Hip and Knee Pain: Can a Chiropractor Help in Mandurah?
Many people assume a chiropractor only deals with backs and necks. At Peel Chiropractic in central Mandurah, the conditions the clinic treats include problems of the hips, knees, ankles and feet as well as the spine. So the short answer is yes, a chiropractor can be part of the picture for hip and knee pain, though not every sore joint suits chiropractic care and some pain needs a GP first.
This article explains what that looks like in practice, what a visit involves, and how to tell when it is time to get a medical opinion instead.
Joints beyond the spine
Peel Chiropractic lists hips and knees among the areas it sees, alongside the neck, mid back, low back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, ankles and feet.
The clinic’s own explanation of an adjustment is that it applies a specific force in a precise direction to a joint that is troublesome, for instance one that is locked up or not moving properly, and that chiropractors can treat any joint from the spine out to the fingers and toes. The aim is to help restore more normal motion, which can often ease pain.
That is a general description of the approach, not a promise. Whether it suits your hip or knee depends on what is actually causing the pain, which is why the first appointment starts with questions and an examination rather than treatment.
Why the examination looks beyond the sore spot
The clinic’s first appointment is a history, a neurological examination and a chiropractic examination, so the look at your hip or knee takes in more than the joint that hurts.
That fits with how the clinic describes its work: it treats complaints of the spine and the extremities, and its list of techniques includes a postural assessment, pelvic blocking and Flexion Distraction alongside adjusting. In general, hips and knees sit in a chain with the low back, pelvis, ankles and feet, so it is common for practitioners to consider the neighbouring areas when a joint is sore. Whether that applies to you is something the examination is there to work out.
It is also why a person with sciatica, which the clinic treats, can feel symptoms well away from the back. If that sounds familiar, our article on sciatica and when to get help covers it in more detail.
What the clinic says it treats around the hip and knee
The clinic’s pages name complaints of the hips and knees, along with osteoarthritis, biomechanical joint dysfunction of the spine and extremities, muscle strains, sports injuries and poor posture, as things it treats.
Those are all musculoskeletal problems, which is the boundary that matters. Chiropractors treat problems of the musculoskeletal system, not conditions of organs, hormones or the immune system. A joint that is hot, red and swollen, or pain after a fall, calls for medical attention rather than waiting to see how it goes.
If your complaint is at the foot end of the chain, the clinic also names plantar fasciitis, and we have a separate piece on plantar fasciitis and whether a chiropractor can help. For anything involving a sporting injury, see sports injuries in Mandurah and when to see a chiropractor.
Techniques that may be used
The clinic names a range of techniques, and which one is used depends on you, your age, your size and your particular problem.
The named techniques are Diversified adjusting, Drop Table (Thompson) technique, Arthrostim instrument adjusting (which makes no popping sound), SOT blocking, Flexion Distraction and Quantum Neurology, plus prescribed rehabilitation exercises and stretches. If you are nervous about joint manipulation, the instrument based Arthrostim option is worth asking about, since it does not involve the click people tend to worry about.
You can read more about each approach on the chiropractic techniques page.
What happens at a first visit for a sore hip or knee
The first appointment takes about 45 minutes and covers your history, a neurological examination and a chiropractic examination.
Arrive 15 minutes early for paperwork. Bring any X rays, medical information and referrals you have, and a DVA, Medicare, private health, concession or pensioner card if you hold one. X rays are only arranged if they are warranted, so you should not expect one automatically.
The second visit is a report of findings, where the results of the examination are explained. Our new patients page sets out what to bring and what to expect. For questions about rebates or fees, contact the clinic directly through the contact page, which is also where to check current opening hours.
How care is staged, and why exercises matter
The clinic describes three stages of care: initial intensive care for relief, rehabilitative care, and wellness care.
In the first stage the goal is symptom or pain relief, and the severity and diagnosis determine how often you are seen. In rehabilitative care the focus shifts to the cause of the problem, with visits becoming less frequent as you take on home or office exercises to support healing and strengthening. For a knee or hip that has been niggling, this is usually where the real work is, because joints that are weak or tight tend to complain again if the underlying pattern is not addressed. Our piece on why back pain keeps coming back makes a similar point about recurring problems.
The third stage is wellness care, with periodic check ups. How long you continue is always up to you.
How soon will my knee or hip feel better?
There is no single timeframe, and the clinic does not give one. It lists acute versus chronic pain and first episode versus recurrent problem at the top of the factors that affect recovery, followed by your history of previous injuries and your general health. As a general rule, a recent first time flare up tends to have a different outlook from pain that has been there for months or keeps coming back. In the clinic’s staged approach, how often you are seen at the start depends on the severity and diagnosis, and visits reduce as you move into rehabilitation. The second visit is a report of findings, which is a sensible time to ask what to expect for your own knee or hip.
When to see your GP first
Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care or prescribed medicine, and no treatment is completely safe or guaranteed to work, so some hip and knee pain should go to your GP first.
See your GP promptly if the pain follows a significant fall or impact, if you cannot put weight on the leg, or if the joint is hot, red and swollen. Likewise, get medical advice for fever alongside joint pain, pain that wakes you at night and does not settle, or numbness and weakness in the leg that is getting worse. These are general safety rules, not a description of how the clinic triages patients.
If you are unsure which route to take, a call to the clinic on (08) 9535 1600 is a reasonable first step, and your GP is always a good place to start.
If you live or work around Mandurah and your hip or knee has been bothering you, you can read more about chiropractic care at Peel Chiropractic and then arrange a visit. The clinic is at 22 Peel Street, a short walk from the Mandurah Foreshore, with onsite parking, a bus stop at the front door and wheelchair access.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be in pain to see a chiropractor?
No. The clinic’s FAQ says you do not always have to be in pain, and that reasons to consult a chiropractor can include preventing a problem, learning more about your body or improving your quality of life.
Will the treatment hurt?
The clinic says treatment is always within your comfort level and can often be quite relaxing.
Can children or older people be seen for joint pain?
The clinic welcomes everyone from newborns to seniors. Technique is chosen to suit your age, size and individual problem, and your GP can advise whether chiropractic care fits alongside any other health conditions you have.
Related pages
This article draws on the following pages.