KNEE
Expert Care for Knee Pain, Sports Injuries, Arthritis, and Post-Surgical Recovery
The knee is one of the most frequently injured joints in the body and plays a critical role in nearly every lower-extremity activity. Walking, climbing stairs, squatting, running, jumping, and athletic performance all depend on the knee functioning efficiently within a coordinated system that includes the hip, ankle, foot, and trunk.
At Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, we provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for a wide range of knee conditions affecting athletes, active adults, workers, and individuals recovering from surgery. Conditions we treat include ACL injuries, meniscus tears, knee osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, tendon injuries, ligament sprains, cartilage injuries, runner’s knee, iliotibial band syndrome, and post-surgical knee rehabilitation.
Our evidence-based approach focuses on identifying the source of symptoms, restoring mobility, improving strength, optimizing movement patterns, and helping patients return to the activities they enjoy. Because knee pain is often influenced by dysfunction elsewhere in the body, our evaluation includes the hip, foot, ankle, and movement patterns that may contribute to ongoing symptoms.
Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine has a strong foundation in sports medicine and knee rehabilitation, including published research on ACL rehabilitation and extensive experience working with athletes across a wide range of sports. Our rehabilitation programs are often integrated with performance training, allowing patients not only to recover from injury but to rebuild strength, power, and confidence in movement.
Whether you are returning to competitive athletics, recreational activity, or simply want to move without pain, our focus is on helping you safely and effectively return to the activities you love.
Conditions We Treat
ACL Injuries
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common sports-related knee injuries. Whether treated surgically or non-operatively, rehabilitation focuses on restoring strength, stability, movement quality, confidence, and safe return to sport.
Meniscus Tears
Meniscus injuries can cause pain, swelling, catching, locking, and reduced function. Physical therapy can help improve mobility, strength, and movement mechanics while supporting both conservative and post-operative treatment approaches.
Knee Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is one of the leading causes of knee pain and disability. Physical therapy can help reduce symptoms, improve mobility, increase strength, and maintain independence while helping patients stay active.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
Often referred to as “runner’s knee,” patellofemoral pain commonly causes discomfort around or behind the kneecap. Treatment focuses on addressing strength deficits, movement impairments, and contributing biomechanical factors.
Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee)
Patellar tendon injuries are common among athletes involved in jumping, running, and explosive activities. Rehabilitation focuses on progressive loading and restoring tendon capacity.
Quadriceps Tendinopathy
Overuse and repetitive loading can contribute to quadriceps tendon irritation and pain above the kneecap. Treatment emphasizes progressive strengthening and improved movement mechanics.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome (IT Band Syndrome)
Common among runners and endurance athletes, IT band syndrome often causes pain on the outside of the knee. Physical therapy focuses on correcting contributing movement patterns and improving lower-extremity mechanics.
Ligament Injuries
We treat injuries involving the MCL, LCL, PCL, and other stabilizing structures of the knee. Treatment focuses on restoring stability, strength, and confidence during functional activities.
Cartilage Injuries
Articular cartilage injuries may contribute to pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced activity tolerance. Rehabilitation focuses on protecting joint health while improving strength and function.
Baker’s Cyst
A Baker’s cyst is often associated with underlying knee irritation or arthritis. Treatment focuses on addressing the contributing factors affecting the knee joint.
Ösgood-Schlatter Disease
This common condition affects growing adolescents and often causes pain during sports and activity on the front of the shin bone where the patellar tendon attaches to it (just below the kneecap). Physical therapy can help manage symptoms while maintaining participation in athletics.
Sinding-Larson-Johansson Syndrome – (also falls under Jumper’s knee)
Much like Ösgood-Schlatter Disease, this condition affects growing adolescents and often causes pain below the kneecap during sports and activity. Physical therapy can help manage symptoms while maintaining participation in athletics.
Patellar Instability and Dislocation
Recurrent kneecap instability can significantly impact activity and confidence. Treatment focuses on improving muscular control, stability, strength, and movement mechanics.
Arthrofibrosis
Knee stiffness due to excessive scarring is one of the most debilitating conditions and remains a challenge to manage. We have extensive experience in treating this condition (may link to tutorial on kneeguru.co.uk I wrote)
Knee Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursae around the knee can contribute to pain and swelling. Physical therapy can help reduce symptoms and address contributing movement or loading factors.
