Is your knee pain sharp and sudden—or more of a lingering, everyday ache? 

Did an old injury never fully heal, and now it’s catching up with you? 

If you’re unsure what kind of knee pain you’re dealing with or how to treat it, you’re in the right place.

In this article, we break down the key differences between acute and chronic knee pain, explore what causes each, and share practical, professional-backed tips to start feeling better—right here in Ann Arbor.

Acute Knee Pain: The Sudden Sting

Acute knee pain usually happens quickly. It might be the result of a fall, a sudden twist, or overexertion during physical activity. The pain is often sharp and specific, and it’s commonly linked to soft tissue injuries—like strains or sprains.

Your muscles may tighten up, and moving your leg could become difficult. While this type of pain can be frustrating, it’s typically short-term. With rest, rehab, and proper care, most people recover well from acute injuries.

Chronic Knee Pain: The Lingering Ache

Chronic pain, on the other hand, tends to stick around—and often stems from an old injury that was never fully addressed. A high school sports injury, for example, could’ve damaged a meniscus, and years later it’s become a constant source of soreness or stiffness.
Many people in Ann Arbor live with this kind of knee pain every day. It may seem more debilitating than it really is—but sometimes, all it takes is learning to trust your body again and strengthening it the right way.

Treatment Approaches That Work

Managing knee pain—whether acute or chronic—often involves a mix of movement, support, and mindset:

• Stretching & Strengthening: Helps reduce tightness and rebuild confidence in movement.
• Chiropractic Adjustments: May help realign the body and reduce pain signals.
• Supplements: Can support joint and ligament health for long-term improvement.

Our Knee Protocol: Our knee protocol is designed to get rid of pain and improve mobility without the use of drugs, surgery, or injections. Our team addresses and corrects the structural, movement, muscular, and nerve parts of knee pain and problems. With this, we're able to help arthritis, degeneration, osteoarthritis, old injuries, and even after replacement or surgery. The other great part is that any patient will know day 1 if we can help them, because we always perform a trial treatment!

Our protocol does a lot more than just focus on stretches or exercises - it gets to the root of knee pain and issues by creating a custom plan for every individual with custom solutions and components. This is not done with spinal adjusting as many people would expect (although that may increase results). 

Let’s Get You Moving Again - Manage Your Knee Pain with Chiropractic Care

If you’re struggling with knee pain in Ann Arbor, don’t wait for it to get worse. Whether it started yesterday or ten years ago, we craft personalized solutions that can help you move comfortably again. The first step is understanding the root of your pain—and you’ve already started that right here.

Ready to get started?

📞 Call our office today at 734-929-4060 or book your appointment online to begin your journey toward better movement and a pain-free life.