Knee
Mobile Physical Therapy for Knee Pain in Scottsdale
We come to you in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa.
Your knees absorb force every time you walk, squat, run, or climb stairs. The knee is made up of two joints. The tibiofemoral joint connects your thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia), and the patellofemoral joint is where your kneecap (patella) meets the femur. When either one isn't moving well, everyday activities and training can become painful.
Stability and Motion
The knee has to stay stable under heavy loads. Two cartilage cushions called the menisci spread out the force passing through the joint. Ligaments (ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL), the joint capsule, and the quadriceps and hamstring muscles hold the knee steady.
The knee's main movements are bending (flexion) and straightening (extension). As the knee bends, your kneecap glides in a groove at the end of your thigh bone, like a train on its tracks. Strength and mobility imbalances around the hip and knee can affect how smoothly the kneecap tracks, which can lead to pain at the front of the knee.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
Knee pain can come from a sudden injury, like a fall or a twist, or develop gradually from overuse. How severe your symptoms are depends on which tissues are involved and how you move, including how you squat, walk, and take the stairs.
The knee is also heavily influenced by the hips and ankles. Limited ankle mobility, hip or glute weakness, technique breakdown, and training overload without enough recovery can all put extra stress on the knee over time. In grappling, heel hooks, guard passing, and takedowns are common sources of knee ligament and meniscus injuries.
Other causes of knee pain include:
Patellofemoral pain syndrome- Patellar tendinitis (“jumper’s knee”)
- IT band syndrome
- Meniscus tears
- Ligament sprains or tears (ACL, MCL)
- Osteoarthritis
- Patellar dislocation
- Bursitis
- Plica syndrome
- Muscle strains or tears
- Fractures
Common symptoms include:
- Aching or sharp pain
- Swelling or stiffness
- Clicking or popping
- Difficulty fully straightening your knee
- A feeling that your knee is stuck or locking
- A feeling that your knee is giving way
- Pain with stairs, squatting, or kneeling
- Pain during takedowns, guard passing, or scrambles
How Physical Therapy Helps You
Knee pain can make it hard to climb stairs, squat, run, or train. Your physical therapist will assess your strength, mobility, balance, and how you squat. We'll check your hips and ankles too, since they often play a role in knee pain. This shows whether your pain is coming from the knee itself, nearby muscles, or your spine. As a mobile practice, we come to you, whether that's your home, gym, or workplace.
From there, you'll get a clear explanation of what's driving your pain and a plan built around your goals. It may include hands-on treatment, strength training, and mobility work. Stronger quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves, plus better hip and ankle mobility, help your knee handle more load. We'll look at how you squat, run, lift, or grapple. When appropriate, we also use dry needling and cupping. Recovering from ACL surgery or a knee replacement? Learn more about our post-surgery rehab.
We also work with athletes whose sports put heavy demands on their knees, including grapplers, runners, and weightlifters. We build your rehab around the positions required for your sport so you can return to training with confidence.
Knee pain doesn't have to be your new normal. Contact us for a free phone consultation and to schedule your initial appointment.
Call NowFrequently Asked Questions
Knee pain can come from sudden injuries, like falls or twists, or from overuse. Common conditions include patellofemoral pain syndrome, patellar tendinitis, IT band syndrome, meniscus tears, ligament injuries, osteoarthritis, and patellar dislocations.
Common symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, and clicking or popping. Your knee may also feel stuck, give way, or hurt on stairs and when squatting.
Physical therapy targets the source of your pain, whether it's within the knee, from surrounding muscles, or referred from the spine. Your physical therapist will build a personalized plan to reduce pain, restore mobility, strengthen muscles, and help you return to your normal activities.
It depends on the injury. Many meniscus tears and partial ACL tears can be managed with physical therapy. A fully torn ACL usually needs surgery if you want to return to sports with cutting or pivoting, like soccer, basketball, or grappling. Your physical therapist can help you understand your options, work with your doctor, and guide your post-surgery rehab if you need it.
Yes. Heel hooks, guard passing, and takedowns can sprain knee ligaments or injure the meniscus. Physical therapy can shorten your recovery time by restoring motion, rebuilding strength and stability, and guiding a safe return to training. If your knee swelled up quickly, locks, or gives way, see a doctor before returning to training.
Ready to Move Better and Perform at a Higher Level?
Whether you have questions or are ready to get started, reach out and we'll get back to you promptly. You can also call or text us directly to speak with Dr. Phil Yoon.