Post-Surgical Knee Rehabilitation
We provide rehabilitation following:
- ACL Reconstruction (with or without concomitant LET procedure)
- Meniscus Repair
- Meniscectomy
- Total Knee Replacement
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Cartilage Restoration Procedures
- MACI
- Microfracture
- Chondroplasty
- Patellar Stabilization Procedures
- Tibial tubercle transfer
- MPFL reconstruction
- Lateral release
- Other Ligament Reconstruction procedures
- MCL
- PLC (posterior lateral corner, which includes the LCL)
- PCL
- Fracture Rehabilitation with ORIF (open reduction internal fixation)
- Tibial plateau
- Distal femur
- Patellar fracture
- Complex
- Other orthopedic knee procedures
- Arthroscopy
- Plica removal
- Lysis of adhesions
- MUA (manipulation under anesthesia)
- HTO (high tibial osteotomy)
- Realignment procedures
Why Choose Forza for Knee Rehabilitation?
Knee pain is often influenced by factors above and below the joint itself. Weakness in the hip, limited ankle mobility, poor movement mechanics, balance deficits, and training errors can all contribute to symptoms and injury risk.
At Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, we perform comprehensive movement assessments to evaluate strength, mobility, balance, gait, movement quality, and functional performance. Our evaluation extends beyond the knee to identify factors throughout the kinetic chain that may be contributing to pain or dysfunction.
By understanding how the entire lower extremity functions together, we develop individualized treatment plans designed to restore movement, improve performance, reduce pain, and help patients return to the activities they enjoy.
For your initial knee evaluation, we recommend wearing shorts or clothing that allows easy access to the knee and surrounding joints. Because knee pain is often influenced by the hip, ankle, foot, and movement patterns throughout the lower extremity, a thorough evaluation requires visualization of the entire kinetic chain during movement and functional testing.
Return-to-Sport Testing and Performance Training
Recovering from an injury and being ready to return to sport are not always the same thing. While pain may be reduced and strength may be improving, athletes often continue to demonstrate deficits in balance, power, agility, movement quality, and limb symmetry that can increase the risk of re-injury.
At Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, we perform comprehensive return-to-sport testing to help determine whether an athlete is physically prepared to safely return to competition. Depending on the athlete’s sport, injury, and stage of recovery, testing may include strength assessments, hop testing, jump testing, agility testing, balance assessments, movement analysis, and functional performance measures.
For athletes looking to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and competition, we also offer performance training programs designed to improve strength, power, speed, endurance, movement efficiency, and overall athletic performance. These programs help athletes regain confidence while reducing injury risk and optimizing return-to-play readiness.
Our goal is not simply to help athletes recover from injury—but to help them return stronger, more resilient, and fully prepared for the demands of their sport.
Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Physical Therapy
When should I see a physical therapist for knee pain?
If knee pain is limiting your ability to walk, climb stairs, exercise, participate in sports, kneel, squat, or enjoy daily activities, physical therapy can help identify the cause of symptoms and develop a plan to restore function.
Can physical therapy help a meniscus tear?
Yes. Many meniscus injuries respond very well to physical therapy. Treatment focuses on improving mobility, strength, stability, and function while helping patients return to their desired activities.
Can physical therapy help knee arthritis?
Absolutely. Research consistently shows that exercise and physical therapy are among the most effective treatments for knee osteoarthritis. Treatment can improve mobility, reduce pain, and help patients remain active.
Do all ACL injuries require surgery?
Not necessarily. The decision depends on factors such as age, activity level, goals, sport participation, instability, and associated injuries. A thorough evaluation can help determine the most appropriate treatment approach.
Can physical therapy help me avoid knee surgery?
In many cases, yes. Conditions such as arthritis, patellofemoral pain, tendinopathy, and some meniscus injuries often improve significantly with conservative treatment.
Why does my knee hurt when I go up or down stairs?
Pain during stair climbing is commonly associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome, arthritis, tendon disorders, or movement impairments affecting how forces are distributed through the knee joint. A physical therapy evaluation can help identify the cause.
How do I know when I’m ready to return to sport after a knee injury?
Returning to sport should be based on more than just the absence of pain. Athletes should demonstrate adequate strength, balance, power, agility, movement quality, and sport-specific function before returning to competition.
At Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, we perform return-to-sport testing to objectively assess readiness for athletic participation. These assessments help identify any remaining deficits and provide valuable information to help athletes, parents, coaches, physicians, and physical therapists make informed return-to-play decisions.
Serving Augusta and Kennebec County
Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine proudly provides knee rehabilitation services to patients throughout Augusta, Hallowell, Gardiner, Winthrop, Manchester, Farmingdale, and surrounding communities across Kennebec County.
