Patellofemoral Syndrome: Chiropractic Care For "Runners Knee"
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (“PFPS”) is a condition that affects the area in which the lower thigh bone (femur) meets the patella tendon, resulting in pain around and under the kneecap. Often called “runner’s knee” because it is common in athletes, it ranks among the most common type of knee pain.And while the cause of this syndrome is mostly unknown, it seems that repetitive motion (like running), as well as prolonged immobility (like sitting), have been shown to make it worse.¹When it comes to treating PFPS, there are a few benefits of incorporating chiropractic care:
1. Manage The Pain - pain in the body is most often a sign of acute or chronic inflammation. A healthy nervous system helps to prevent and reduce inflammation in the body by relieving any pressure that might be affecting the nerves:
“When the spine and other joints are properly aligned, and your nerves function as they should, your body’s biomechanics return to normal.”²
2. Fix The Foundation - many knee problems stem from issues with your body’s foundation, aka the feet. At Summit Chiropractic Center, Dr. Tilyr is a Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner who is trained to evaluate and adjust any joint misalignments that could be stressing other parts of your body, such as your knees. Being able to locate and correct these issues plays a major role in defining the best ways to treat and prevent painful injuries and conditions.
“There are instances when the extremities themselves are the standalone causes of pain and without treating them, we are not addressing the true nature or source of the problem.”³
3. Repair The Imbalances - our body’s structure is made up of bones, joints, and muscles; all three parts work together to keep us strong and healthy. That means that any type of misalignment or imbalance (whether it be in the muscles, bones, or joints) can end up disrupting your body’s overall structural integrity. Chiropractic adjustments help to return your body back to a balanced state so that it can recover and heal itself more effectively.
“We often then try to treat the specific area of pain, but without taking into account our total body we’re often off the mark. For example, I could stretch my IT Band all day long, but if my right hip remains an inch higher than my left my body won’t ever recover.”ª
It is important to keep in mind that chiropractic care is just one part of the strategy when it comes to healing a condition like PFPS. It is recommended to consistently incorporate it alongside other treatments such as rest, stretching, icing, foot orthotics, physical therapy, etc. A more holistic approach can help to avoid the need for more invasive care like surgery.
Don’t let knee pain “run” your life! Give us a call today to schedule a consult with one of our doctors!
802-662-1047summitchiropracticvt@gmail.com
¹ John Hopkins Medicine. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner's Knee) Treatment
² Effective Integrative Healthcare, LLC. "The Role of a Chiropractor in Reducing Inflammation"
³ Wong, Kevin. "Extremity Adjusting: A vital Part of Chiropractic." The American Chiropractor.
ª Brooks, Amanda. "Why Runners Need a Chiropractor and Why I Used to Avoid Them"
Additional sources:
https://www.painscience.com/tutorials/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome.php
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319458.php
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/orthopaedic-surgery/specialty-areas/sports-medicine/conditions-we-treat/patellofemoral-disorder-pain.html
https://www.dovepress.com/patellofemoral-pain-in-athletes-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OAJSM#F5
https://www.thejoint.com/california/san-clemente/san-clemente-31137/runners-knee-symptoms-treatments