Knee pain treatment without surgery.
A knee pain chiropractor in Scottsdale who looks at the hip above and the foot below, because the knee mostly does what they tell it to. Dr. Tracey Ryder treats runner's knee, patellar tracking problems, stiff knees and the aches of wear with adjustments, acupuncture, massage and taping.
- In practice since 2003
- Chiropractic, acupuncture and massage in one plan
- Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale Road
- 4.9 from 75 Google reviews
What it is
What a chiropractor for knee pain examines
The knee is a hinge caught between two joints that rotate. If the hip is weak or stiff, the thigh rolls inward with every step and the kneecap is pulled off its track. If the foot rolls in, the shin rotates and the same thing happens from below. The knee takes the strain of both and is the one that hurts. That is why most knee pain that arrives here without an injury is a hip or foot problem wearing a knee costume.
Does a chiropractor help knee pain? For the mechanical kinds, yes. Knee pain treatment in Scottsdale at Ryder restores motion to the hip, the foot and the knee joint itself, releases the thigh muscles that pull the kneecap sideways, calms the irritated tissue with acupuncture for knee pain in Scottsdale, and uses kinesio taping for knee pain to hold the kneecap on track between visits. A torn ligament or meniscus with locking is referred for imaging.
If you have been searching for a knee pain chiropractor near me from Old Town, Tempe or south Scottsdale, the office is on Scottsdale Road between McDowell and Thomas.
- Where it hurts
- Around or under the kneecap, the inside of the knee, the outside of the knee, behind the knee
- Common causes
- Weak or stiff hips, flat or rolling feet, running and cycling volume, tight quads and IT band, joint wear
- What we use
- Hip, knee and foot adjustments, acupuncture, massage of the thigh, kinesio taping
- First visit
- History, hip, knee and foot exam, walking and squatting, explanation, first treatment when appropriate
What is going on
Why the knee pays for the hip and the foot
Stand on one leg and watch the knee. If it drifts inward, the hip is not controlling the thigh, and every step loads the inside of the knee and drags the kneecap outward against its groove. Runner's knee, patellar tracking pain and the ache on the inside of the knee all come from that pattern. A foot that rolls in does the same from below. Add a tight quad and IT band pulling the kneecap sideways, and the cartilage under it is ground against the wrong surface thousands of times a day.
Adjustments restore motion to the hip, the knee and the foot joints. Massage releases the quads, IT band and calf. Acupuncture settles the inflamed tissue around the kneecap and the joint line. Taping holds the kneecap on track while the hip learns to do its job. The exam tells us which end of the chain is the driver.
Symptoms
What people come in with
Knee pain tends to look like this:
- Ache under or around the kneecap
- Pain on stairs, worse going down
- Pain after sitting with the knee bent
- Grinding or clicking under the kneecap
- Pain on the inside of the knee walking
- Pain on the outside of the knee running
- Stiffness first thing
- Swelling after activity
- A knee that gives way
- Pain squatting
A knee that locks, or swelled immediately after an injury, needs imaging first.
How we treat it
How we treat knee pain
Hip, knee and foot together, and taping to hold the change.
Chiropractic
Adjustments to the hip, the knee joint and the foot and ankle, plus kinesio taping to keep the kneecap tracking between visits.
Acupuncture
Points around the kneecap and the joint line for the inflamed tissue, and along the thigh for the muscles pulling the kneecap sideways.
Massage
Release of the quads, IT band, hamstrings and calf, so the kneecap is not being dragged off its track.
Your visit
What a first visit for knee pain is like
During the visit
- How it started, where it hurts, what activity brings it on, any injury history.
- Single-leg and squat tests, hip strength, foot posture, knee joint and ligament exam.
- A plain-language explanation of which end of the chain is driving it.
- First treatment when appropriate, often including taping.
After the visit
- Tracking and overuse pain changes over a short course; wear-related pain is managed over longer.
- One or two hip exercises, footwear advice, and what to modify in training for now.
- A re-check at every visit, and imaging if the knee locks or gives way.
Causes
What commonly causes it
What pulls the knee off track.
Weak hips
The thigh rolls in with every step.
Feet that roll in
The shin rotates under the knee.
Training volume
Running, cycling, hiking mileage jumps.
Tight quads and IT band
Drag the kneecap sideways.
Joint wear
Cartilage thinning with age.
A prior injury
Old ligament or meniscus damage changing mechanics.
When to come in
When to see us, and when to see a doctor first
Good reasons to book
- Knee pain on stairs, squats, running or after sitting.
- Runner's knee or kneecap tracking pain.
- Knee pain with hip or foot problems.
- Stiff, achy knees from wear that you want to keep moving.
- Knee pain treated elsewhere without lasting change.
See a doctor first if
- The knee locks, or you cannot straighten it.
- It swelled quickly after an injury, or you heard a pop.
- The knee gives way repeatedly.
- Fever, redness or heat at the knee.
If the exam points to a ligament or meniscus injury that needs imaging, Dr. Tracey will say so and refer you.
Real questions
What people ask about knee pain.
Searched in Scottsdale Does a chiropractor help knee pain?
For mechanical knee pain, yes: kneecap tracking problems, runner's knee, stiff knees and the aches of wear all respond to restoring motion in the hip, knee and foot, releasing the thigh muscles that pull the kneecap off track, and settling the tissue with acupuncture. Ligament and meniscus tears are referred for imaging.
Does kinesio taping for knee pain work?
It supports the kneecap on its track and cues the muscles around it while the hip strengthens, and most patients notice the difference on stairs right away. It is a bridge between visits, not the treatment on its own.
Why does my knee hurt going downstairs?
Going down loads the kneecap against its groove with the most force. If the kneecap is tracking off center, downstairs is where it shows. Hip control and quad tightness are the usual drivers.
Can acupuncture help knee pain?
Yes. Acupuncture for knee pain is one of the more common bookings here, particularly for the inflamed tissue around the kneecap and for wear-related aching.
Will I need a knee replacement?
Most knee pain is not advanced wear, and much wear is manageable for years with motion and strength. If the exam suggests advanced joint damage, Dr. Tracey will say so and coordinate with your physician.
( Book )
Book a visit for knee pain
Call the office or request an appointment online. Tell us where it hurts and how long it has been going on, and we will set up the right first visit.
- Monday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Tuesday
- 8:30 AM to 12 PM
- Wednesday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Thursday
- 2 to 6 PM
- Friday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Saturday to Sunday
- Closed
Directions in Google Maps
Prefer to talk? Call (480) 900-5280.