Physical Therapy Services
Knee Pain
Assessing the knee alongside the hip, ankle and foot.
Knee Pain
The knee sits between the hip and the foot and is loaded by both, so knee symptoms are often produced by how those neighbours are working. We examine the whole chain rather than the painful joint alone, treat what the examination finds, and build the strength and control work the knee needs to tolerate load again.
How It Works
How we assess and treat a knee
The knee sits between the hip and the foot and is loaded by both, so the examination covers the whole chain rather than the painful joint alone. Your therapist tests the knee, watches how you load it in walking and in a squat or a step, and assesses the hip and foot above and below it.
Treatment pairs hands-on work with the strength and control work the knee needs to tolerate load again. On a knee, the exercise component usually carries the plan.
What It Addresses
What knee treatment addresses
Knee treatment here is used to address presentations like these. What is driving yours is established at the evaluation.
- Knee pain with stairs, squatting, kneeling or prolonged sitting
- Swelling, stiffness or giving-way being assessed on examination
- Knee symptoms associated with running, sport or gym work
- Knee mechanics assessed alongside the hip and foot
- Rehabilitation after a knee injury or knee surgery, once medically cleared
What to Expect
One-on-one care, built around you
Your care begins with a one-on-one evaluation. Rather than focusing on the symptoms alone, we establish a cause and effect relationship through accurate palpation and assessment of the body, then build a rehabilitation program customized to your individual needs.
- Knee range of motion and strength tested, with your walking and a loaded movement such as a step or squat observed.
- Assessment of the hip and foot as part of the knee examination.
- Hands-on treatment where the findings support it, paired with a strengthening program.
- A home program you are expected to do, progressed as you tolerate more.
Common Questions
Questions we are asked about Knee Pain
- Do I need a scan first?
- Not necessarily. Many knee presentations can be assessed by history and examination. Bring any imaging you have, and we will tell you if the findings suggest a physician opinion is warranted.
- Is squatting or stairs bad for my knee?
- That depends on what the examination finds. Avoiding loading entirely is usually not the answer; the plan sets what to load and how much.
- I am recovering from knee surgery. Can you treat that?
- Yes, once your surgeon has cleared you to begin rehabilitation. Bring any protocol or restrictions they have given you.
- Do I need a referral, and is it covered?
- We accept major insurance providers, but coverage for knee treatment varies by plan, and some plans ask for a physician's referral or prescription while others do not. Call (212) 922-0044 before your first visit and we will confirm your coverage and tell you what, if anything, you need to bring.
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