Experiencing Knee Pain?
It starts small. A little stiffness when you first stand up. Some discomfort walking down the stairs. Then, gradually, it's not so small anymore. You're modifying how you move. You're avoiding the things you used to do without a second thought. Maybe you've tried ibuprofen, a brace, or just waiting it out, and your knee still isn't right.
Knee pain has a way of stealing from you quietly. It's not dramatic enough to stop you completely, but it chips away at the things that make your day feel normal: the morning walk, the weekend hike, keeping up with kids or grandkids. And the longer it drags on, the more you start to wonder: is this just how things are now?
It doesn't have to be. Many people living with persistent knee pain have never had their joint mechanics properly evaluated. The knee doesn't always hurt because something is wrong with the knee itself. It can be the result of how your hip, foot, or spine is loading the joint. That's exactly what chiropractic care is designed to find.
What Causes Knee Pain & Why Chiropractic Helps
The knee is a hinge joint caught between two complex systems: the hip above and the foot below. When either one is moving poorly, the knee absorbs extra stress, and over time that stress adds up. Common causes we see at Meier Family Chiropractic include misaligned joints, restricted hip mobility, muscle imbalances in the glutes or hamstrings, and structural patterns that developed after an old ankle or back injury.
Chiropractic care for knee pain involves evaluating the whole kinetic chain, not just the knee in isolation. By addressing the joints and soft tissue patterns contributing to your pain, chiropractic care can reduce inflammation, restore proper movement, and help your knee function the way it was designed to.
This is appropriate for many types of knee pain: runner's knee, IT band syndrome, general osteoarthritic pain, and chronic aching from years of compensating for other injuries. It is not a replacement for surgical care when surgery is medically necessary, but it is often a strong first step before that conversation.
How Our Doctors Approach Knee Pain
Dr. Nick Meier trained at Palmer College of Chiropractic and practices exclusively using the Gonstead Method, one of the most precise and biomechanically grounded chiropractic techniques available. Rather than general, rotational adjustments, Gonstead focuses on identifying the specific joint or vertebral segment contributing to your problem and adjusting it with purpose.
Dr. Gavin Spennewyn completed an informal residency at the IOC under Dr. Richard Hills PT, DC, FAAOMPT, training that blended chiropractic manipulation with PNF patterns, joint biomechanics, and functional rehabilitation. He brings an evidence-based lens to soft tissue care and corrective movement.
Together, they offer an evaluation and treatment approach that goes deeper than most:
- Joint biomechanics assessed across the full lower kinetic chain
- Soft tissue therapy (myofascial release, trigger point work, muscle re-education) when appropriate
- Corrective movement strategies you can use between visits
What To Expect At Your First Visit
Step 1: A real evaluation
Step 2: Targeted care, not guesswork
Step 3: A plan you can build on
Discover the Path to Relief
Move without thinking about every step. When your knee pain is resolved, you stop calculating. You take the stairs. You walk to the car without bracing yourself. You get back to the small, normal moments that pain had quietly taken away.
Avoid the surgery conversation, or go in better informed. Many patients who come to us expecting to need surgery discover their pain is driven by mechanical patterns that can be corrected without invasive procedures. Others who do eventually need surgery are better off for having addressed their movement patterns first.
Get answers, not just treatment. One of the most common things we hear from new patients is that nobody ever explained why their knee hurts. Dr. Meier and Dr. Spennewyn take the time to show you what they're finding and why it matters, because understanding your pain is part of resolving it.
Care that fits your schedule. Meier Family Chiropractic is open until 7pm, making it practical for working adults across the Des Moines metro to get care without rearranging their day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chiropractors treat the musculoskeletal system, which includes every joint in the body. The knee is a common site of pain because it sits between the hip and the ankle, both of which can drive compensatory stress when they're not moving well. A thorough evaluation often reveals that the knee isn't the root cause at all.
Most patients notice meaningful changes within the first two to four visits, though this varies depending on how long you've had the pain and what's driving it. At your first appointment, you'll get a realistic sense of what to expect for your specific situation.
No referral is required. You can book directly at Meier Family Chiropractic. If your case requires additional imaging or a specialist, we'll let you know.
Chiropractic care for knee pain is generally considered safe when performed by a licensed provider who has properly assessed the joint. Dr. Meier and Dr. Spennewyn will not recommend treatment that isn't appropriate for your specific presentation, and they'll explain everything before proceeding.
