term relief. But every situation differs. We can discuss this with you during your acupuncture consultation.

How Many Sessions of Acupuncture for Back Pain?

Most people with acute and chronic pain will have noticeable improvements after two to three sessions.

But all back pain is not the same. So, how many acupuncture sessions are needed for back pain varies. Depending on what’s causing your condition, it may take multiple visits to experience initial relief and activate your body’s natural healing processes to eliminate back pain more fully.

Even after the pain is gone, it’s vital to keep acupuncture and chiropractic maintenance sessions. These allow your chiropractor to evaluate and adjust your back’s alignment and overall health. Ideally, those who do heavy lifting or sit for long periods need to have a chiropractic adjustment every two weeks for maintenance to reduce the risk that the pain intensity returns.

How Often Should I Have Acupuncture for Back Pain?

Most people will benefit from two to three sessions a week for severe symptoms. Once the root cause is addressed, and the back is allowed to heal, you may need fewer sessions to maintain your progress.

Keep reading to learn about how chiropractors treat low back pain. Schedule your first acupuncture session to start getting results.

How to Relieve Nerve Pain in the Shoulder Blade

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Nerve pain in the shoulder blade can wreck your day or year if untreated. Moving the wrong way, even slightly, causes a burst of sharp pain. It wakes you up in the middle of the night. You may feel tired, agitated, and struggle to do everyday activities.

But would it surprise you to learn that shoulder nerve pain isn’t happening in the shoulder at all? Here’s what is really going on.

What Does Nerve Pain Feel Like?

Nerve pain is a distinct sensation most people recognize. They describe it as a sudden shooting, stabbing, stinging, or electrical shock in a targeted area.

Depending on the level of nerve damage, it may also feel like a more generalized burning feeling, numbness, or pins and needles. Based on where it is, it can certainly reduce your ability to move either because of pain or because the nerves can no longer communicate effectively.

You usually feel this shoulder nerve pain in the left shoulder blade or nerve pain in the right shoulder blade. Its exact position depends on which nerve is pinched.

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To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive nerve pain evaluation and first treatment.

What Causes Nerve Pain in the Shoulder?

Nerve pain near the shoulder blade occurs when a nerve is compressed in the neck. And curiously, you may not even have neck pain!

This is commonly called a “pinched nerve”. Nerves become pinched in the neck due to normal wear and tear, bone spurs, herniated disc (rupture), posture issues, and cervical spine misalignment related to these.

This nerve pain radiates from the nerve root in the neck (cervical spine) into the back shoulder blade. You may feel a pinch or sharp pain behind the shoulder blade or under the shoulder blade. Some people will feel nerve pain in the shoulder and arm.

Cervical Radiculopathy

A medical textbook would call this phenomenon “cervical radiculopathy”. “Cervical” as in the cervical spine (neck), and “radiculopathy” meaning roughly “a disorder that radiates”. This is a form of neuropathy (nerve damage).

Cervical Stenosis

Cervical stenosis (a type of spinal stenosis) is a related condition. It describes the narrowing of the path that runs down the middle of each neck bone. This path houses the spinal cord. Nerves shoot out from it to transport messages to other body parts.

Bulging or Herniated Disc

Discs are fluid-filled, tire-like cushions between each spinal bone that protect the auxiliary nerves from being squeezed when a neck has a natural alignment. Poor alignment causes them to bulge and even rupture, leaking fluid that irritates the nerve.

You may have one or all three of these conditions when you have nerve pain in the shoulder blade.

The doctor is pointing at a herniated disc on the image.

Nerve Pain Vs. Functional Shoulder Pain

Nerve pain in the back shoulder blade should be clearly distinguished from sharp or aching pain in the shoulder joint. That is more likely to be arthritis or a small tear, which requires a different treatment.

You can schedule an evaluation to uncover the true cause of your shoulder blade pain.

Is There a Nerve Under the Shoulder Blade?

“Axillary nerves” begin at the neck before moving down through the back of the shoulder blade and down the back of your upper arm. These nerves are responsible for sending messages to your arm so that it can move.

Can a Pinched Nerve Cause Severe Shoulder Pain?

Nerve pain in the shoulder blade area can cause excruciating pain and numbness. People who experience this pain over some time may also feel mentally and emotionally exhausted and irritable. They may struggle to function at work, at home, and in social situations.

Do I Have a Pinched Nerve in My Shoulder Blade?

Only an exam from a trained professional can definitively say if you have a pinched nerve. However, the pinched nerve is probably not in your shoulder. It’s in your neck. You’re experiencing radiating pain from the trapped nerve in your neck, which could lead you to believe the nerve irritation is happening in the shoulder.

No amount of shoulder rotations and shoulder massage will help because the issue is not actually behind your shoulder blade.

How to Fix Nerve Pain in Shoulder Blade at Home?

