Knee injuries and long-term damage need not result in surgery. For alternative treatment methods, patients are looking to Dr. David M. Gafken, D.C., D.A.C.N.B., of Health N.O.W., 2146 State Road, Auburn, Ind., for help in relieving pain.
Dr. Gafken says patients come to him either with undiagnosed knee pain, or because they have seen other medical professionals and are seeking nonsurgical alternatives to bone-on-bone and other knee issues.
“These patients have had X-rays, MRIs and/or have been receiving cortisone shots without achieving any lasting relief,” Dr, Gafken adds. “We conduct a thorough exam which may include additional orthopedic testing, X-rays and MRIs if significant time has passed since their last tests.”
Knee injuries or age-related damage rarely heal by themselves, he continues. It’s better to seek alternative methods of treating knee issues than to tough it out alone.
Once the examination is complete and the patient is approved as a candidate for treatment, Dr. Gafken says he decides on a course of treatment using several highly effective methods to promote pain relief and joint regeneration, such as knee decompression, high intensity laser, acoustic wave therapy and Hakomed Horizontal therapy.
Dr. Gafken says decompression on the knees is achieved by hooking the knee up to a specialized machine which gently pulls the joint open and closed using less than 20 pounds of force. By gently separating the joint space between the bottom of the femur (thigh bone) and the top of the tibia (shin bone), Dr. Gafken adds this creates a vacuum effect inside the knee joint which brings in nutrient rich fluid to the area. The method also gently mobilizes the tendons, ligaments and other soft tissue around the joint. Together, this helps re-establish some of the natural joint space and cushioning in the knee.
“We gently work the knee for about seven to eight minutes,” Dr. Gafken adds. “The course of treatment is given multiple times per week initially.”
High intensity laser therapy consists of using four different wave lengths of laser light to stimulate the appropriate tissues in the knee joint, Dr. Gafken comments. The laser has a healing effect, it increases the production of stem cells and ATP and it generates venous nitric oxide to increase peripheral blood flow to the afflicted areas in and around the knee.
“This is called photobiomodulation,” Dr. Gafken adds. “It also aids in the growth of new blood vessels called Angiogenisis all this leads to Regeneration of the knee.”
Acoustic Wave Therapy has been in use for more than 10 years, Dr. Gafken explains. The procedure sends acoustic sound waves through the joint to promote stem cell growth, encourages the development of new blood vessels to increased blood flow, all of which induces quicker healing.
Post examination the patient is given a course of treatment which employs the above methods. As a rule, the patient is treated up to three times each week during which the highly effective regenerative methods are applied. “We have a very high success rate with this course of treatment,” Dr. Gafken concludes.
For more information visit our website seekhealthnow.com. To schedule an appointment call Health N.O.W. at (260) 920-8811. ❚