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Whole-body chiropractic care to address the root causes of knee pain and improve joint function.
The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most complex. It bears tremendous load during everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, and rising from a chair, and even greater forces during running and sports. Given these demands, it is no surprise that knee pain is extremely common across all age groups.
At Advanced Wellness Chiropractic in Bridgeton, MO, we take a comprehensive approach to knee pain that looks beyond the knee itself. The knee functions as part of a kinetic chain that includes the foot, ankle, hip, and pelvis. Dysfunction at any point in this chain can alter the mechanics of the knee and contribute to pain, inflammation, and premature wear.
Whether your knee pain stems from arthritis, a sports injury, overuse, or biomechanical imbalance, our goal is to reduce your symptoms while addressing the factors that caused or contributed to the problem. This whole-body approach leads to more complete and lasting improvement than treating the knee in isolation.
Most knee pain responds well to conservative chiropractic treatment, but certain warning signs mean you should see your primary care doctor or an emergency provider right away rather than waiting for a chiropractic evaluation:
Knee pain can present in many forms depending on the cause. The following symptoms are among the most common reasons patients visit our office.
These are adapted versions of the same tests Dr. JC uses in the office to screen knee pain. None of them replace a proper exam, but if one or more reproduces your symptoms, it is a strong hint about which knee structure is involved. Stop any test that causes sharp pain, locking, or giving way.
How to do it
Stand in front of a mirror. Lift one foot and slowly bend the stance knee to about 30 degrees. Watch what the knee does in the mirror.
What to watch for
Pain at the front of the knee, and whether the knee caves inward toward the big toe (valgus collapse) as you lower.
What a positive test suggests
Patellofemoral pain syndrome driven by hip weakness and poor frontal-plane control. One of the most common causes of anterior knee pain in runners.
How to do it
Stand on a low step (4 to 6 inches). Slowly lower one leg off the front of the step, tap the heel lightly on the floor, and rise back up under control.
What to watch for
Pain at the front of the knee, the knee drifting inward, or the pelvis dropping on the unsupported side during the descent.
What a positive test suggests
Patellofemoral dysfunction and gluteus medius weakness. This is the motion that reproduces symptoms for most runners and stair-climbers with anterior knee pain.
How to do it
Lean your back against a wall and slide down until your knees are bent to roughly 60 degrees. Hold the position for 30 seconds.
What to watch for
Pain below the kneecap (patellar tendon) or diffuse pain across the front of the knee. Note whether symptoms build as the hold continues.
What a positive test suggests
Patellar tendon involvement (jumper's knee) or quadriceps-driven patellofemoral pain, depending on where the pain localizes.
If any of these tests reproduces your symptoms, the next step is a full evaluation. Dr. JC will screen the hip, knee, and foot together because knee pain almost always has a contributor higher or lower in the chain.
Chiropractic care for knee pain focuses on restoring proper biomechanics throughout the lower body. By evaluating and correcting alignment issues in the pelvis, hips, and ankles, we reduce the abnormal forces that are often the true cause of knee pain. This biomechanical approach is what distinguishes chiropractic knee treatment from conventional care.
Direct treatment of the knee joint itself may include gentle mobilization to improve range of motion, soft tissue therapy for the quadriceps, hamstrings, IT band, and calf muscles, and patella mobilization techniques. These treatments reduce inflammation, improve tracking of the kneecap, and promote healing of irritated structures.
Strengthening and flexibility exercises are a critical component of knee rehabilitation. We design exercise programs that address muscle imbalances contributing to your knee pain and progressively build strength to support long-term joint health.
ESWT has shown promising results for patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee), particularly in chronic cases. Research published in sports medicine journals has demonstrated that ESWT was more effective and safer than traditional conservative treatments for chronic patellar tendinopathy, and a 2021 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by Persson Krogh et al. in Translational Sports Medicine reported that ESWT was more effective than placebo for patient-rated outcomes. Research also suggests that combining ESWT with eccentric exercise programs may produce better results than either treatment alone.
At Advanced Wellness Chiropractic, we incorporate shockwave therapy into our knee treatment plans for patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy and other tendon-related knee conditions. Combined with our rehabilitative exercise protocols, shockwave therapy helps stimulate tendon repair and get you back to full activity.
Learn more about Shockwave TherapyOur knee treatment plans are based on a detailed assessment of your joint function, lower body alignment, and movement patterns. Your plan may include:
Gentle techniques to restore range of motion, improve patellar tracking, and reduce joint stiffness.
Adjustments to correct pelvic and hip imbalances that alter force distribution through the knee.
Treatment of the quadriceps, hamstrings, IT band, and calf muscles to reduce tension and improve balance.
Progressive strengthening and balance exercises to support the knee joint and restore normal movement patterns.
These are the exercises Dr. JC sends home with most knee pain patients. They take about five to eight minutes total and work best done once a day. Stop any exercise that causes sharp pain, locking, or giving way. If symptoms worsen for more than a few minutes after finishing, skip that exercise and bring it up at your next visit.
A low-load way to get the quadriceps firing without loading the knee joint itself. Often the best starting point for patients who cannot yet tolerate squats or step-ups.
Dosage: 10 to 15 reps, 2 to 3 sets per side, once daily.
Builds the mind-muscle connection for the vastus medialis (inner quad), which is key for proper patellar tracking. Especially useful after any period of knee disuse.
Dosage: Hold 5 seconds, 15 reps, 2 sets per side, once or twice daily.
Knee pain almost always has a hip component. Clamshells target the gluteus medius, which controls knee alignment during walking, running, and stair climbing.
Dosage: 12 to 15 reps, 2 to 3 sets per side, once daily.
