Advances In Knee Therapy

Recently, a past teacher of mine sent me a letter about an orthopedic surgeon in Florida who started to use alternative therapies to prevent knee surgery. His technique was called Mobilization/Manipulation and the theory consisted of manually moving the knee cap to its original and then using rehab to re-train the muscles to hold the knee cap in its new position. His name is Dr. Patrick Barry and you can find his article at the following link (http://www.keyc.tv/article/view/128604/). I got excited when I received this letter because I thought I was the only one who did this type of treatment. Dr. Barry and I seem to have the same understanding that when one has a knee injury, or their knees wear out (arthritis), then they change the way they walk causing various muscles surrounding the knee to become weaker. According to Dr. Barry, this in-turn causes the knee cap to go out of place. Although our understandings of the knee muscular weakness theories are similar, our techniques are slightly different. What I do is look further outside the box by not just looking at the knee itself, but the body as a whole. Many of the patients I see, especially those with knee problems, have flat feet or lower than normal arches. 

What I do is a standing postural and video gait analysis assessment to give me an idea of where the problem is. Then I assess the musculature of the whole body via muscle testing and note the weakened muscles. Those weakened muscles are then strengthened with certain techniques to help stabilize the knee cap and the knee itself. Then I do rehab with the patient to help retrain the newly strengthened muscles to maintain their now normal function. This is also followed with custom molded foot orthotics, if necessary, to correct ones gait and prevent future injury. I have been doing this for years and with great results. I do mobilize the knee cap myself but I am not sure if it is the same way Dr. Barry does. What I can say is that I am excited to hear that an orthopedic surgeon himself is using alternative means to treat knee pain besides surgery. Although it works for most of my patient's, surgery is never ruled out as an option. If you have any questions about how I treat knees and/or shoulders, elbows, ankle sprains, wrists, hips, and neck/back), then please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Dr. James P. Nill, D.C.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me at 260-459-2205 or via e-mail at drnill@nillchiropractic.com. Feel free to come by for a FREE tour, FREE demonstration, and/or a FREE consultation. Thank you and have a healthy day!!