What it is
Knee pain can come on gradually from overuse, or suddenly from a twist, a hard landing or a fall. Both kinds respond to the right evaluation — figuring out whether it’s the joint, the tendons, or how your hip and ankle are loading the knee.
Common causes on the North Shore
- Pop-ups and hard or awkward landings
- Twisting on the board during a wipeout
- Running on uneven trails or roads
- Repeated stair use, especially with weak or fatigued legs
What PT involves here
A hands-on evaluation to find out what’s actually driving the pain, manual therapy where it’s needed, and therapeutic exercise focused on the hip and quad strength that supports the knee — plus balance and gait work if how you’re moving is part of the problem. You leave with a home program built around your activity, not a generic handout.
What you can do today
- Back off the aggravating activity for a bit rather than pushing through sharp pain.
- Ice and elevate if there’s swelling.
- Move gently through a comfortable range rather than keeping the knee still.
When to see a doctor first
See a doctor or go to the ER before physical therapy if you can’t bear weight on the leg, there’s visible deformity, significant swelling shows up right after the injury, the knee keeps locking or giving way, or you notice signs of infection around the joint.
Knee not cooperating? Book an evaluation and we’ll get to the bottom of it.
