Knee Pain
Knee pain is rarely just a knee problem. At Revolve, we address the joint itself alongside the systemic inflammation, lumbar nerve involvement, and movement dysfunction that drive chronic knee conditions.
Understanding Knee Pain
The knee is the largest and most complex joint in the body — bearing the full weight of the body with every step while simultaneously requiring precise coordination of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Knee osteoarthritis alone affects more than 365 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of pain-related disability globally.
What makes chronic knee pain particularly challenging is that the knee joint doesn't exist in isolation. The lumbar nerves L3, L4, and L5 directly innervate the knee — meaning spinal dysfunction can cause knee symptoms without any injury to the knee itself. Systemic inflammation driven by gut dysbiosis, blood sugar dysregulation, and immune dysfunction can accelerate cartilage breakdown and perpetuate pain even after structural issues are addressed. Hip weakness and poor movement mechanics create abnormal load on the knee joint, accelerating degeneration over time.
At Revolve, we treat knee pain as a whole-body condition — addressing the joint mechanics, the nervous system, and the systemic environment simultaneously. This is what produces lasting results where single-joint treatment falls short.
Common Causes
Osteoarthritis
Progressive breakdown of knee cartilage causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and eventually bone-on-bone contact. The most common form of knee pain in adults over 45.
Meniscus Tears
Tears in the cartilage cushions of the knee — causing pain, clicking, locking, and swelling. Many meniscus tears respond well to conservative care and do not require surgery.
Patellar Tendinopathy
Degeneration of the patellar tendon — common in athletes and active individuals. Produces pain below the kneecap that worsens with jumping, running, or stair climbing.
Ligament Injuries
Sprains or tears of the ACL, MCL, PCL, or LCL — causing instability, swelling, and pain. Many ligament injuries benefit from conservative rehabilitation before surgical consideration.
Lumbar Nerve Referral
Compression of the L3, L4, or L5 nerve roots in the lumbar spine can produce knee pain, weakness, or instability without any structural injury to the knee itself — a commonly missed diagnosis.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursae surrounding the knee joint — producing localized swelling, warmth, and tenderness that often follows repetitive kneeling or direct trauma.
Symptoms
Pain inside, outside, or behind the knee
Swelling or stiffness
Clicking, popping, or locking
Weakness or instability
Pain with stairs, squatting, or kneeling
Stiffness after prolonged sitting
Morning stiffness that eases with movement
Pain that worsens with activity
Warmth or redness over the joint
What the Research Says
Evidence-Based Findings on Knee Pain Treatment
Shockwave therapy reduces pain and improves function in knee osteoarthritis. Research published in 2024 and 2025 — including multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses — found that extracorporeal shockwave therapy significantly reduces pain and improves physical function in knee osteoarthritis. The treatment stimulates blood flow, promotes healing in damaged tissue, and supports the body's natural repair processes without surgery or medication.
Non-pharmacological conservative care is first-line for knee osteoarthritis. Current evidence strongly supports conservative treatments — including manual therapy, exercise rehabilitation, and advanced modalities — as the primary approach for knee OA before pharmacological or surgical intervention. Chiropractic adjustments and manual therapy reduce pain and inflammation by improving joint mobility and reducing pressure on the affected area.
Lumbar nerve involvement is a frequently missed cause of knee pain. The lower lumbar nerves (L3–L5) directly innervate the knee. When these nerves are compressed or irritated at the spine, they can produce knee pain, weakness, and instability that is indistinguishable from structural knee injury — but requires spinal treatment, not knee treatment, to resolve.
Knee decompression restores joint space and synovial fluid circulation. Mechanical traction applied to the knee joint creates negative intradiscal-like pressure, restoring synovial fluid flow and reducing pressure on damaged cartilage and nerve endings — a critical intervention for patients with joint space narrowing or cartilage degeneration.
How We Treat Knee Pain at Revolve
Knee Decompression
Gentle mechanical traction that unloads the knee joint, restores synovial fluid circulation, and reduces pressure on damaged cartilage and nerve endings. Learn more →
Shockwave Therapy
Evidence-supported treatment for patellar tendinopathy, bursitis, and knee osteoarthritis — stimulating tissue repair and reducing inflammation in degenerated knee structures. Learn more →
Chiropractic Care
Lumbar and sacroiliac adjustments to address nerve root involvement, restore spinal mechanics, and reduce neurological drivers of knee pain. Learn more →
Myofascial Therapy & Corrective Rehab
Releasing hip flexor, IT band, and quadriceps restrictions while rebuilding glute and hip stability to correct the movement mechanics overloading the knee. Learn more →
Photobiomodulation
Red and near-infrared light penetrates deep into knee tissue to reduce inflammation, stimulate cartilage and tendon repair, and support natural healing processes. Learn more →
Functional Medicine Testing
For chronic knee conditions, we investigate systemic root causes — gut inflammation, blood sugar and AGEs, and immune dysfunction — that accelerate cartilage breakdown and perpetuate pain. Learn more →
Medical Disclaimer. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Marco Abellera, DC follows all applicable FDA guidelines. Benefits and risks of all treatments will be discussed in full during your consultation.
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