If nerve pain in the shoulder blade is mild and not recurring, then figuring out how to relieve nerve pain in the shoulder blade may be as easy as getting a different pillow. We always recommend you try these things at home first to see if it gets better:

  1. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.
  2. Improve your neck posture.
  3. Set up your workstation ergonomically.
  4. Try over-the-counter painkillers for a short time while you work on these other fixes.
    • (Note: Use as directed. These should not be taken long-term.)
  5. Perform a daily stretch routine or simple yoga poses.
    • Hold positions for at least 6 seconds. No jerky movements.)
  6. Ask a family member for a gentle neck massage with hands only
  7. Switch pillows and avoid weird sleeping positions.
  8. Get recommended daily low-impact exercise, such as walking, cycling, or swimming.
  9. Alternate hot and cold packs.
  10. Address any vitamin deficiencies.

If the pain persists for two weeks or keeps coming back, it’s time to see a chiropractor. Masking the pain will only provide temporary relief. The condition will get progressively worse.

How to Treat Nerve Pain in Shoulder Blade?

We perform a manual evaluation, imaging, and other tests to develop a science-based shoulder pain treatment plan using a functional medicine approach. That means we use therapeutic techniques that improve the mechanics of your body, relieving the pressure on the nerve. At the same time, you work with us to optimize the body’s natural healing ability.

With these tests, we can identify which nerve is being pinched. We then perform a spinal adjustment to relieve the pressure on that (and any) nerves. Over several chiropractic sessions, we work to retrain the cervical spine into its natural position and keep it there. Acupuncture, home exercises, and nutrition can all be important elements of the healing process.

If you’re also experiencing “functional shoulder pain” in the joint area, then Graston technique, acupuncture, or dry needling for shoulder pain might be recommended, as well.

To get started, schedule an evaluation and get your first treatment  same day for nerve pain in your shoulder blade.

How Long Does Nerve Damage in the Shoulder Take to Heal?

Once the pressure is off the nerve, it takes 3-12 months for an auxiliary nerve to heal. During that time it’s important to keep the pressure off the nerve, so it doesn’t become re-injured.

After just one chiropractic session, most people will experience immediate shoulder nerve pain relief. After that, the goal of attending multiple chiropractic sessions is to ensure the spine stays aligned while the neck muscles and other connective tissues strengthen to support proper alignment.

You’re optimizing the body for proper healing.

Time to Experience Lasting Relief

Masking shoulder pain without treating the root cause will only allow the structure pinching the nerve to compress it further, causing significant and potentially irreparable damage. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help you get lasting relief from shoulder pain. Sticking with your treatment plan, including your home exercise plan, will allow you to maintain this relief. Let’s get started! schedule an evaluation and get your first treatment  same day for nerve pain in your shoulder blade.

Read More: What Is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

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Graston Technique For Plantar Fasciitis

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Graston Technique Plantar Fasciitis Youtube

Are you an athlete? Do you enjoy playing sports? Hiking? Jogging? Or have a standing and walking-intensive job? Then you probably know about the common foot pain called plantar fasciitis and an increasingly popular way to fix it, called Graston Technique for plantar fasciitis.

The Graston Technique is a cutting-edge, non-invasive treatment for soft-tissue injuries that can stop plantar fasciitis pain in as little as a week. It reduces inflammation and helps the foot restore proper function. It has been praised by star athletes and is gaining traction outside the world of sports.

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What is Low Back Strain or Sprain? – Causes, Symptoms, and Chiropractic Treatment

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A back strain or sprain is when the muscle tendon or ligament goes beyond its stretch capacity where the muscle fibers get sometimes a little bit shredded or there are micro tears. Now I like to compare that to a rubber band. If we stretch a rubber band to its normal limit, it’s going to bounce right back. If we stretch the rubber band beyond its limit, then it may not take its normal shape or form and it may be too loose and vulnerable. And so that’s exactly what’s happening to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

To be precise, muscles are the belly of the muscle fiber, while the tendons will connect the muscle to the bone, and the ligaments will hold the different bony structures together. So all these structures are what make up parts of the back and there are hundreds of them and each one is vulnerable to a strain or sprain.

What does pain from back strain or sprain feel like?

So a back strain or sprain may feel like a muscle pull, a stiffness, or a tenderness. Sometimes it can get to a point where it completely puts you out, meaning that you might be on the ground unable to move. Because we have multiple spasms in the back. When that happens, there are very specific exercises and stretches that we can chat about and have notes about on our website. 

But if it gets to a point where the pain is unbearable, we definitely recommend seeking out medical attention, whether it’s with your primary care or your chiropractor, or even an Acupuncturist. 

if it feels more like a tenderness. Sometimes if you go in and you get checked by palpating or pushing on the bony parts or the muscle parts, it feels tender. Well, that could also indicate having a sprain or strength. And that’s important to differentially diagnose for any sort of more disc pain or more a structural deeper pain.

