Accelerate Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy for Knee Injuries

The Doctors of Physical Therapy at Accelerate Physical Therapy treat a variety of injuries sustained to the musculoskeletal system, and even more specifically injuries of the knee. Injuries to this body region can be caused by a number of reasons, many of which include: motor vehicle accidents, blunt trauma, repetitive strain, overuse, postural, walking, and running among many others.

From your initial evaluation, we will determine the extent and cause of your injury, the source of your pain, your prognosis (i.e. how long your recovery will take in our professional opinion), and a customized treatment plan based on your learning style and specific injury.

Each of your physical therapy visits will be one on one with your Doctor of Physical Therapy, and because continuity of care is our highest priority you will see that same physical therapist for the duration of your treatment (outside of unforeseen circumstances).

To learn more about our physical therapy services or to schedule an appointment, call or text (949)502-3388, or click on the “Schedule Appointment” button below.

Knee injury treatment
Injuries We Treat

Types of Knee Injuries We Treat

We offer evaluation and treatment for a variety of knee injuries. Listed below are some of the most common we see; however, if there is not an injury or condition you recognize on this list we highly recommend you speak directly to one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy to determine if it’s something we can treat and assist you with. If it is something that is out of our scope of practice, we will connect you with the resources you need to address the issue. Our number one priority is to ensure you find the right treatment and know all available options to address your injury.

Our number one priority is to ensure you find the right treatment and know all available options to address your injury. We are available via email at info@ptaccelerate.com and by text/phone at (949) 502-3388 for any specific questions as they pertain to your specific injury and condition.

  • Patellar Tendinitis
  • Runner’s Knee
  • Osgood-Schlatter’s
  • IT Band Friction Syndrome
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
  • Meniscus Injury
  • MCL Sprain

  • LCL Sprain
  • ACL Sprain/Tear
  • Quadriceps Strain
  • Hamstring Strain
  • Baker’s Cyst
  • Patellar Fracture
  • Posterior Lateral Corner Injury

  • Pes Anserine Tendinitis
  • Pes Anserine Bursitis
  • PCL Sprain
  • Patellar Dislocation
  • Patellar Tracking Issues
  • “Knee Pain”
  • “Knee Stiffness”
Post-Surgical Injury
  • Total Knee Arthroplasty

  • ACL Repair

  • Meniscus Repair

  • Knee Debridement

  • ORIF Patella

  • Unilateral Knee Replacement

  • Lateral Patellar Release

  • Microfracture

  • Chondral Graft Repair

These are common injuries you will research or hear about from an orthopedic specialist, pain management specialist, or your primary care physician. Ultimately, if it deals with bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments, a Doctor of Physical Therapy can be of service to you.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Knee Injuries

In general, physical therapy treatment intends to reduce the amount of time it takes for an injury to heal. Although the body is designed to heal on its own, many factors can affect how quickly it recovers. The biggest factors and most pertinent to physical therapy include habitual postures, movement patterns, and daily routines involving posture and movement. Physical therapy aims to restore your body’s natural movement patterns, with reinforcement through education and movement retraining. This can include visual and tactile (touch and feel) cues combined with reminders on your specific postural and movement habits. Specific to the knee are ways to reduce strain, which includes reducing excessive motion through each of these regions. Whether it’s how you stand, walk, squat, lunge, run, or sleep, the strategy you use can make all of the difference. Physical therapy provides you with the knowledge to understand and learn the body through anatomy and biomechanics in order to alter your movement and apply these changes in daily life.

Knee Injury physical therapy

Physical Therapy Techniques

Physical therapy uses various techniques to improve your mobility, motor control, and muscle performance. Each of these things can be improved with education on the body, “hands on” soft tissue and joint mobilization, stretching, strengthening, scar tissue mobilization, exercise and movement re-education. It is directed at those individuals searching for pain resolution, improved movement, and a fast, non-invasive remedy for injuries. It can prevent surgeries, provide a second opinion after seeing a medical doctor, and determine whether there are functional ways to prevent pain. Last and not least, it can save you money. Research has shown physical therapy treatment is one of the most cost-effective ways to resolve pain and recover from an injury.

Services

Orthopedic Physical Therapy for Knee Injuries

We offer a range of orthopedic physical therapy treatment methods designed to deliver maximum results for knee injuries, helping reduce pain, restore mobility, improve strength, and support long-term knee health.

Manual Therapy for Knee Injuries

Manual therapy for knee injuries is a highly structured, hands-on approach that uses specific manual pressure, joint mobilization, and soft tissue mobilization to reduce tension, strain, guarding, muscle spasms, and scar tissue restrictions. These techniques target tissues commonly affected by knee injuries, including muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and surrounding connective tissues.

