Who We Help
Knee Pain
Knee
Does your knee hurt, swell, or feel unstable when you walk, bend, or use stairs?
Knee pain is common and can come from many different sources. It may be related to how your knee moves, how the muscles around it support the joint, or changes after an injury. The goal is to understand what is contributing to your symptoms and build a plan that helps you move better.
- pain or swelling
- catching or locking
- a loose or unstable feeling
- stiffness or weakness
- limited range of motion
- symptoms after an injury
Knee pain can sometimes be related to issues like patellofemoral pain, tendon irritation, ligament injuries, meniscus problems, or changes in how your hip and lower body move.
If your knee feels “off,” Connect Physical Therapy can help evaluate what is going on and build a plan forward.
What helps can depend on where it hurts
Different symptom patterns often respond better to different types of movement.
- Front of the knee
Often with stairs, squats, or getting up from a chair.
Quad strength, glute strength, step-ups.
- Inner knee
Often with twisting or uneven ground.
Gentle mobility, balance, hip and knee strength.
- Outer knee
Often with hills, long walks, or repetitive bending.
Glute work, side steps, hip stability.
- Stiff or swollen knee
Often worse after sitting or overdoing it.
Heel slides, bike, light walking, gradual strength.
Symptom patterns can offer clues, not a diagnosis. A stiff or swollen knee may need a gentler approach before jumping into strengthening.
Knee pain is not always just about the knee
How your muscles work together, or don’t, can play a big role in how your knee feels during climbing stairs, doing chores, walking, exercise, or even standing up after sitting for a while.
Sometimes the issue comes from tight muscles pulling on the knee from above or below. Other times, it comes from weaker muscles not giving the knee enough support.
Hip flexors
Pull on the knee from above.
Quads
Pull on the knee from the front.
Calves
Tight calves can limit knee motion.
Glutes
Weak glutes reduce knee stability.
Hamstrings
Weak hamstrings can stress the knee.
Core
A weak core affects lower body control.
What the first visit looks like
Alison listens first
What started it, what makes it worse, and what you have stopped doing because of it.
A knee movement assessment
Alison looks beyond the knee itself. She evaluates how your knee moves, how your hips and lower body contribute, and what may be affecting your strength, stability, or movement patterns.
A plan you leave with
You’ll leave with a personalized plan to improve knee function, build strength, and return to activities like walking, stairs, exercise, or sports through hands-on treatment and specific exercises.