Sometimes back sprain or strain can actually affect the quality of life. It can limit how far you can walk. It can limit what home chores you might be able to do. And at that point, it’s important to take a pause, possibly get officially diagnosed, and get to a place where you can do some stretches and exercises to help alleviate the pain. Other things that can really help alleviate pain are Icing and resting. 

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What is the main cause of back strain or sprain?

There’s definitely a multitude of causes. Sometimes a cause of a back sprain or strain could be overactivity. So doing a sport that could be more of a high impact sport such as running, jumping, box jumps, or jump rope, sometimes it can be doing a repetitive activity using your back multiple times in a row with forward folds or forward bends can cause a back sprain or strain.

There are definitely certain risk factors that may also cause back strains that could be a weight issue. The simple truth is that carrying extra weight impacts the body. That can make you more likely to have back strain. Also twisting and quick motions can cause that, especially if the muscle is not warmed up yet. A lot of back sprains and strains tend to happen more in the mornings versus the evenings because the muscles haven’t had a chance to warm up or get more active.

What are the symptoms of a back sprain or strain? 

Some of the symptoms could be a tenderness to touch at the structure of the back. Sometimes it can be more of an acute pain where it feels almost like a spasm. Sometimes when we’re having spasms it’s even hard to move. So, having rest and being still would be the best way to give relief to your back. The best way to rest your strained back is going to be on your back with your knees bent.

Sometimes it can cause an inability to move in a normal posture. So if you’re walking or standing you might be in a little bit more of a hunched-over forward position because of the spasm from the strain. Sometimes back sprains and strains can be worse to the point where you may feel it in the buttocks, the hamstrings, and even the legs. At that point, it’s important to go seek a professional to make sure that it is purely muscular and there’s no nerve involvement.

Sometimes back sprain and strain can last 10 to 14 days. A lot of back strains may even resolve on their own. But if it doesn’t, and it lasts beyond that 14 days, it’s important again to seek some sort of professional guidance.

To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.

How is a back sprain or strain diagnosed?

It’s important to look at not only the clinical aspect of it and the history of how the injury occurred, but also possibly some sort of imaging. With the clinical history, it’s usually from quick motions or repetitive tasks, so it’s important to get a thorough history of the injury. But if it gets to a point where the pain is unbearable and it’s harder to diagnose based purely on the clinical history, it’s important to get some imaging through an MRI most likely. An X-ray is going to look at strictly the bone structures, while the MRI is going to be looking at the muscular structures, the tendons, and the ligaments. And so that might be the best way to diagnose your back sprain or strain.

How does back strain affect the body?

A lot of times, back strain can affect the body in a way to create inflammation within the body and that can lead to pain. And of course, with pain, we have definitely some tools in our toolbox to help alleviate some of that pain. Most people tend to go with anti-inflammatories, Icing, and rest to resolve their back pain. A lot of back pain does self-resolve, but there are a few instances where it can last for quite some time.

Can back strain or sprain be cured?

Yes, of course. Yes, for the most part, back strain or sprain can be cured. As I mentioned, a lot of its self-resolving. But if it’s not, then it’s important to get again the cocktail of medications, meaning pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, resting and Icing, 10-15 minutes every hour as needed at the area of pain.

If it does not resolve in the first couple of weeks, it’s important to seek out professional guidance.  If it’s something a little bit more intense, it may require some treatment. And that’s where Chiropractic and Acupuncture care can really benefit in shortening that recovery period.

Who is more prone to Back Strain & Back Sprain?

Back strain and sprain are partly age-dependent. When we’re at a younger age, a lot of the back strain can self-resolve and get better a lot quicker with the shorter recovery time. When we’re over the age of 60, it may require more time, even up to a couple of months for it to completely resolve with the guidance of a professional healthcare provider that can help with therapy while you’re doing self-therapy or self-medication at home as well.

What are the best treatments to manage your back sprain or strain?

So to manage your back pain, there’s definitely a happy medium between being active and resting. A little bit of too much of either one can cause your back pain to get worse. It’s important not to be completely sedentary because that can dehydrate the muscles and tighten up the muscles. So it’s important to get a little bit of activity in during the day. Now, that doesn’t mean high-intensity activities, it usually means light walking, and light stretching. This can help to alleviate your back pain as well as have adequate rest in between. The best way to get your rest is going to be usually on a sturdier surface, maybe on the ground with your knees bent to help flatten out the back and take pressure off your back.

Physical therapy

A doctor or a chiropractor may also recommend physical therapy or rehab exercises to help reduce your back pain.

And sometimes that is with a physical therapist and sometimes that may be just rehab exercises at home. Light stretches and non-high-impact sorts of exercises can help to reduce pain and inflammation at those specific structures. A physical therapist may recommend more regular exercise, mostly on a daily basis with some rest days built into it.

