- Knee pain has many causes — arthritis, sprains and ligament injuries, kneecap pain (runner’s knee), tendinitis, and post-surgical recovery.
- Most knee pain improves when you restore motion and rebuild the strength of the muscles that support the joint.
- Physical therapy reduces pain, improves function, and often delays or avoids the need for injections or surgery.
- We rebuild strength and movement, and when surgery is needed we coordinate with your surgeon and lead the rehab.
- No referral is needed in most cases. We see new patients within a few days at Cedar Mill, Tigard, and Milwaukie.
What is knee pain?
The knee is a large weight-bearing joint that depends heavily on the muscles around it — especially the quadriceps and hip muscles — to absorb load and stay aligned. When those muscles are weak or the movement pattern is off, the joint, kneecap, tendons, or ligaments can become painful. That is why so many different knee problems share a similar solution: build strength and control around the joint.
The knee problems we treat include osteoarthritis (joint-surface wear), kneecap pain or "runner’s knee," tendinitis (such as patellar or IT band issues), ligament and meniscus injuries, and recovery after knee surgery including ACL reconstruction and joint replacement. Even arthritic knees and many ligament and meniscus injuries respond strongly to a well-built strengthening program.
At Creekside Physical Therapy, we find out why your knee hurts, restore its motion, and rebuild the strength and movement control that take the load off the painful structures. For arthritis, this often reduces pain and delays or avoids more invasive treatment; after surgery, we follow your surgeon’s protocol and rebuild you safely. You work one-on-one with the same therapist throughout.
The knee is where the thigh bone, shin bone, and kneecap meet, cushioned by cartilage and the two menisci and held together by ligaments. But the knee rarely works alone: the quadriceps control the kneecap and absorb load, and the hip muscles control how the whole leg lines up over the foot. When the hip or quad is weak, the knee and kneecap take more stress than they should — which is why effective knee rehab almost always strengthens the hip and thigh, not just the knee itself.
What it feels like
Knee problems show up in several patterns. Common symptoms include:
- Pain around or behind the kneecap, especially with stairs, squatting, or sitting (runner’s knee)
- Aching, stiffness, and reduced motion (common with arthritis)
- Swelling after activity
- Pain with running, jumping, or kneeling (tendinitis)
- A feeling of giving way, locking, or instability (possible ligament or meniscus involvement)
- Difficulty fully straightening or bending the knee
- Weakness and loss of confidence on the affected leg
Why it develops
Knee pain develops for several reasons, often in combination:
- Osteoarthritis and age-related joint changes
- Weakness in the quadriceps and hip muscles that support the knee
- Ligament sprains and meniscus injuries from sport or a twist
- Overuse from running, jumping, or a sudden increase in activity
- Kneecap tracking problems (runner’s knee)
- Recovery after knee surgery or a period of immobilization
- Movement patterns that let the knee collapse inward under load
How we evaluate knee pain
Your first visit is a one-on-one physical therapy evaluation. Your therapist tests your knee’s motion, strength, and stability, examines the kneecap, hip, and how your leg lines up under load, and identifies the movements that reproduce your symptoms. For post-surgical patients, we review your surgeon’s protocol. We do not perform imaging; if your history or exam suggests a significant ligament or meniscus tear or another problem that needs an MRI or specialist, we coordinate with your physician. You leave the same day with a clear diagnosis and a plan.
How physical therapy treats it
Most knee pain responds very well to physical therapy. Your one-on-one plan typically includes:
- Progressive strengthening of the quadriceps and hip muscles that support and align the knee
- Manual therapy to restore motion in a stiff or painful knee and reduce pain
- Movement and gait retraining so the knee stops collapsing inward under load
- Balance and control work, especially after ligament injuries or surgery
- Activity modification and a graded return to running, sport, or daily demands
- Blood flow restriction (BFR) training to rebuild strength when a painful or post-surgical knee can’t tolerate heavy load
- Pain-relief strategies and load guidance for arthritic knees
- A structured home exercise program to keep progress going and maintain gains
When to seek care
- Knee pain that has lasted more than a couple of weeks or keeps returning
- Pain that limits stairs, squatting, walking, running, or work
- Swelling that returns with activity
- A knee that gives way, locks, or catches — may indicate a ligament or meniscus issue
- A significant injury with marked swelling or instability — get evaluated medically first
Knee pain is treated by Creekside’s physical therapists at all three clinics, including arthritis management, runner’s knee, and post-surgical recovery. Chad Smurthwaite, DPT, OCS, leads return-to-sport knee rehab for athletes and runners. When surgery is appropriate, we coordinate with your surgeon, follow their protocol, and lead your recovery afterward.