Reviewed by: Dr. Steve Knighton, B.Sc., D.C. (Chiropractor)
Ontario Chiropractic License Number: 5580 | Last reviewed: August 7, 2026

Knee Pain Treatment Oakville

We treat a lot of knee pain at our Oakville Physiotherapy and Chiropractic clinic. Whether the knee pain is the result of a muscular imbalance, strained or torn ligaments, a strained meniscus, or an inflamed tendon, shockwave therapy has been proven to be the gold standard when it comes to getting our Oakville patients out of knee pain. Reach out to our evidence based chiropractic care team for knee treatment protocols for all kinds of knee injuries.

Looking for physiotherapy for a knee injury? Vinaya and her Oakville physiotherapy team have the treatment you need. Our physiotherapist treats similar to Dr. Steve and treatment almost always includes shockwave therapy.

If your knee pain symptoms are related to a workplace injury, learn how to start a WSIB claim and access approved treatment in Oakville. Knee injuries frequently occur in car accidents when the knee strikes the dashboard during impact. Our car accident injury treatment Oakville program includes treatment for knee injuries caused by motor vehicle collisions.

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Knee Pain Treatment Video:

What Our Patients Are saying

  • Dr. Jenn is amazing! She truly cares about her patients and is willing to try different things in order to see progress. I’ve been struggling with hip pain for years due to my scoliosis, no physio or chiro has ever been able to make a difference other than her, she... read more

    Alexia Davies Avatar Alexia Davies
    June 7, 2024

    Dr Steve and team have transformed my neck and upper back. They worked their magic to help release tension and my sleep is much better. Bonus - they love dogs so mine come to appts for social visits!

    Vidya B Avatar Vidya B
    September 7, 2024

    Dr Steve and all the staff are excellent. He has been on point in helping us deal with some injuries and pains; shock wave therapy is a game changer. Now, all the family goes there. From injuries to posture, they are our go-to clinic. Highly recommend.

    Jorge Vidal Avatar Jorge Vidal
    December 7, 2024

  • I’ve been going to Steve and his team for chiropractic care for several years, and they have helped me tremendously. Despite living in downtown Toronto, I make the trip out to Oakville because the quality of care is truly worth it. Steve takes a holistic approach, looking at the... read more

    Aman Bahl Avatar Aman Bahl
    November 7, 2024

    I would definitely recommend the Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre for anyone in need of chiropractic services. Dr. Steve significantly improved my back posture after two to three sessions; the staff are both friendly and professional, and the atmosphere is very relaxing.

    Rick Dong Avatar Rick Dong
    October 7, 2024

    Love Dr. Steve and the staff. Everyone is great and helpful and efficient and you don’t feel rushed or just a number. They take time to listen to you. Laura (the one with the kind eyes) is just the best. She explains the machines really well and is easy to... read more

    Kiran Chauhan Avatar Kiran Chauhan
    July 7, 2024

  • Dr. Jenn is terrific and has helped me so much over the years. She is very progressive and uses many different methods (technology, acupuncture, tools) to go beyond traditional chiropractic and resolve issues (acute and chronic). I also like how her office direct bills my insurance for me. Highly recommend!

    Dr. Alison MacDougall Avatar Dr. Alison MacDougall
    November 7, 2024

    Dr. Steve and his staff have been integral in keeping me in shape to continue to train. Dr. Steve understands the peculiarities of my back and is able to treat me in a manner that I am comfortable with and gets results. He is also very helpful in providing alternative... read more

    Scott Campbell Avatar Scott Campbell
    December 7, 2024

    Exceptional care and expertise! Dr.Steve truly goes above and beyond to provide personalized and effective treatment highly recommend

    Michael azim Avatar Michael azim
    February 6, 2025

Common Types of Knee Pain We Treat

1. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome develops from an imbalance in the knee, which is a result of the muscles on the inside of the knee being weaker than the muscles on the outside. Sometimes this imbalance is so apparent that you can see the difference in muscle size! This imbalance can lead to the knee cap ‘translating’ or moving inward. As the kneecap slides medially , it doesn’t track through it’s designated groove properly, causing some friction and irritation felt behind the patella.