Alternative treatment

For the best treatment of your back pain, your doctor may recommend, Icing, heating, ultrasound, shockwave, and laser therapy as other alternatives to help aid in the recovery of your back pain. In addition to that, here at Truspine, we offer great services at our clinic in San Francisco such as chiropractic care, and acupuncture care, and we have great referrals for massage therapy as needed.

Home remedies for back strain or sprain

Things that you can do at home on your own, in addition, could be again taking pain medication, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, and basically kind of the do-it-yourself exercises at home.

What are the best coping mechanisms for your back strain or sprain? 

Now with coping mechanisms, there’s a multitude of options. What we want to be doing is definitely core strengthening. That’s going to be the most important thing to help prevent your back strain from getting worse or coming back. Now there are definitely some do’s and don’ts in terms of what you should be doing while going through back strain or sprain at home.

Do’s and Don’ts while coping with your back strain and sprain

That’s going to be limiting your sitting, especially on the couch, as well as driving for long distances. This can round your back and over-stretch the muscle fibers in the lower back, making your back vulnerable, and causing inflammation. So you definitely want to limit your sitting. You want to vary between sitting and standing as much as possible. You want to go on light walks if you can, to create movement in the back. Also, you want to make sure you practice correct posture, which means standing or lifting posture.

So you want to make sure that you’re using more of the lower extremities or your hips when you’re bending to pick something up. Whether it’s light or heavy, you want to make sure that you’re not bending at the low back and bending more at the waist. So having correct posture while you’re standing and sitting and lifting are very, very important. 

Best sleeping position for back strain and sprain

Sleep ergonomics is just as important if you’re a back or a side sleeper. It’s important to have possibly a pillow underneath the knees as a back sleeper. Pillow between the knees for side sleeping which can help keep the pelvis in neutral, so that way you’re not waking up with back pain and setting yourself up to feel pretty good for the rest of your day.

Stretching your body

Sometimes it’s nice to do stretches before you go to bed or even first thing in the morning, and you can even do both. I think it’s important to keep it loose before and after sleeping. Sleeping is a catatonic state which keeps the muscles stuck in one position, sometimes dehydrating the muscles because we’re not drinking enough fluids at night. It is important to do those stretches before going to bed as well as the first thing when waking up as prescribed by your primary care.

Hydrate body

Of course, during the day, it is important to drink enough water to keep the muscles hydrated. The general rule for drinking water is going to be half your body weight in ounces and that seems to be a pretty good thing to do to keep those muscles hydrated and flowing well.

Quit smoking

Well, another important piece is quitting smoking. It seems kind of out there, it seems kind of random. But smoking is a big risk factor for atherosclerosis, which can also cause calcification in the arteries and can cause you to have back pain. So reducing smoking can help with that, but also just decreasing inflammation in the body as well. So that’s an important piece.

Avoid stress

Also avoiding stressful situations for your back, which could be mental stress or physical stress. If you have a big deadline at work, that can cause mental stress, which can cause you to change your posture, causing more stress on your back. It’s important to take micro-breaks, especially if you’re going through an 8,10, or 12 hours/work day. Take those breaks to either lie down decompress or get a glass of water or even just close your eyes and meditate. So those are the coping mechanisms to help with your back strain or sprain.

Conclusion:

When you are suffering from a back strain or sprain, you may find it very difficult to sit in one position for a long time. It can also put your active lifestyle to a halt. 

Are you feeling back pain? Well, that could be a back strain or sprain. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get your first phone consultation with us or even an in-person consultation where we can take a look specifically at what you might have.

Whether it’s a back sprain or strain or whether it is nerve related or joint-related. We have the experts to help you figure out and diagnose your back pain.

You can schedule an appointment with our San Francisco chiropractor to get correctly diagnosed. Your first treatment is included.

Is Graston Technique Dangerous?

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Is Graston Technique Dangerous?
Is Graston Technique Dangerous?

Is Graston Technique dangerous? That’s an understandable question. After all, Graston Technique instruments look a bit like modern torture devices. And you’ve heard that one of the goals is to break up (damage) tissues under the skin’s surface.

Common side effects include bruising, tenderness, and mild swelling. That doesn’t sound good!

But when you take a closer look at why Graston side effects occur, it becomes clearer that this non-invasive manual therapy may not be as scary as it seems.

What Is Graston Technique Used For?

This non-invasive method involves the use of specialized tools on the skin to disrupt the pain cycle and reduce scar tissue formation. This is also known as the soft-tissue instrument-assisted mobilization method (ISTM) and less technically as “muscle-scraping”.

The primary goal of the technique is to break down tissues in a specific part of the body so that they can re-form properly. The method will specifically target two types of tissues:

  1. Scar tissues (called adhesions) – These are found in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons
  2. Fascia restrictions – Fascia (plural: Fasciae) is a connective tissue that holds organs, blood vessels, nerves, and even muscles in place. They usually are very flexible. But repetitive, intense stress can cause problems. 

