Knee & Ankle Pain
Knee and ankle pain can be debilitating, affecting your ability to move, exercise, or even perform daily activities. Whether you're dealing with an acute injury or chronic discomfort, chiropractic care offers a non-invasive, holistic approach to treating these types of pain. Our chiropractors in Bend focus on restoring balance in the body by addressing misalignments and dysfunctions, which can help relieve pain and promote healing. Here, we explore the various conditions affecting the knee and ankle, along with chiropractic techniques that can alleviate pain.
Common Knee and Ankle Conditions and Symptoms
Knee and ankle pain can stem from a variety of conditions. Some of the most common knee problems include patellar tendonitis, meniscus tears, osteoarthritis, and ligament injuries like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Symptoms of these knee injuries and conditions can range from sharp knee pain during movement to swelling, stiffness, and a limited range of motion.
Ankle problems often include sprains, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis, which can cause pain in both the heel and ankle. These issues may lead to tenderness, swelling, and difficulty bearing weight. In many cases, knee and ankle pain are also accompanied by improper gait patterns, which can worsen the condition over time if left untreated.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Our chiropractors in Bend use a range of treatments to address the underlying causes of knee and ankle pain. Rather than just treating symptoms, chiropractic care aims to restore proper alignment and function to the affected areas, leading to long-term relief. They'll put together a comprehensive treatment plan to address your issues.
1. Chiropractic Adjustments
While spinal adjustments are commonly associated with back pain, they can also help alleviate knee and ankle pain. Misalignments in the spine, especially in the lumbar region, can lead to poor posture and uneven weight distribution, contributing to knee and ankle issues. By realigning the spine, chiropractors can reduce pressure on the knees and ankles, leading to improved mobility and pain relief.
2. Extremity Adjustments
Chiropractic treatment isn’t limited to the spine. Our Bend chiropractors are trained to perform extremity adjustments, which involve realigning the joints in the knees and ankles themselves. This technique can be especially effective for conditions like knee osteoarthritis, where cartilage degeneration leads to joint pain and stiffness. By correcting the alignment of the knee or ankle joint, chiropractors can reduce stress on the surrounding tissues and improve function.
3. Soft Tissue Therapy
Knee and ankle pain often involve damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the joints. Soft tissue therapy, such as trigger point therapy or myofascial release, is used to release tension and break down scar tissue. This can promote healing, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation in the affected area.
4. Shockwave Therapy
For more severe or chronic conditions, shockwave therapy may be used to treat knee and ankle pain. This treatment involves applying high-energy acoustic waves to the affected area, which helps stimulate healing by increasing blood flow and breaking down calcified tissue. Shockwave therapy can be particularly effective for treating conditions like plantar fasciitis or patellar tendonitis, where chronic inflammation or scar tissue has developed.
5. Rehabilitation Exercises
To support long-term healing, our Bend chiropractors often recommend rehabilitation exercises that strengthen the muscles around the knee and ankle joints. These exercises can improve flexibility, stability, and muscle balance, reducing the likelihood of future injuries and promoting optimal joint function.
Let us Treat Your Knee & Ankle Pain
Chiropractic care provides a holistic, non-invasive option for treating knee and ankle pain. Whether you’re dealing with an acute injury or a chronic condition, our Bend chiropractors use a combination of spinal and extremity adjustments, soft tissue therapy, shockwave therapy, and rehabilitation exercises to relieve pain and promote healing and normal function. By addressing the root causes of knee and ankle pain, our chiropractic team can help restore function and mobility, allowing you to return to your daily activities pain-free.