Knee Problems: Responsible Diagnosis & Total-Body Care

By Dr. Donald Liebell  

Knee pain is one of the most common and most misunderstood problems in musculoskeletal healthcare. People are frequently told that their knees are “bone on bone,” that they are “too old,” or that arthritis is the inevitable explanation. Many are instructed to stretch, strengthen, lose weight, or try physical therapy—often without any diagnostic clarity. Others are given injections, anti-inflammatory drugs, or braces, yet continue to struggle day after day with stiffness, instability, and pain that interferes with walking, standing, or simply living comfortably.

In more than three decades of practice, I have seen thousands of people receive treatment for a knee problem before anyone actually determined what the problem was. X-rays are often interpreted as the whole story, even though they cannot reveal the structures that matter most: cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, tendon integrity, alignment abnormalities, or subtle patterns of mechanical collapse.

At the Liebell Clinic, we begin where others should begin: with responsibility, precision, and proper evidence. We do not guess. We do not assume. We do not treat blindly. Before any treatment is delivered, every patient is guided toward the proper medical evaluation, including MRI when appropriate, because MRI is the only way to see the true condition of the knee.

Our clinic is a family practice in the deepest sense of the word—not because it is run by family, but because the methods we use for you are the very methods we use for ourselves, our children, our extended family, and our closest friends. The Liebell Clinic is operated by four members of the Liebell family—myself, my wife/Office Manager, Sheila, and our sons, Dr. Breiten Liebell, and Laser Therapist, Evan Liebell. We provide the care we trust for the people we love most, and we deliver that same level of care to every patient who chooses our clinic.

Patients who come to us almost always share a familiar history: They saw their primary care doctor. An x-ray was taken. They were told they had arthritis or “wear and tear,” even when no comprehensive diagnostic work had been performed. They were given anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, or muscle relaxants. They were advised to “strengthen the muscles around the knee.” Most were referred to physical therapy. Physical therapists do exceptional work; however, many patients arrive in PT without proper imaging. 

They stretch and strengthen for weeks or months, only to find their pain unchanged—or worse. Some patients saw an orthopedic specialist. They received more X-rays. They were given corticosteroid injections or they were encouraged to continue physical therapy. MRI was often postponed until conservative care “failed,” even though MRI should have been performed much earlier.

Only after months or years of incomplete or misdirected care does MRI often reveal the real problem:

• Meniscus tears
• Ligament injuries
• Cartilage loss
• Bone edema
• Alignment abnormalities
• Patellofemoral tracking abnormalities
• Synovial inflammation
• Baker’s cysts
• Arthritic degeneration
• Referred pain from the hip or lumbar spine

You cannot treat what you have not identified.

You cannot stretch your way out of a tear.

You cannot strengthen your way out of a mechanical collapse.

No X-ray, no matter who reads it, can replace the clarity of MRI.

At the Liebell Clinic, our approach is grounded in decades of clinical observation: treatment must be guided by truth. When a patient arrives with knee pain, the first step is not a modality or a stretch—it is the question: 

“What is actually wrong with the knee?”

We help patients receive timely MRI, orthopedic consultation when appropriate, and a clear understanding of the true nature of the problem. The way forward becomes obvious once the facts are established. We also make something else clear: we are fans of knee surgery, including knee replacement surgery and other necessary orthopedic procedures when they are legitimately warranted. 

We often refer patients for surgical evaluation ourselves, but only after obtaining the MRI that should have been ordered long before. The right surgery, performed at the right time, by the right surgeon, can restore a person’s life. The Liebell Clinic provides beneficial pre and post-surgical care, which includes cold laser therapy and auricular therapy. (ear acupuncture) Pre-surgery auricular acupuncture has been documented in medical journals as an effective support for knee surgery recovery.

When surgery is not needed, we apply the total-body mechanical and neurological care that sets our clinic apart. 

At the center of knee care at the Liebell Clinic is Dr. Breiten Liebell. His work embodies structural precision and responsible clinical judgment. He evaluates the knee as part of the entire body, not as an isolated structure. He identifies mechanical collapse, restricted joint movement, muscular imbalance, and neurological distortion throughout the kinetic chain—including the hips, pelvis, spine (from the top of the neck down to the pelvis, plus the ankles, and feet.  Dr. Breiten uses several advanced methods:

Manual joint mobilization
Gentle, precise mobilization of the knee and surrounding joints helps restore natural movement mechanics and reduces strain on supporting structures.