First, it identifies irregularities in soft tissues in a problem area—like the foot or shoulder. These irregularities include scar tissues as well as tight and rigid soft tissues. Once identified, we precisely target the abnormalities to improve function using tools to “scrape” the muscle and soft tissues (without breaking the skin).

Once “scraped”, the body restores the tissues—but more thoroughly. This eliminates the symptoms for which you sought the treatment.

Graston technique falls into the category of functional medicine (functional treatment). This treatment focuses on the root cause of pain and other symptoms—which is often mechanical.

When your soft and hard structures aren’t working together, this dysfunction causes pain, lack of mobility, and other symptoms.

Breaking down, scraping muscles? This technique does sound harmful.

But is Graston technique dangerous or just helping the body along? That’s what we need to find out.

As it turns out, breaking down tissues to “build it better” is a natural function of your body.

How Muscles and Tissues Heal Themselves

Several restorative functions kick into action when muscle tissues are damaged (which happens when you work out). Within about five hours, your body places a temporary “cap” over the damaged fibers to protect them and prevent excess calcium from entering the torn tissue.

Then a specialized muscle cell called the “nuclei” travels to the damaged area to jumpstart the generation of new protein strands to repair the damage. Your body uses these protein strands to repair the muscle.

Under normal circumstances, this repair happens fast. It only takes approximately 24 hours.

However, ignoring injuries, not alternating muscle groups in the gym, or having a physically demanding job can interrupt the proper healing and the development of fibrous scar tissue.

This scar tissue not only prevents further healing once in place. It interferes with your body’s mechanics. Every other soft tissue now has to work around the injury.

That results in strain, pain, and other symptoms.

It may sound like the last thing you need to do is “re-injure the injury”. But when done correctly, not only is Graston not dangerous. It eliminates the scar tissue, giving your body a “re-do”. This time it can get it right.

Keep reading: Graston Technique for Pain Relief

Download Our Graston Technique Brochure.

Learn all about the conditions treated, benefits and contraindications.

Is It Safer than Conventional Medicine Alternatives?

When comparing it to Western Medicine, is Graston technique dangerous, more dangerous, or less?

First, conventional medical professionals like physical therapists and osteopaths often use this technique with patients. So, it can be complementary to conventional medicine.

It’s generally respected and trusted and medical professionals.

Additionally, because the technique is non-invasive, it’s inherently safer than other methods a doctor might use to treat pain, such as surgery or potentially-addictive pain killers.

Does It Work?

It’s one thing to answer: is Graston Technique dangerous? But what does that matter if we can’t answer the question: Is the Graston Technique effective? So, does Graston Technique work?

It is shown to be clinically and anecdotally effective and is currently undergoing clinical trials for plantar fasciitis and arthroscopic cuff repair. A meta-analysis, which is a look and consideration of well-down studies, found that the technique is, “noninvasive and yet effective with the right kind of therapeutic approach” and that the difference between the study groups and control groups represented “clinically significant improvement” The researchers concluded that it worked best when combined with a holistic treatment plan, including nutrition, home and guided exercise, and other therapeutic methods.

In its current form, it has been trusted since the mid-90s by sports medicine professionals and chiropractors alike as a non-medication therapeutic technique to promote faster and more effective healing of conditions like:

  • Achilles Tendonitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon connecting the calf muscles to heel bone)
  • Carpal Tunnel (nerve pinching in the narrow nerve ridge between wrist and hand
  • Adhesive Capsulitis (shoulder stiffness/pain)
  • IT Band Syndrome (Type of tendon irritation in knee and hip)
  • Lumbar Strain (Low Back Strain)
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Shin Splints
  • Golfer’s or Tennis Elbow

This does not prove that the technique will be effective on everyone. However, a professional can assess your unique situation to see if you may benefit from the method.

Read More:

When Might It Be Dangerous to Have This Therapy?

You should not have Graston done on you if you have these conditions because it could be dangerous or make the condition worse:

  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • An infection
  • Unhealed or poorly healed fracture
  • Tumor
  • Unhealed wound
  • Taking blood thinner
  • Cancer in treatment area or that has progressed to the lymphatic system
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Kidney disorders

If you’re pregnant, you should avoid having the technique performed on your spine, pelvis, or abdomen.

Is Graston Technique Painful?

Is Graston technique painful? Everyone experiences discomfort and pain differently. But the consensus is that the treatment is not painful. People generally describe minor discomfort.

After a session, it’s normal to feel soreness like when you have a significant bruise. But this only lasts a few days.

You should let us know if you experience “pain” during the technique. We can adjust the method or may need to perform other testing like x-rays or MRI to make sure something more serious isn’t causing the pain.

Is Graston Technique Dangerous?

So, can Graston technique cause damage? By definition, yes.

The instruments damage the soft tissues underneath without breaking the skin to break up adhesions and promote healing. This is part of a normal healing process and does not cause long-term damage. Any side effects will subside within a few days of a session, and expect notable improvement within a few weeks.

