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Hip and knee
Knee pain treatment in Shirley, MA
The short answer
Most knee pain comes from how the knee is being loaded, not from damage that cannot be fixed. Weak hips and thighs, a sudden jump in activity, arthritis, or an old injury are the usual reasons. The right mix of hands on care and strength work helps most people get back to stairs, squats and sports without surgery.
On this page
What usually causes knee pain
Knee pain is one of the most common reasons people walk into our clinic. The good news is that most of it follows a few familiar patterns.
- Pain around or behind the kneecap
- Often called runner's knee. It aches on stairs, squats and after sitting for a while, and usually means the muscles around the hip and thigh are not sharing the load.
- Arthritis
- Stiff, achy knees that feel worse in the morning or after a long day. Strength and movement are some of the best tools for arthritic knees.
- Meniscus irritation or tears
- Catching, locking or pain with twisting. Many meniscus problems calm down with a good rehab plan.
- Ligament injuries
- ACL, MCL and other sprains from sports or a bad step. These need a careful plan whether or not you have surgery.
- Tendon pain
- Pain just below or above the kneecap that flares with jumping, running or kneeling.
When to get it checked
Get your knee looked at if it has been bothering you for more than a couple of weeks, if it is changing how you walk, if it swells after activity, or if it gives way. See a doctor right away if your knee is hot, red, badly swollen, or you cannot put weight on it after an injury.
What you can do at home right now
These are safe starting points for most people. They are not a replacement for a proper evaluation.
- Keep moving, just less
- Rest completely and the knee gets weaker. Cut back on what hurts, but keep walking and moving in a range that feels okay.
- Strengthen the hips and thighs
- Simple moves like bridges, side lying leg raises and sit to stands take pressure off the knee.
- Change one thing at a time
- If pain started with a new routine, more miles or a new shoe, go back a step and build up slower.
How we treat knee pain at Whole Health Solutions
Your physical therapist is with you for the whole appointment, start to finish. We find the reason your knee hurts, not just where it hurts, and build a plan around your life and your goals.
01
Relieve
Hands on care, dry needling or shockwave when they fit, and changes to how you move so the pain calms down.
02
Rebuild
Strength for the hips, thighs and calves, and control so the knee is supported again.
03
Perform
Back to stairs, hikes, sports and the gym, with a plan so it does not come back. When you are ready, our personal trainers and athletic performance coaches pick up where therapy leaves off.
04
Thrive
Stay with the team that knows you. Check ins, training and a quick tune up whenever something new comes up, so this stays in the past.
Thrive is not a finish line. When life brings something new, the loop starts again with the same team.
How dry needling and shockwave therapy can help
For knee pain, your physical therapist may use dry needling and shockwave therapy to speed things up. They will tell you on your first visit if it is a good fit.
Dry needling
A very thin needle placed into a tight, guarded muscle helps it let go, so pain calms down and you can move and strengthen again. Always paired with hands on care and strength work.
Learn about dry needlingShockwave therapy
Sound waves delivered to a stubborn tendon or tissue help restart healing when it has stalled for months. Always paired with the strength work that keeps it from coming back.
Learn about shockwave therapyCommon exercises for knee pain
These are a few of the exercises our team often uses for knee pain. Tap one to watch.
Please read first. These are not right for everyone. If a move brings on sharp pain, numbness or tingling, stop and talk to one of our physical therapists before you keep going.
Learn from our team
Short, free videos from our clinicians on questions we hear about knee pain all the time.
Read more from our team
Blog posts and newsletter tips from our clinicians that go with knee pain.
★★★★★
"With her help I am back to full fitness and feeling even stronger than I was before my knee injury."
Talk to a physical therapist
A free call to tell us what is going on and see if we are the right fit.
Common questions about knee pain
Can physical therapy help knee pain without surgery?
For many people, yes. Most knee pain, including a lot of arthritis and meniscus problems, improves with the right strength and movement plan. If we think you need a surgeon or imaging, we will tell you.
Should I rest my knee or keep exercising?
Usually a bit of both. Back off the things that make it worse, but keep moving. Complete rest tends to leave the knee weaker and stiffer.
Do you help with ACL rehab?
Yes. We work with athletes and adults before and after ACL surgery, and through the return to sport phase with our athletic performance coaches.
Do I need a referral for knee pain?
No. You can book directly with us. Most of our clients do use their insurance for reimbursement of our physical therapy services. We go over everything in the discovery meeting.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Everyone is different, so the best next step is an evaluation with one of our physical therapists.
Visit us
Serving 22+ nearby towns and beyond
2 Shaker Road, Suite C200, Shirley, MA 01464. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.