Handheld mobilization instruments
These low-force tools allow highly controlled, targeted activation of specific joint receptors, restoring motion to areas that cannot be corrected effectively with hands alone. This is especially important for delicate or painful knees, or for patients with arthritis or postsurgical stiffness.

Auricular therapy
Using the neurological map of the outer ear, Dr. Breiten incorporates auricular therapy to influence pain regulation, muscular balance, and neurological function. This approach supports the body’s ability to process pain, reduce tension, and enhance healing pathways that traditional knee care often overlooks.   

He uses a handheld microcurrent TENS stimulator as part of his comprehensive treatment system. This device delivers precise, low-frequency electrical impulses through a small probe, allowing highly targeted stimulation of irritated nerves, tense muscles, and sensitive soft tissues without discomfort or force. It is especially useful for calming overactive pain pathways, improving local circulation, and supporting neuromuscular balance in difficult-to-reach areas such as the shoulder girdle, forearm, hip stabilizers, knee support structures, and the smaller muscles of the hand and wrist. The handheld TENS instrument works in harmony with Dr. Breiten’s manual joint mobilization, handheld instrument techniques, and cold laser therapy, enhancing the overall effectiveness of treatment. As with every method used at the Liebell Clinic, this technology is applied responsibly, safely, and only in the context of a complete mechanical and neurological evaluation. 

Cold laser therapy is an important component of knee care at the Liebell Clinic. Knee problems often involve irritated tendons, inflamed joint surfaces, strained ligaments, and overloaded soft tissues that respond extremely well to low-level laser light. 

Cold laser therapy is non-invasive and non-thermal; it uses specific red and near-infrared wavelengths to support cellular energy production, reduce inflammation, calm nerve irritation, and promote tissue repair. It does not forcefully manipulate the joint, apply heat, or alter biomechanics through pressure—making it ideal for painful or sensitive knees.

Research supports the use of photobiomodulation for arthritic and musculoskeletal knee pain. Multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated meaningful reductions in pain and improvements in mobility among patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with low-level laser therapy compared to placebo. Systematic reviews have shown that laser therapy can reduce inflammatory chemistry, support cartilage metabolism, and improve functional performance in arthritic knees. Studies involving Erchonia-style low-level lasers have shown significant improvements in orthopedic conditions, reinforcing that this technology is both safe and scientifically supported.

At the Liebell Clinic, cold laser therapy is provided by our laser therapist, Evan Liebell, as a seamless part of the family-based care we deliver. It reflects the same methods and technologies we rely upon for ourselves and our own family. Laser therapy works in concert with Dr. Breiten Liebell’s manual chiropractic treatment, handheld instrument techniques, auricular therapy, and total-body structural evaluation. Knee problems rarely occur in isolation, so laser treatment is integrated carefully alongside the mechanical corrections taking place throughout the body.

Cold laser is especially valuable for patients with osteoarthritis, chronic tendon irritation, cartilage strain, patellofemoral problems, and post-surgical discomfort. It is also beneficial for ligament strain and persistent soft tissue pain that has not improved with other conservative methods. Because it is gentle and non-invasive, cold laser therapy is ideal for knees that cannot tolerate aggressive force, deep pressure, or intensive manual work during the early stages of recovery.

Another advantage of cold laser therapy is the diagnostic insight it sometimes provides. When a patient experiences a noticeable improvement in knee comfort after laser application—not only directly at the knee but occasionally at related regions of the lower back, pelvis, or hip—it often confirms the interconnected mechanical and neurological relationships contributing to knee pain. This helps guide the course of care, ensuring that treatment addresses the true source of the discomfort rather than just the location of symptoms.

At the Liebell Clinic, the goal is not simply to relieve pain—it is to bring clarity, restore structure, support the nervous system, and provide treatment based on evidence, experience, and a family tradition of responsibility. 

Our process is always the same: to provide responsible, evidence-based, total-body care delivered with the same methods we use for our own family. We insist on proper diagnosis. We guide patients to MRI. We collaborate with orthopedic surgeons when needed. When surgery is not required, Dr. Breiten delivers precise manual treatment, handheld instrument mobilization, auricular therapy, cold laser therapy, and structural chiropractic care to restore movement and function.

At the Liebell Clinic, you are not treated as a set of symptoms. You are treated with the same responsibility, thoroughness, and commitment that we provide for our own family.

If you would like to schedule a consultation or receive guidance on obtaining the proper imaging before beginning knee treatment, the Liebell Clinic will be pleased to assist you.