But is Graston technique dangerous? No. Now for most people. Graston can be a vital part of healing if you have a sudden or over-use injury.

To learn more about Graston Technique, keep reading: Graston Technique for Pain Relief.

To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.

Chiropractor-Vs.-Massage-Therapist-Which-Is-Better

Chiropractor Vs. Massage Therapist: Which Is Better?

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Home » Archives for Supreet Shah

Neck pain, back pain, sciatica, a pulled muscle, knots—all reasons to consider chiropractor vs. massage therapist or chiropractor with massage. But you don’t want to waste time or money with a solution that won’t help you feel better. And honestly, while both do excellent work, sometimes chiropractor or massage is better——and sometimes both.

Many face this dilemma, torn between the two and struggling to commit. On the surface, they seem to get similar results. After all, both effectively prevent some conditions and improve the healing process while providing pain relief.

But in reality, their goals, methods, and benefits couldn’t be more different.

Understanding the difference between massage and chiropractic can tell you whether you need massage or chiropractor first or to skip one altogether. Chiropractors and massage therapists are very aware of the importance of each other’s methods. Most chiropractors will wholeheartedly recommend massage therapy for specific conditions and vice versa. 

Which one is the real winner? It depends on your unique situation, so take the chiropractor vs. massage therapy quiz to find out. Or read on to learn more about these two effective methods for managing pain and stress.

Take the quiz now to find out which is better for your situation.

Chiropractor Vs. Massage Therapist: What’s The Difference?

Massage vs. chiropractor
Chiropractor Vs Massage Therapist

What’s the difference between chiropractor and massage therapist? What’s better massage or chiropractor?

The debate of chiropractor vs massage therapist continues. But they have a lot in common. Both chiropractic treatment and massage therapy have roots in ancient Chinese culture. The treatments are considered holistic care and promote health and wellness. Like many holistic methods, they increase the body’s ability to heal itself without medication or surgery.

However, in practice, they are very different.

Chiropractor – Supporting Spinal Alignment for Better Function

Chiropractic care is a non-invasive method designed to identify and restore proper range of motion. The primary goal of chiropractic care is to support a healthy neuroskeletal system. This system includes bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and other connective tissues.

But by far, the skeleton and the joints are the most critical pieces.

Your skeleton is your body’s structural support, and the spine is by far the most critical part of your skeleton. When it’s not aligned, you may experience pain, tension, pinched nerves, inflammation, unnecessary wear-and-tear on joints, and sudden or increasing loss of mobility.

Chiropractors focus on bone alignment as the root cause of these issues.

This care can support strength, mobility, and a faster, more thorough recovery after an injury. Similar to a dentist recommending that you brush and floss in between visits to maintain tooth and gum health, a chiropractor will also recommend an at-home exercise regimen and ongoing visits to reinforce the adjustment and help you experience lasting relief.

To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.

They may additionally suggest other therapies like nutrition therapy, acupuncture, and massage to enhance your results.

Do chiropractors do massage therapy? Many ask this. Usually, chiropractors do not do massage. A chiropractor could hire a massage therapist to provide massage within a chiropractic clinic as a separate service. But chiropractors and massage therapists require different skills and education.

More reading we think you’ll enjoy:

Massage Therapist – Easing Tension to Support Wellness

In massage therapy, the primary practice is the manipulation of soft tissues—mostly muscle groups. This manipulation comes with improved circulation and flexibility, and relaxation. It stimulates the nervous system and promotes tissue healing. It can reduce out-of-control inflammation.

Regular sessions can promote mental and emotional well-being as well. And since mind-body-emotions are all connected, this can promote overall physical health and wellness.

Either chiropractic or massage therapy can help you manage chronic pain. And chiropractors and massage therapy together can be even better. Still, the key difference between massage and chiropractic remains. Massage doesn’t impact the root cause of the pain (misalignments in the spine).

So yes, massage can have immediate benefits. But even with repeated massage sessions, the pain keeps returning unless you also work on the root cause—improving your structural integrity. On the other hand, chiropractic can.

Take the quiz to find out if you need chiropractic vs. massage.

Chiropractor Vs. Massage: What Do They Do?

What Does a Chiropractor Do?

Chiropractors are primary healthcare providers that can treat several conditions. Their main goal is to release subluxations in the spine. Subluxations occur when a vertebra (a single backbone) moves out of alignment with the other vertebrae. This is quite often visible on an X-ray.

Chiropractors generally use spinal manipulation and manually applied force or pressure to joints to adjust the spine, bones, and joints into proper alignment. As a chiropractor, I’m trained to feel misalignments and correct them.

Chiropractic Evaluation and Diagnosis

During your first visit, a chiropractor performs a complete evaluation to understand where misalignments and dysfunctions in the neuromuscular system exist. This will allow them to develop a personalized treatment plan to address them. They’ll ask you to perform specific movements and also guide other motions to understand better how your body is working—or isn’t.

