Key Takeaways
- The knee is a hinge that sits between two joints built to move a lot: the hip and the ankle. When either one stops moving well, the knee often takes the twist.
- Three patterns point to a movement problem rather than "just getting older": stiffness that eases once you get going, pain after sitting, and one side much worse than the other.
- A 10-second single-leg test in front of a mirror shows whether your kneecap drifts inward.
- Arthritis on an X-ray does not automatically mean a life of pain. How the joint moves, and how well the muscles around it support it, often matter more.
- Some knee symptoms call for a medical doctor first. They are listed below.
A hinge between two joints that move
Dr. Matt Frahm worked with Olympic wrestlers at the 2012 London Games, and the first thing that work taught him about knee pain was simple: it is rarely just the knee.
The knee is mostly a hinge. It bends and straightens. The joints above and below it are different. The hip turns in many directions, and the foot and ankle adapt to every surface you walk on. When the hip gets stiff, or the foot rolls inward, the twisting has to go somewhere, and the knee is the joint in the middle.
A knee that keeps absorbing forces it was not designed for will complain. Many people spend months icing, resting and medicating that knee, and the pain keeps coming back because nobody looked above or below it.
Three signs it is a movement problem
In Dr. Matt's experience, three patterns suggest that how you move is part of the story:
- You are stiff in the morning, but it loosens up once you get moving.
- It hurts more after sitting a while: in the car, at a desk, on the couch.
- One side is much worse than the other.
Those patterns matter because movement is something that can be worked on.
Try the 10-second mirror test
Stand in front of a mirror. Hold the counter if you need to; this is not a balance contest.
- Stand on one leg.
- Slowly bend that knee, as if you were sitting into a small chair.
- Watch your kneecap. Does it stay lined up over your second toe, or does it dive inward?
- Switch sides and compare.
If the kneecap caves in, the knee is probably taking extra stress from the hip, or from a foot that is collapsing. It is not a diagnosis, but it is a useful clue to bring to an evaluation.
"Your X-ray shows arthritis"
Many people over 50 have arthritis that shows up on an X-ray, and plenty of them have no knee pain at all. Researchers have found that what an X-ray shows and how much a knee hurts often do not line up (Bedson and Croft, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2008).
Arthritis cannot be reversed, and SYMETRx Chiropractic and Injury Care does not claim to reverse it. But a lot of people move better and hurt less when the movement around the joint improves. If you have been told it is "just arthritis," a second look at how you move is reasonable.
Two common situations in Bradenton
Golfers and the lead knee
In a good swing, the hips do most of the turning. If the hips are tight, which is common after a week of sitting, the turn comes from the lead knee while the foot stays planted. A few hundred swings a round, a few rounds a week, and it adds up. The fix is usually better hip and low back movement, not a new driver.
After a car accident
Knees can hit the dashboard, and bracing hard on the brake can strain the whole leg. Knee and hip pain often shows up a day or more later, once the adrenaline wears off. In Florida, treatment generally needs to begin within 14 days of the accident for personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to apply, so it is worth getting checked early.
When to see a medical doctor first
Some knee symptoms call for medical care before a chiropractic visit:
- A knee that is hot, red or very swollen, especially with a fever
- You cannot put weight on the leg, or the knee gave way with a pop and swelled quickly after an injury
- The knee locks and will not straighten
- Morning stiffness that lasts more than an hour, every day
- Swelling, warmth or tenderness in the calf
What a movement screening looks at
At SYMETRx Chiropractic and Injury Care, a knee complaint starts with listening: when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you have stopped doing because of it. Then Dr. Matt looks at how the whole leg moves together, including the hip, knee, ankle and pelvis, and sometimes the low back. You get a plain-language explanation of what he finds, including whether he thinks chiropractic care is a good fit, and you decide what happens next.
Dr. Matt also hosts lunch-hour talks on knee pain at the office on 6th Avenue East. Call the office for the next date.
Frequently asked questions
Is knee pain just part of getting older?
Not necessarily. Age changes the joints, but many knee problems are driven by how the hip, knee and foot move together, and that can often be improved.
Can chiropractic care help knee pain?
For some people, yes, especially when the problem is how the leg moves. When the cause is something else, such as an infection, a fracture or a torn ligament that needs surgery, the medical side comes first, and a good chiropractor will say so.
Should I just rest it?
Short rest can calm a flare. Long rest rarely fixes a movement problem, and the pain often returns when you get active again.
Do I need an X-ray before I come in?
No. If imaging is needed, Dr. Matt will explain why.
Can I be seen in Spanish?
Yes. Se habla español.
For questions about knee pain, call SYMETRx Chiropractic and Injury Care at (941) 746-2612 or read about knee pain care. SYMETRx Chiropractic and Injury Care has served Bradenton since 2003. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Every person is different. If you are dealing with pain that is not improving, please have your condition evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.