Advanced manual therapy techniques may include IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization), myofascial release, cupping, foam rolling, and scraping (i.e., gua sha). These treatments help improve knee joint mobility, decrease pain, restore normal movement, and reduce stress on injured tissues. By improving mobility and function throughout the lower extremity, manual therapy can help patients return to daily activities and sports with greater confidence.

Therapeutic Exercise for Knee Injuries

Therapeutic exercise for knee injuries involves targeted movements designed to correct dysfunction, restore proper movement mechanics, and improve overall knee function. These exercises help address impairments, improve muscular and skeletal function, and increase blood flow to injured tissues to promote healing.

Common therapeutic exercises for knee injuries include strengthening, endurance training, flexibility exercises, balance training, and coordination drills. The Doctors of Physical Therapy at Accelerate Physical Therapy create individualized exercise programs based on your condition, prognosis, activity level, and specific knee injury. These customized programs help reduce pain, improve stability, and lower the risk of future injuries.

Movement Analysis for Knee Injuries

Movement analysis for knee injuries focuses on evaluating how the pelvis, hips, knees, ankles, and feet work together during movement. Your physical therapist will assess both the quality and quantity of movements that may contribute to your pain, including walking, running, squatting, lunging, jumping, stair climbing, and balancing.

Through one-on-one movement analysis, your physical therapist can identify faulty movement patterns that may be placing excessive stress on the knee joint. You will receive education on proper movement mechanics and strategies to reduce pain and improve performance. Follow-up physical therapy visits help reinforce these new movement patterns and promote long-term recovery from knee injuries.

Neuro Re Education for Knee Injuries

Neuro re-education for knee injuries is a specialized physical therapy technique used to restore proper movement and improve communication between the brain and the muscles that support the knee. This approach addresses motor control deficits, muscle imbalances, and movement dysfunction that commonly occur after knee injuries.

Your physical therapist will use visual, auditory, and tactile cues to improve muscle activation, coordination, balance, and movement efficiency. Neuro re-education helps retrain the muscles surrounding the knee to work together properly, improving stability, reducing pain, and supporting long-term recovery.

Knee Injury FAQ

Find answers to common questions about physical therapy for knee injuries and learn how Accelerate Physical Therapy can help you recover, move better, and return to the activities you enjoy.

You should consider physical therapy if you have persistent knee pain, swelling, stiffness, instability, difficulty walking, or limitations with exercise, sports, or daily activities. Early treatment can often speed recovery and prevent long-term complications.

Yes. Physical therapy helps improve strength, flexibility, balance, and movement mechanics, which can reduce stress on the knee joint and lower the risk of future injuries. Preventive treatment is especially beneficial for athletes and active individuals.

Treatment may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, movement analysis, neuro re-education, strength training, balance training, and mobility exercises. Your treatment plan will be customized to address the specific cause of your knee pain.

Recovery time varies depending on the severity of the injury, your overall health, and your treatment goals. Some patients experience improvement within a few weeks, while more complex knee injuries may require several months of physical therapy to achieve full recovery.

Accelerate Physical Therapy treats a wide range of knee injuries, including ACL injuries, MCL sprains, meniscus tears, patellar tendonitis, runner’s knee, IT band syndrome, knee osteoarthritis, and post-surgical knee conditions.

In many cases, yes. Physical therapy can effectively treat knee injuries by reducing pain, improving strength, restoring mobility, and correcting movement patterns. Many patients with ligament injuries, tendonitis, meniscus injuries, and chronic knee pain can achieve excellent results without surgery.

Physical Therapy Service Options

Service Options

We offer three service options for your convenience:

In-Clinic Treatment

In-Clinic Treatment

Our Newport Beach office offers nearly 1,700 square feet of open gym space including two private treatment rooms and four treatment tables to perform exercise and manual therapy. We utilize weights, bands, mirrors and other equipment to increase resistance for therapeutic activities and provide visual feedback for movement retraining.

Tele-Health Consultations

Telehealth via Physitrack

We provide client education on pain management strategies, movement analysis for lifestyle activities, functional tasks, ergonomics/posture, and sports.

Movement Screening

Custom Movement Screens

Custom movement screens provided in conjunction with employers, coaches, teachers, and other community members.

Accelerate Physical Therapy

Types of Injuries We Treat

The Doctors of Physical Therapy at Accelerate PT specialize in the evaluation and treatment of any and all orthopedic related injuries. Orthopedic injuries refer to anything affecting the musculoskeletal system (i.e. muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, as well as nerves as they interface through each of these structures). Sports specific injuries, work related injuries, and injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident fall under the orthopedic umbrella. Pre and post-operative care is intended to improve mobility, muscle performance, and motor control in individuals with surgical intervention to alleviate pain.

Schedule an Appointment

Schedule a 45-minute one on one session with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy and get started on your path to recovery.