One of the most common knee complaints we see at Harvest Pointe Chiropractic & Integrative Health Centre is patello-femoral syndrome. This knee pain occurs in the front of your knee, just above the knee cap. This is due to your quadriceps muscles (muscles in the front of your thigh) repeatedly pulling. These muscles, when they are strained, either from a sport or work-related injury, can cause difficulty going down the stairs, jumping, and walking. If not dealt with, it can lead to further pain and result in tracking problems where your kneecap does not sit in its proper groove, and instead, you may experience crepitus (crunching and cracking noise) and pain amongst other problems.

Our muscles work in an agonist and antagonistic system, when one muscle contracts, there is another pair of muscle that relaxes, for example, biceps and triceps. When your biceps are flexed, your triceps relaxes. Massage therapy works to strip out muscles that are continuously contracting and to encourage blood flow.

Previous surgery can leave scar tissue which can cause residual pain and limit range of motion, receiving regular massage therapy can help to reduce pain from scar tissue and may help to increase mobility or flexibility.

Chiropractic treatments allow patients to return to their activity of daily living sooner, as well as, managing acute, and chronic pain.

Harvest Pointe Chiropractic and Integrative Health Centre uses evidence-based treatments and provide exceptional patient care in Edmonton, AB.

The mechanism of injury for knee pain can be a result of:

1. Running
2. Going downstairs
3. Squatting
4. Sitting on the floor for prolonged periods with knees crossed
5. Trauma ie) motor vehicle accident

Our chiropractors can assess if your knee pain requires imaging. A trial of conservative care is preferred before sending our patients for x-ray referrals.

Other types of knee pain:

Another type of knee pain which we often see, especially, in older populations is osteoarthritis of the knee. This type of knee pain is due to wear and tear of the knee joint, which further can cause inflammation, resulting in chronic pain and limited mobility.

Other types of knee pain or complaint we commonly help to manage are the following:

• ACL strain/sprain
• MCL strain/sprain
• Tendinopathy of Quadriceps
• Patellar Tendinitis
• Baker’s cyst or bursitis of the knee

Our team of chiropractors, massage therapists, and acupuncture providers work together to help manage your knee pain from further injuries. Along with knee pain, we also address related mechanical dysfunction associated with knee pain, such as iliotibial band syndrome, or ITB syndrome, and foot and ankle conditions. We work as an interdisciplinary group to help you get you back to doing the activities you enjoy.

After a thorough health history, physical examination, and orthopedic tests, our chiropractors will create a treatment plan to include:

1. Patient education that will help to prevent further injuries and swelling from occurring. For example, if you’re in an acute phase, ice protocols are provided, as well as elevation and relative rest information.
2. An active component to your care is crucial and our chiropractors are trained to coach you through active range of motion exercises that are safe and within your pain tolerance. Once you progress through your initial exercise, progressive loading as well as resistance exercise training will help build strength to help support your knee that will prevent future injuries.
3. Throughout your treatment sessions, passive care in the form of extremity and spinal manipulation and mobilization will be used to encourage mobility, reduce pain, and reduce inflammation. Soft tissue around the injured area will also be addressed.