Knee Pain? Stop Treating the Knee and Start Strengthening the Quads
It hurts when you walk down the stairs. It aches after a long drive. Maybe you have even been told you have "bone on bone" arthritis or a meniscus tear.
When your knee hurts, the instinct is to treat the joint—ice it, brace it, or inject it. But in many cases, the knee is just the victim. The real culprit is a lack of support from above.
At Phelts Chiropractic PC, Dr. John W. Phelts, D.C. takes a functional approach to knee pain. Before we look at surgery, we look at the Quadriceps—specifically the "teardrop" muscle that stabilizes the joint.
The "Natural Knee Brace"
Your knee joint is held together by ligaments, but it is stabilized by muscles. The most important one is the Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO).
This is the teardrop-shaped muscle on the inner part of your thigh, just above the knee. Its job is to track the kneecap (patella) correctly. When the VMO is weak or "asleep," the kneecap gets pulled off track, grinding against the cartilage with every step.
To save the knee, you must build the brace.
The Solution: Emsculpt Neo (Quad Strengthening)
Rehabilitating the VMO is notoriously difficult. If your knee hurts, doing heavy squats or leg extensions is often impossible or dangerous.
Emsculpt Neo offers a medical-grade solution. By placing the applicators on the thighs, we can:
- Bypass the Pain: We can strengthen the muscle without putting any weight or impact on the knee joint.
- Supramaximal Contractions: The HIFEM energy forces the quads to contract at an intensity that voluntary exercise cannot match (20,000 contractions in 30 minutes).
- Build the Support: Studies show a 25% increase in muscle. This added muscle volume acts as a shock absorber, taking the pressure off your joints.
Book Your EMSCULPT NEO Consultation
The Phelts Difference: Applied Kinesiology (AK)
Why do physical therapy exercises sometimes fail? Because of a phenomenon called Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition (AMI). When a knee is painful or swollen, the brain neurologically "shuts down" the VMO to prevent further damage.
You can try to flex it, but the signal isn't getting through.
Dr. Phelts uses Applied Kinesiology to reconnect the brain to the muscle:
- The Test: We test the VMO strength specifically. Is it firing, or is it inhibited?
- The Reset: Using AK reflex points, we clear the neurological inhibition that is keeping the muscle weak.
- The Activation: Once the neural pathway is open, we apply the Emsculpt Neo. Now, instead of stimulating a dormant muscle, we are strengthening an active one. This leads to faster, more permanent stability.
Complete Regenerative Care: EMSELLA and EMFACE
The knee is stuck in the middle between the hip and the ground. To fully resolve knee pain, we must look at the whole chain:
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EMSELLA (The Foundation): If your hips are unstable, your knees will collapse inward (valgus stress) with every step.
- The Fix: EMSELLA strengthens the pelvic floor to stabilize the hips and improve gait.
- Who it helps: It effectively treats men with erectile dysfunction and women who want to improve vaginal tightness, lubrication, and comfort. It also treats patients with fecal or urinary incontinence.
- Book Your EMSELLA Consultation
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EMFACE (The Tension Release): Chronic pain changes how we hold our bodies, often leading to clenched jaws and tension headaches.
- The Fix: EMFACE is FDA-cleared for the treatment of TMJ. It relieves facial tension while restoring a youthful, lifted appearance.
- Book Your EMFACE Consultation
Pre-Hab Before Rehab
Whether you are preparing for ski season, golf season, or just want to walk down the stairs without wincing, strength is your best protection. Build the muscle to save the joint.
Ready to build your natural knee brace?
