Question
Scott
Two years ago I sprained my right knee running. It took almost two years to heal. My doctor said there was no damage, just a slight meniscus tear. I am sure my age, 55, and excess weight were also mitigating factors.
Since then I have lost a bit of weight, but still dont feel confident enough to run outside or even on a treadmill. Every so often this knee gives out momentarily. I can rover, but it has been scary the couple times I have been going downstairs with a load of laundry.
Am I stuck with this forever, considering my age? I do squats and leg gursl to strengthen it-they havent helped a bit. Neither has calcium or glucosamine.
I just bought an elliptical which gives me a good workout with no issues. I can live with having to use that, but I miss running-even on the treadmill. Thanks for your thoughts.

Answer
Bud,

There is more to the body than what your MRI might delineate, and more than what your orthopedic surgeon appreciates, since he only appreciates the knee as torn or not torn.    While this topic is often covered over a weekend course for healthcare providers, I will try to boil it down here.     There is a concept of "functional instability" (FI) that is well documented in regards to the ankle after an ankle sprain.   The ankle appears to be "normal."  Nothing is torn and the MRI might be clean, but the person experiences a "weak ankle," one that gives out and rolls with mundane activities.   The same phenomenon occurs at the knee, but it's not a topic that gets much clinical press.    We know that FI of the ankle can be reduced or even eliminated with manual joint manipulation (just look at the paper I wrote; Google:  Gillman and Ankle Sprains in Young Athletes);     We also know that the quad muscles of the thigh can be "inhibited" or, short-circuited, and this has been studied by physiologists.    This "reflex inhibition" to the quads can be turned off by pelvic joint manipulation by a chiropractor.     Even as far back as 1987, DeLitto, a PT, published a study on how knee pain patients did better when they had the addition of pelvic joint manipulation;     Also, there is a peculiar little technique taught currently by Mark Charrette, DC, (he teaches extremity joint manipulation courses to chiropractors).  This technique, which use routinely, takes a knee that tests as loose, and tightens it up.   The old hunch on how it worked was scrapped in favor of a new concept, whereby the doctor imparts a manipulative thrust to the soft tissues on the back of the knee, causing what we logically hypothesize to be a contraction of the connective tissue (fascia).    Fascia, the membranous system that glues us together, has a subtle contractile property.    This was studied and publications occurred around 2004 (Search: Contractile properties of fascia; J. of Medical Hypothesis).      So, in short, what you need to consider is finding a chiropractor who has extremity joint manipulation training, and, at best, has learned the method taught by Charrette.     If you can't find someone (I don't know what state or country you're in), let me know and I'll see if I can help.     Your condition has treatment avenues, and this is how to begin treatment with a DC.    Also, you might want to change up your exercises.   How you squat can affect your knee;  I can't really effectively explain this on the internet as I'd have to see you squat, but you might want to tinker with a more narrow, natural stance/placement of feet, and squat without any arching of back, e.g. no "chest out" or "big chest" postures, and with your torso slightly bent forward.   You wouldn't be squatting with a flexed back, but with a neutral back and neutral neck, as if you were a child squatting down to pick up a ball on the floor in front of you.   Try this first with just the weight of the bar, and you'll see how it takes the force down a bit off the knees.     Lastly, www.acbsp.com is a way to find credentialed sports chiropractors.  

'Hope this was helpful,

Dr. G'