This evaluation may include imaging tests like X-rays or MRI to confirm the injuries that a chiropractor can feel.

Chiropractic Treatment

Depending on your diagnosis, the chiropractor may perform a chiropractic adjustment during the initial visit.

In addition to spinal manipulation, chiropractors may use limited massage, splints, braces, physical therapy or shockwave therapy. They may also order X-rays and refer patients to other medical specialists, such as orthopedic surgeons or physical therapists when needed.

Chiropractors may give nutritional advice and prescribe vitamin regimens and exercise as a treatment. They may also recommend that you see a massage therapist.

For example, upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on the cervical spine. This is the part of your backbone located along the back of your neck. Misalignments here can lead to pinched nerves, upper body numbness, muscle spasms, and pain. In severe cases, you may develop cervical spinal stenosis and severe neuropathy.

Ultimately, the nerve signals traveling from the brain stem into the spinal cord become disrupted. This confuses the messages your brain and body are trying to send each other.

This can lead to seemingly unrelated medical conditions like tension headaches, TMJ pain, bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding), and mid to lower back pain.

Chiropractic Care Targets the Root Cause of Most Pain

Chiropractors target two vertebrae known as atlas and axis, found where the skull and brain stem connect with the first spinal vertebra.

Once they restore the balance with a chiropractic adjustment, that nerve signal flow is restored, and your body knows how to do the rest, fixing itself.

This enables the body and the nervous system to operate at their best possible level.

But chiropractors don’t focus solely on the spine. Chiropractors are responsible for treating the entire musculoskeletal and neuromuscular system, with the spine a primary focus because of the importance of the spinal cord.

In other words, we are treating bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.

chiropractor vs. massage therapist

What Does a Massage Therapist Do?

On the other hand, massage therapists are experienced in treating only muscular conditions and in helping relieve muscle pain, stiffness, and tension through hands-on treatments. That’s the big difference between massage and chiropractor.

Through massage, they can relieve inflammation short-term, which can undoubtedly improve nervous system function (if there is no nerve obstruction like a misaligned vertebra) and allow the body to heal soft tissues. This can also improve blood flow, lymphatic system drainage, and blood circulation for a time after the massage.

They focus on the muscles and soft tissues and perform one or several types of massage, often using different oils or lotions.

The massage therapist can also use different techniques: Each has different goals, so you should discuss what you want to achieve from massage with your therapist.

They may offer:

  • Swedish
  • Deep Tissue
  • Sports
  • Hot Stone
  • Chair
  • Prenatal
  • Trigger Point
  • Geriatric

For example, a sports massage is a very intense massage intended for athletes. Its goal isn’t to relax the client but to promote connective tissue health to reduce the risk of injury.

Types of massage therapy
Types of Massage Therapy

Massage vs. Chiropractor: Their Origins

According to Western Medicine, Daniel David Palmer founded the chiropractic profession in 1895. He studied human anatomy and concluded that many ailments resulted from pressure on the nerves from structural issues in the body.

Without a doubt, Palmer certainly expanded the science of chiropractic and normalized it in the Western World. However, even Palmer himself never said he invented chiropractic.

Writings about chiropractic adjustments date back to nearly 5000 years ago in what is now China, with separate writings in Greece some 2500 years later.

The first documentations of massage also date back around 5000 years to India’s Ayurveda medicine. Within this ancient set of health restoring and maintenance practices, massage is still revered and seen as an essential part of holistic health and optimal wellness.

References to early massage healing practices are also found in ancient Chinese and Egyptian writings.

Chiropractor Vs. Massage: Their Philosophy

Each profession offers benefits to the patient. But the approaches are not the same.   

A chiropractor’s approach is not necessarily just focusing on the area of pain only to provide temporary relief. They focus on “WHY?” the individual is experiencing those symptoms.

On the other hand, massage therapists provide more temporary relief. They are treating the symptoms but not the reason for those symptoms.

How Often Are Chiropractor Visits Needed

This depends on what your chiropractor is treating, its severity and personal goals. Generally, weekly to monthly visits are enough to reset the structural misalignment and relieve nervous system pressure and symptoms you experience from it. You should see significant improvements within 2 to 4 weeks with weekly visits.

However, for a time, these improvements need to be maintained with ongoing chiropractic care.

Through holistic functional medicine, a chiropractor’s longer-term goal for patients is to strengthen their joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles’ ability to support healthier alignment when possible to the point that you no longer need a chiropractor or need to see them less frequently.

This can take several months or years. And some patients may need to see their chiropractor on an ongoing basis.

How Often Is Massage Therapy Needed

This can vary widely. At least once a month is a good starting point. If you’re actively working with a chiropractor with massage therapist to resolve a specific ailment, then your chiropractor may recommend massage before or after each adjustment.

