Knee Pain Treatment in Grand Rapids MI

Knee pain can be caused by a sudden injury, an overuse injury, or an underlying condition such as arthritis, and treatment varies depending on the cause. Symptoms of a knee injury can include pain, swelling, and stiffness. Plenty of people in Grand Rapids MI live with knee pain, and for many of them there are excellent treatment options.

Common causes of knee pain

Knee pain is an extremely common complaint with many possible causes. An accurate diagnosis matters, because appropriate treatment has to be directed at the cause. Common culprits include:

• Arthritis. One of the most common causes of knee pain, with many treatments available.
• Ligament injuries. These commonly occur during athletic activity and can cause pain and instability, including injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL).
• Cartilage injuries and meniscal tears. Seen in young and old patients alike, and an extremely common source of knee pain.
• Patellar tendonitis. Tendonitis around the joint most often affects the patellar tendon, the large tendon over the front of the knee.
• Chondromalacia patella. Pain under the kneecap caused by softening of the cartilage, most common in patients 15 to 35 years old.
• Dislocating kneecap. Acute symptoms during the dislocation, and a possible source of chronic knee pain afterward.
• Baker's cyst. Swelling in the back of the joint, usually a sign of another underlying problem such as a meniscus tear.
• Bursitis. The bursa just above the kneecap is affected most often, especially in people who kneel for work, such as gardeners and carpet layers.
• Plica syndrome. An uncommon cause of knee pain that can be difficult to diagnose, often only confirmed at arthroscopy.
• Osgood-Schlatter disease. Irritation of the growth plate at the front of the joint, seen in adolescents.
• Osteochondritis dissecans. Another adolescent condition, related to the growth of bone around the joint.
• Gout. An uncommon cause of knee pain, but one that must be considered in patients who already have a gout diagnosis.

How we treat knee pain in Grand Rapids

The knee is one of the extremity joints this practice treats every week. Dr. McAllister evaluates the knee itself along with the hips, pelvis, and lower spine, because poor alignment above the knee changes how weight loads through it. As an Advanced Certified Activator Methods chiropractor, he can deliver gentle, precisely targeted adjustments to the knee and the joints around it, with no forceful twisting of an already painful joint.

Foot mechanics matter too. A collapsed arch or irritated plantar fascia changes your gait, and your knees absorb the difference. If your knee pain comes with heel or arch pain, it is worth reading about plantar fasciitis, which we also treat.

Do not wait it out

If you suffer from knee pain, call our team at Kentwood Family Chiropractic today. We can offer some of the latest treatment approaches available to help you overcome this painful problem, and we will tell you plainly if your knee needs a different kind of care.