We’ve definitely had a great start to the week. Charlotte and I went to see Oasis on Sunday night, and it was fantastic. Such a good night – even though it was a school night, so we had to behave ourselves a bit… The weekend also included an amazing rugby festival with Kit, he did a great job and loved every second of it. Always brilliant to see him getting stuck in.
Back in the clinic, it’s been lovely to have Dr Jenna back in West Byfleet. We’re now back to a full team, with Dr Tom settling in really well too. Great to have the full squad in action and looking after all of you.
This weekend is looking much the same, juggling kids, naps, snacks, soft play, repeat. We’re definitely on the countdown to half-term at this point!
There’s also a bit of a cold going round (we’ve had it and now we’re hopefully done with it!), so I’d love to know what you are doing to keep your immunity strong? We’re doubling up on vitamin C, a bit of echinacea, and the usual attempts at sleep (not always successful with a baby…).
Look after yourselves, stay warm, stay well, and we’ll see you in the clinic soon!
Knee pain is one of the most common complaints worldwide affecting everyone from active young adults to seniors managing osteoarthritis. While many people think only surgery or medication can help, I was reading some recent research looking at the role of chiropractic and manual therapy in managing knee pain, improving mobility, and even restoring independence.
Why Knee Pain Matters
- Impacts daily activities: walking, climbing stairs, even sleeping. A lot of our clients can manage an elbow or shoulder issue but we rely on our knees a lot more.
- Often linked to osteoarthritis (OA), injuries, or muscular imbalance.
- Chronic knee pain reduces quality of life, and over time, can limit independence.
1. Manual Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis
One review found that orthopaedic manual therapy (OMT) including joint mobilisation and manipulation combined with exercise, provided greater short-term pain relief and improved function than exercise alone (Moutzouri et al., 2018).
This basically means that when we mobilise and manipulate the knee and the joints either side of it, this frees the knee up so that when you exercise you can get more out of the knee. Think of it like some dry playdoh, you need to put some water on it to get it malleable again so the kids can use it. Chiropractic can be that water to get the knee moving again so that when you exercise the impact can be ten fold.
2. Manual Therapy + Strengthening Exercises Better Together
Another study showed that patients who received manual therapy combined with strengthening programs experienced significantly better pain relief than those doing exercise alone (Applied Sciences, 2022).
We know that exercise like walking and swimming can be good for joint mobility and pain. But combining strength exercises like squats, lunges and stair climbing builds the quads and hamstrings. These are big supporting muscles of the knee and provide lots of stability when you walk. This means the knee joint itself is protected from stress and impact. So get on those wall sits. They also don’t take long, it is more about the consistency, everyday for 5 minutes is better than 2 times per week of 60 minutes.
3. Improved Range of Motion and Function
A review found that manual therapy not only reduces pain but also increases range of motion and daily functionality in patients with knee osteoarthritis (Tant et al., 2021).
Range of motion or flexibility is important, if your knee does not move it will get stiffer and this means that it seizes up. The fluid in the synovial joint space does not circulate and the ligaments don’t move which perpetuates the cycle. Whereas the other way is that the knee might be painful but it moves through its full range and this can help it heal faster.
4. Case Study: Beyond the Knee (The Pelvis Connection)
A case report of a 45-year-old woman with persistent knee pain found the real culprit was pelvic imbalance and weak glute muscles. After 5 chiropractic sessions focusing on pelvic adjustments, glute strengthening, and kinesiology taping, her knee pain dropped from 8/10 to 1/10 (Kim et al., 2020).
We see a lot of clients in the clinic with knee pain, and one thing we always stress is: the knee often isn’t the real issue, it’s just where the pain shows up.
If your knee pain started after a clear injury or trauma like twisting it awkwardly while walking or during sport then yes, we can focus directly on the knee joint itself. You might have damaged a ligament or the meniscus, and we’ll work with that in mind.
But for a lot of people, knee pain comes on gradually over time with no obvious cause. It’s not from a fall, not from a specific injury… it just builds up over months or even years. And that’s usually a sign of imbalance elsewhere in the body.
Think of your knee like the pivot point on a seesaw it sits between the hip and the foot, and if either of those isn’t working properly, the knee takes the brunt of the stress. Poor glute strength, weak hip control, or feet that roll in (pronate) can all force your knee into positions it doesn’t like.
So yes, we can absolutely reduce the pain in a few weeks with targeted treatment. But unless we also address what’s going on at the hip, pelvis, or foot, the problem will keep coming back.
That’s why at our clinic, we always do a full-body quality check. It’s not just about where the pain is, it’s about finding and fixing the true cause.
Chiropractic Treatments for Knee Pain
- Joint Mobilisation/Manipulation – restoring movement, reducing stiffness.
- Soft Tissue Therapy – releasing tension around the knee and supporting muscles.
- Shockwave therapy-high intensity sound pressure to speed healing.
- Acupuncture needles to speed healing up.
- K-Taping-to increase muscle control and stability
- Pelvic & Hip Alignment – correcting imbalances that overload the knee.
- Strengthening & Stability Exercises – especially glutes, quads, and hamstrings.
- Lifestyle Guidance – movement habits, weight management, and safe activity.
Knee pain doesn’t always mean surgery or endless painkillers. At our West Chiropractic Clinics, we often see patients struggling with knee pain, whether from sports injuries, osteoarthritis, or simply years of wear and tear. Many arrive frustrated after trying different treatments with little relief. What inspires us most are the success stories patients who, after a personalized chiropractic care plan, walk more comfortably, regain mobility, and rediscover activities they thought were lost to knee pain
References
- Moutzouri, M., et al. (2018). Effects of orthopaedic manual therapy in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed.
- Applied Sciences (2022). Effects of Manual Therapy and Strengthening Exercise on Pain in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Tant, C., et al. (2021). The Efficacy of Manual Therapy in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. PMC.
- Kim, M., et al. (2020). Reduction of Knee Pain in a 45-Year-Old Woman After Pelvic Manipulation and Kinesiology Taping: A Case Report. PubMed.
- Deyle, G., et al. (2008). The Effect of a Manual Therapy Knee Protocol on Osteoarthritic Knee Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial. PMC.
If you are wanting to chat more about the information above then why not book a call with me and we can go into more detail? Click here to book or if you want to get an assessment then Book a consultation with a Chiropractor here
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