Knee Pain in Athletes
What’s Really Causing Your Knee Pain?
Your knee usually hurts because of how everything above and below it is moving. If the hips are stiff or the ankles don’t load well, the knee ends up doing overtime, and that’s when you feel patellar tendon pain, IT band irritation, or that front‑of‑knee ache after runs, squats, or games. Our job is to figure out why it’s happening, not just where it hurts.
Common Knee Problems We See & Treat
If it’s keeping you from running, jumping, squatting, or changing direction, we’re on it. Common patterns we treat include:
- Patellar tendinopathy / “jumper’s knee”
- Patellofemoral (kneecap) pain, like front‑of‑knee ache with stairs, squats, or after sitting
- IT band irritation around the lateral knee
- Quad or hamstring overload that keeps tugging on the knee
- Meniscus irritation/tears (when appropriate for conservative care)
- Post‑surgery rehab & return‑to‑sport (ACL/meniscus) when you’re cleared to load but still limited
Your plan may include adjustments, ART, Graston, dry needling, cupping, shockwave for chronic cases, and the right progression of corrective exercise based on your assessment and goals.
How We Fix Knee Pain (Step‑by‑Step)
1) Restore Motion
If a joint isn’t moving well, it won’t feel well. At Empower Sports Chiropractic, we use precise chiropractic adjustments, which are safe, focused movements that restore joint function. What you should notice is a better range, less pain, and a calmer nervous system.
2) Treat the Soft Tissue
For tendinopathies and tight, overworked structures around the knee, we use Active Release Technique (ART), a very targeted pin‑and‑stretch method that works at end range to free up muscle, tendon, or capsular restrictions.
For local, chronic spots (patellar tendon, quad/pes area), Graston (IASTM) lets us scan with instruments, lightly strum the tissue, and then immediately reinforce it with movement because tissue changes under load.
3) Calm the Hot Spots
Dry needling goes straight to trigger points to modulate overactive muscles or wake up the ones not firing well. It also helps tone down the nervous system, which is one reason it pairs so well with adjustments.
4) Improve Blood Flow
With cupping, the goal is simple: old blood out, new blood in. We primarily use dynamic cupping, which involves gliding to find reactive areas, setting cups briefly, and moving the joint through range while they’re on. Most people notice easier motion and less stiffness.
5) For Stubborn, Chronic Cases: Softwave.
Our SoftWave (shockwave) therapy is a non‑invasive device that penetrates deeply, so we can reach thick, stubborn tissue. It’s fantastic for extremities like the knee, helping accelerate healing by increasing blood flow and local metabolic activity and recruiting healing factors. We mainly use it for chronic tendon and overuse problems.
6) Lock it in with Corrective Exercise
We’re a rehab‑heavy clinic. Instead of generic band sheets, you’ll get a tailored, progressive, dynamic plan that fits how you train, so the changes we make on the table actually hold when you run, cut, lift, and compete.
Note: For spinal contributors to knee load (hip/low‑back mechanics), we favor flexion distraction over spinal decompression. We don’t offer decompression because research and experience show it can cause more problems. We’ll choose the option that actually helps you move.
Why Active People Choose Empower for Knee Pain in Athletes
Longer, 1:1 Sessions
You’re not bounced between stations, so we can assess, treat, and train in the same visit.
Elite Sports Experience
With our experience treating D1 athletes, we bring that same standard to your plan.
Integrated Care Under One Roof
We blend sports chiropractic, physical therapy, and sports/deep‑tissue massage.
Evidence First Before Imaging
We don’t order routine imaging. If it changes your plan, we’ll refer you to a trusted local center.
Ready to Run, Lift, and Compete Without Knee Pain?
If your knee flares every time you ramp up, or “rest and ice” isn’t cutting it, let’s build a plan you can trust. We’ll calm it down, fix the pattern that caused it, and get you back to the work you love.
