The Western medical system subdivides and classifies the symptoms of knee pain into a variety of different diseases depending on the location, nature, characteristics and signs of the pain. For example, fat pad injury, patellar chondromalacia, suprapatellar bursitis, ligament injury, muscle tendon injury, knee osteoarthritis, meniscal injury, etc.
In the treatment of knee pain, knowledge of the location, nature and characteristics of the pain is of course an important basis for diagnosis, and without a correct diagnosis, there is no way to talk about effective treatment and efficacy.
However, knowledge of the direct pathological findings that cause knee pain, such as cartilage wear, muscle ligament tendon tears, bursal mucosal swelling, joint cavity effusion, etc., is not enough to guide effective treatment of knee pain, or sometimes even gives wrong guidance information.
The diagnosis of aseptic inflammation and the corresponding therapeutic means, such as the administration of antipyretic and analgesic drugs and other Western and Chinese medicines, although they can alleviate pain to some extent, obviously do not meet the need for etiologic treatment. For cartilage wear, sclerosis and degeneration, the method of injecting sodium vitrate is also a superficial method that cannot treat the root cause. Without eliminating the cause of cartilage wear, the process of articular cartilage wear and degeneration will be difficult to stop ……
Therefore, effective treatment must rely on the results of an in-depth, thorough etiological analysis.
Through years of clinical practice in the treatment of knee pain, we have developed our own thorough and unique understanding of the causes of knee pain, and have developed our own unique theory and method of manipulative treatment.
The core of this theory and method follows and supports the “Oriental Flexible Orthopedic Therapy” of Mao Taizhi’s “Bone Dislocation Source-based” etiology of related diseases, with the abnormal knee joint mechanics leading to a series of pathological changes as the main clue. The specific causes of abnormal knee joint mechanics can be traced back to the characteristic mechanical abnormalities of the structures of the lower extremities, the pelvis and the bones and soft tissues of the lumbar region. In other words, each specific single bone structure that makes up the lumbar, pelvic, and lower extremity will deviate from its own position and sequential state pattern with related structures above and below it in the process, and develop its own specific rotational displacement pattern. The associated soft tissues, too, will develop corresponding pathological states in this process.
It is these abnormal mechanical factors that lead to a series of pathological changes in the joints of the lower extremities, including aseptic inflammation, affecting the structure and function of the corresponding joints to varying degrees, with the knee joint, the largest load-bearing joint in the body, bearing the brunt.
The path to treatment also begins with improving the abnormal mechanics of these structures that cause a range of symptoms such as knee pain.
In this regard, the lumbar spine, pelvis, femur, patella, tibia, tarsus, and other bone structures, the lumbar intervertebral joints, lumbosacral, sacroiliac, hip, knee, ankle, and tibiofibular joints are almost invariably involved, and abnormalities in their sequence and mechanics are important pathological influences.
The lumbar spine can rotate and shift, which is already familiar; what about the pelvis? The pelvis is subject to various types of rotational shifts, which are beginning to be understood, but how pelvic rotational shifts affect the knee joint is a subject that needs to be studied in depth and clarified. Does the femur rotate and shift? From here on, we may not be concerned enough; what about the patellofemoral joint alignment? Where is the position of the patella, is it up and down or to the left and right? What about the tibiofemoral joint? Is it a normal range of rotation? Is the position of the fibula forward or backward, with up and down movement …… yin and yang foot is caused by what factors, is it the pelvis? Is it the hip? Is it the femur? Or is it due to the rotation of the tibia …… Knee pain has nothing to do with the above conditions and what the specific connection is, you really need to spend some time to figure it out.
A user once asked about the type of knee misalignment, and the answer will come to light when you get the above tips straight.
To determine abnormal structural sequences and functional status, one must of course first understand and model the mechanics of the hard and soft structures in both normal and abnormal states.
The abnormal state of the bone structural sequence is inevitably related to the structural and functional state of the corresponding soft tissues at the same time or successively, and the two are inseparable.
What is the relationship between the soft tissues, muscles, fascia, ligaments, stiffness contractures and the displacement of bone structures? This is also a question that needs to be clarified. This is a major issue involving “flesh and bone separation”. The diagnosis of the cause of the disease should be understood, and the choice of treatment techniques should also be clarified as to what the relationship between soft tissue manipulation and orthopedic manipulation is. Tendon management and bone setting are never opposites.
In the treatment of knee pain, in most cases, the pain in different areas is directly related to the abnormal state of the corresponding soft tissues. Behind the abnormalities of the soft tissues, either first or later, or in conjunction with them, is the abnormal position and sequence of bone structures.
In terms of the dominant and/or supporting conditions required for proper physiological function, the abnormal state of the bone and soft tissues must be accompanied or sequenced by abnormal states of the nerves, blood vessels, and other structures and functions. Sometimes such effects can even be the underlying dominant factor in knee pain. However, after a more in-depth analysis, it becomes clear that the cause of the disease comes back to the bone structure.
The sequence, cause and effect, and primary and secondary relationships among the above factors will vary depending on the specific condition. The complexity of the causative factors requires the physician to analyze them in a calm and careful manner.
By following the above-mentioned approach, combining the patient’s age, gender, physical condition and other specific conditions, conducting precise and specific soft and hard pathological state analysis, and adopting clear, specific and targeted treatment methods, it becomes inevitable and normal for patients with various types of knee pain to experience quick and even special results.
Practitioners often take pride in the holistic view of Chinese medicine. Hopefully, this advantage will not be left behind when it comes to specific knee pain problems in clinical practice.