Shockwave Therapy is the gold standard for patellofemoral pain syndrome and can help in two ways. Firstly, shockwave therapy can help stimulate the muscles on the inside of the knee (specifically, your vastus medialis obliques). Shockwave can help wake up the nerves and ensure there is proper neurological input getting to the muscles.

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This is particularly helpful to ensure that the muscles can fully activate during strengthening exercises – which is the most important aspect of recovery for this condition. Secondly, Shockwave Therapy can help alleviate tight muscles on the outside of the leg and restore balance between the muscles to promote proper mechanics of the knee joint.

Shockwave can also be used to treat the deep ligaments of the knee which get tight with improper balance!

Read More About Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Here

A patient receiving shockwave therapy for knee pain

What’s the best treatment for patellofemoral pain syndrome?

4 Steps to treating patellofemoral pain syndrome:

  1. IFC and Heat Therapy – Interferential Current and Heat Therapy are used to control pain and increase blood flow to the injured knee. This primes the area for the shockwave treatment that will follow.
  2. Shockwave Therapy – Shockwave is an air powered gun that fires a bullet back and forth against an applicator head. We use specific transmitter heads for each patients injury and pain tolerance. The shockwave contacts the patients 15 times a second for a total of between 1200 and 1500 hits.
  3. Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Therapy – Most patients call this the “scraper” at our clinic. The metal tool is used to breakup superficial scar tissue around the knee and quad muscles.
  4. Exercises and Icing Instructions –  Almost all patients will be given at home knee exercises that emphasize stretching in the early phase of treatment. Icing instructions will be given at the end of every treatment and aid with lowering inflammation and healing!

What is the anatomy of knee pain?

2. Meniscus Injury Treatment Oakville

 

The medial meniscus is a c-shaped cushion that sits between your femur (upper leg bone) and tibia (lower leg bone). This structure helps to support the knee under load, cushions the joint and distributes forces through the knee joint.

When the meniscus gets irritated or tears, it can become quite painful. This occurs when the knee rotates on a firmly planted leg. Signs of a meniscus strain includes inability to fully extend the knee, clicking/locking, and pain with going up and down stairs. Our Oakville therapy team typically gets more patients with Medial Meniscus injuries at the beginning of the ski season and when kids go back to indoor soccer or sports played on “bad” turf.

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Shockwave Therapy can be very helpful in managing the pain and swelling associated with meniscus strains and tears. There is even one shockwave point that can be applied directly onto the meniscus to help reduce inflammation and promote healing to a structure that already doesn’t get a great amount of blood supply (and therefore is a natural-born self-healer). Stimulating the nerves around the knee, via shockwave, can help limit discomfort and swelling.

More Information on Medial Meniscus Tears

Active release therapy for medical knee pain

What’s the Best Treatment for Meniscus Tears and Knee Injuries?

Here at our patient focused chiropractic clinic, we focus on helping patients avoid unnecessary knee surgery whenever possible. Meniscus injuries don’t always need the operating room — they need the right combination of targeted therapies delivered in the correct order.

4-Step Approach to Treating Meniscus Tears

1) IFC & Heat Therapy
Interferential Current (IFC) combined with heat is used first to control pain and increase circulation around the injured meniscus. IFC helps move excess fluid out of the knee joint, and most patients notice improved range of motion within the first 10 minutes. This “primes” the tissue and prepares the knee for the next stage of treatment.

2) Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy has become a gold-standard option for patients hoping to avoid knee surgery. This air-powered device delivers rapid, controlled pulses (about 15 per second) through a specialized applicator head. Treatments typically involve 1,200–1,500 pulses, with energy penetrating approximately 15–55 mm depending on the setting. This stimulates healing in damaged tissue that often has poor blood supply — including deeper structures around the meniscus.

3) Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Therapy (IASTT)
Many patients call this the “scraper.” This specialized metal tool helps break up superficial scar tissue around the knee, quad, and surrounding connective tissues. By loosening tight ligaments and tendons that become overloaded after a meniscus injury, we reduce mechanical stress on the joint and improve overall function.

4) Targeted Exercises & Icing
Every patient receives customized home exercises. Early on, the focus is gentle mobility and stretching to restore movement without irritating the tear. Clear icing instructions are provided after each visit to control inflammation and support recovery.

3. Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment in Oakville

 

 

As we get older, our joints don’t always age as smoothly as we’d like. By age 50, many people show signs of knee arthritis on X-ray. Some never feel pain at all. Others begin to notice stiffness, swelling, and discomfort that can affect daily life.

At our Oakville clinic, Dr. Steve has seen excellent results using a specific shockwave protocol designed for seniors with moderate to severe knee arthritis. This treatment stimulates angiogenesis — the formation of new blood vessels — which improves circulation inside the joint. Better blood flow helps reduce inflammation and delivers nutrients to tissues that don’t normally heal well on their own.

Our physiotherapy and chiropractic arthritis protocols can be found here.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the knee gradually wears down, narrowing the joint space. As the protective cushioning decreases, the bones move closer together, leading to pain — especially in this weight-bearing joint. The inner (medial) part of the knee is most commonly affected.

Shockwave therapy can be a powerful, non-surgical option to manage arthritis. By increasing circulation and supporting joint lubrication, it can reduce pain and help keep you active longer.

Learn More About Knee Osteoarthritis Here

4. Knee Ligament Sprain Treatment

There are 4 main ligaments in the knee; ACL, PCL, LCL, and MCL. For these ligament injuries, shockwave can be a beneficial modality in combination with other manual techniques and exercises. At their worst, these injuries can require surgery and more extensive therapeutic interventions, but when the injuries are less severe they respond well to immediate conservative care.

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Shockwave for ligament strains is aimed at controlling swelling, and encouraging healing to the injured ligaments. The MCL and LCL can be stimulated directly with a specific shockwave applicator head, as they can easily be felt on the inside and outside of the knee complex. When the ACL is injured it can often cause a lot of swelling. Shockwave is very effective at limiting the swelling and preventing it from lingering around too long.

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Shockwave treatment for Knee pain

What’s best treatment for a knee ligament sprain in Oakville?

4 Steps to treating ligament tears and sprains of the knee:

  1. IFC and Heat Therapy – Interferential Current and Heat Therapy are used to control pain and increase blood flow to the injured knee and the surrounding ligaments. This primes the area for the shockwave treatment that will follow. The IFC also allows for fluid to be removed from the knee which allows for new blood to enter the knee and aid in healing!
  2. Shockwave Therapy for Ligaments of the knee – Shockwave is an air powered gun that fires a bullet back and forth against an applicator head. We use specific transmitter heads for each patients injury and pain tolerance. For ligaments of the knee our knee specialists use a shallower depth transmitter head that penentrates 15mm as in most cases the ligaments are not as deep as the mensiscu tears. The shockwave contacts the patients 15 times a second for a total of between 1200 and 1500 hits.
  3. Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Therapy – Most patients call this the “scraper” at our clinic. The metal tool is used to breakup superficial scar tissue around the knee. This works great with MCL and LCL strains and tears.
  4. Exercises and Icing Instructions –  Almost all patients will be given at home knee exercises that emphasize stretching in the early phase of treatment. Icing instructions will be given at the end of every treatment and aid with lowering inflammation and healing!

Book an appointment

What are the best at home stretches for knee pain?

Patients with knee pain should get a specific at home workout plan for their specific diagnosis. However, sometimes patients just need some general knee exercises to do at home. Check out the link below and see if these knee exercises are right for you.

Quad Stretches PDF

Knee Stretches PDF – Beginner

Knee Stretches PDF – Advanced

 

Knee Pain FAQS