Chiropractic adjustments can cause soreness as the body tries to reset itself. Chiropractor with massage care can ease the soreness to speed your body’s natural healing processes.

So, if you’re receiving chiropractor with massage, you will align massage appointments with a chiropractor. That means getting a massage more often.

You may be wondering can chiropractors do massage therapy? Yes, some do. Others focus primarily on chiropractic and other functional medicine areas like nutrition, acupuncture, laser therapy, etc., as we do in our clinic.

Massage Vs. Chiropractor: Education and Training

One of the most significant differences between chiropractors and massage therapists is their educational background. Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who need a four-year undergraduate education and a four-year doctorate in chiropractic.

During their programs, chiropractors pass several rounds of boards and certification tests and take classes in physics, chemistry, biology, anatomy, and physiology.

Massage therapist school, on the other hand, typically includes around 500 hours of training. However, this does vary from state to state. After training, they have the option to become licensed by completing FSMTB’s MBLEx exams that cover pathology, kinesiology, anatomy, physiology, body systems, and business ethics.

All of this can take 2 years or fewer.

Is Chiropractor or Massage Better?

So, many wonder: is chiropractic better than massage or vice versa? But the truth is both are very useful tools for restoring and maintaining function and easing symptoms related to that dysfunction. In some cases, chiropractor care is better, but massage can get the job done in others. In most situations, a chiropractor with massage is best.

Take our chiropractor vs. massage therapist quiz to see which we might recommend based on your unique symptoms and goals. You may be surprised which works best for common issues like these:

Chiropractor Vs Massage for Sciatica

Sciatica is a nervous system disorder involving sharp pain going down the legs from the lower back. It has several possible causes, from diabetes to herniated discs to bone spurs. The cause determines whether massage or chiropractor is best for sciatica. Sometimes, both. Other times, neither.

Chiropractor Vs Massage for Knots

What people refer to as knots are typically points of tension that can lead to tight or jumpy muscles. This results from unbalanced repetitive motion often combined with the underuse of nearby connected soft tissues.

Chiropractor Vs Massage for Back Pain

Massage may be just what you need to relieve occasional back pain. We encourage you to learn when chiropractor care may provide a better solution by taking the quiz.

Chiropractor or Massage of Neck Pain

Similarly, neck pain can have many causes, from compression in the cervical spine to poor sleeping habits.

Chiropractic or Massage for Pulled Muscle

While massage may seem like the clear choice for muscle issues, you need to ask why your muscle is getting pulled.

Chiropractic or Massage Therapy for a Neuropathy

Similar to sciatica, neuropathy is a nerve disease that may be caused by diabetes, poor circulation, or spinal dysfunction among other causes.

Chiropractic Care and Massage Therapy Are Better Together

Ultimately, a balance of these two therapies can provide patients with the best outcome possible. Massage therapy can help loosen the muscles before or after a chiropractic adjustment. A chiropractic back adjustment can last longer when a patient’s muscle tension is released.

As a result, the body has the best chance to heal itself after an adjustment.

Chiropractor with massage
Pre-Chiropractic Massage Therapy

The Benefits of Seeing a Chiropractor with Massage Therapist

Massage can break up adhesions. These are abnormal bunching of tissues that happen due to inflammation and injury.

With these adhesions broken up, the tissues can stretch and move more easily. As a result, the soft tissues adjust to chiropractic adjustments more readily. Massage also increases circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients soft tissues need to heal themselves.

It also improves lymphatic function. One of the roles of the lymphatic system is to drain excess fluid and carry dead and dying cells out of the body, both critical to the immune system’s function in the healing process.

That’s why you may experience less soreness after a chiropractor visit when preceded by a massage appointment a day or so before.

Do I Need A Chiropractor Or Massage Therapist First?

Both chiropractic care and massage therapy can be helpful preventative measures to avoid the pains and discomfort that come from everyday life.

Possible Injury, Ongoing Radiating Pain, Sudden Unexplained Pain, Nerve Pain

In these cases, it is typically best to visit a chiropractor first. They will be able to ensure it is safe to see a massage therapist. So when choosing between chiropractor or massage first? Chiropractor.

Chiropractic care is better if you have joint pain, spinal disc issues, or pinched sciatic nerve. A chiropractor will identify the cause of your pain, whether it is muscular or skeletal, and help choose the correct treatment course.

Muscle Pain, Soreness, Stiffness, Need to Relax

If your primary issue is muscle pain or stiffness, or you are looking to simply relax and unwind, massage therapy is the right option. By massaging, massage therapists can increase circulation to the affected area, relieving the buildup of lactic acid that often causes muscle spasms and pain.

If you are still debating chiropractor vs. massage therapist, you should always consider getting professional advice from a licensed and trained chiropractor.

There are other individual factors to consider. Take the massage therapist vs. chiropractor quiz to learn which is better based on your unique health challenges and situation.

To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.

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