A low-impact way to load the knee in a controlled way and build quad endurance. Start shallow and build depth only as your pain tolerates.
Dosage: Start with 3 holds of 15 to 20 seconds, build to 3 holds of 45 seconds, once daily.
Home exercises matter, but they are one piece of a larger plan. Most knee pain patients also have hip or ankle restrictions that these exercises alone will not resolve. If your symptoms are not clearly improving after two to three weeks of consistent home exercise, come in for an evaluation so we can screen the whole lower chain and find the real driver.
Certain jobs and activities drive the majority of knee pain cases we treat at Advanced Wellness Chiropractic. If you recognize yourself in one of these, you are not alone, and conservative chiropractic care is often all you need to get back to full function.
The classic patellofemoral pain, IT band syndrome, and patellar tendinopathy setup. We see a lot of this from patients ramping mileage on Creve Coeur Lake trails and Forest Park.
Amazon, Walmart, UPS, and Schnucks distribution staff who kneel or squat for long periods. Repetitive loading drives meniscus irritation and prepatellar bursitis.
Hours of kneeling on hard surfaces plus sustained squatting. Knees take the brunt. Often pairs with low back pain from compensation.
Morning stiffness, crepitus, and pain on stairs are the classic picture. Chiropractic care cannot reverse arthritis, but we keep patients mobile and often delay or avoid replacement.
Back to basketball, pickleball, or softball after a sedentary week. The quads cannot buffer the load and the knees complain first. Very common in the 35 to 55 age range.
Extra body weight multiplies force through the knee with every step. We coordinate care with nutrition and graded activity to take load off the joint without flaring it.
Olympic lifting, box jumps, and high-rep squatting under fatigue are a common setup for patellar tendinopathy and patellofemoral pain. We adjust programming while we treat.
Cutting, pivoting, and tackling create ligament, meniscus, and patellar issues. We rehab post-injury and treat the biomechanical patterns that set up re-injury.
BJC, Mercy, and SSM staff on 12-hour shifts. Sustained standing plus frequent squatting and patient transfers drives anterior knee pain and patellar tendon irritation.
If your knee pain is work-related, Dr. JC can help document the injury and coordinate with your employer or workers' compensation carrier. We see patients from Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, Hazelwood, Florissant, St. Ann, Creve Coeur, and across North County St. Louis.
Yes. Chiropractors are trained to evaluate and treat the entire musculoskeletal system, including the knee. Knee pain often involves biomechanical factors such as hip misalignment, foot pronation, or pelvic imbalance that alter how forces are distributed through the knee joint. Addressing these contributing factors alongside direct knee treatment can provide significant relief.
Common causes include osteoarthritis, patellar tracking issues, IT band syndrome, ligament sprains, meniscus injuries, bursitis, and tendinitis. Biomechanical imbalances in the hips, pelvis, ankles, and feet frequently contribute to knee problems. Overuse from sports, excess body weight, and age-related wear are also major contributing factors.
Treatment typically includes a thorough evaluation of the knee and the entire lower extremity kinetic chain. We assess hip, pelvis, and ankle alignment to identify contributing factors. Treatment may involve joint mobilization of the knee and surrounding joints, soft tissue therapy, therapeutic exercises, and adjustments to correct biomechanical imbalances higher in the chain.
Patients with knee pain related to biomechanical dysfunction, osteoarthritis, overuse injuries, and post-surgical rehabilitation often see excellent results. Athletes dealing with patellofemoral pain, IT band syndrome, or runner's knee respond particularly well. Even patients with more complex knee conditions often benefit from the biomechanical improvements that chiropractic care provides.
Regular low-impact exercise such as swimming, cycling, or walking helps maintain joint mobility without excessive stress. Stretching the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip flexors supports balanced muscle function around the knee. Custom orthotics, proper footwear, and weight management are additional factors that complement chiropractic care for knee pain.
Yes. The knee sits between the hip and ankle in the kinetic chain, so dysfunction in either joint can alter how forces travel through the knee. Hip misalignment, weak glute muscles, ankle instability, and flat feet are all common contributors to knee pain. At Advanced Wellness Chiropractic in Bridgeton, Dr. JC evaluates the entire lower extremity to identify and treat all contributing factors.
Yes. Focused shockwave therapy is highly effective for chronic patellar tendinitis (jumper's knee) and other knee tendinopathies that have not responded to rest and stretching. The acoustic waves stimulate cellular repair and collagen production in the damaged tendon. Many patients in the St. Louis area find lasting relief after a course of shockwave treatments at our clinic.
Chiropractic care can significantly improve comfort and function for patients with knee osteoarthritis. While it cannot reverse the degenerative process, treatment helps maintain joint mobility, reduce pain, and improve the biomechanical alignment that affects how weight is distributed through the knee. Many arthritis patients find that regular care allows them to stay active and reduce their reliance on pain medications.
Running-related knee pain often points to biomechanical issues like poor patellar tracking, IT band tightness, or hip weakness. Rather than simply stopping activity, getting a chiropractic evaluation can identify the root cause. Dr. JC can treat the underlying dysfunction and guide you on training modifications so you can return to running without recurring pain.
“You'll leave feeling like a million bucks”
He takes the time to understand and treat your specific issue. Dr. Bordeaux is hands down the best chiropractor in the greater St. Louis area. You'll leave feeling like a million bucks.
Shockwave therapy is highly effective for patellar tendonitis and chronic knee conditions.
Learn MoreSpecialized athletic care helps prevent and rehabilitate knee injuries from sports activities.
Learn MorePin & Stretch targets muscle adhesions around the knee that contribute to pain and limited mobility.
Learn MoreAdvanced Wellness Chiropractic
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