Knee pain remains one of the most common reasons patients seek care from a primary care physician and Physical Therapist. The knee is uniquely placed between two long levers in the thigh and leg bones. The levers significantly increase the effect of impairments in the ankle and hip joints on the knee. Commonly, patients present...
Manual therapy and exercise remain the key conservative treatment interventions for patients with knee arthritis. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics we successfully treat knee pain and lost function associated with knee arthritis. In some individuals conservative interventions are not enough to improve function and they may elect to undergo a...
Knee osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease world wide and one of the leading causes of disability. Thankfully this condition is successfully managed conservatively utilizing Physical Therapy interventions including manual therapy and exercise. Previous research has shown these Physical Therapy interventions can postpone or prevent the knee for knee replacement. In some cases, conservative...
Patellofemoral Pain, or pain around the knee cap, is the most common source of knee pain. Although common, patellofemoral pain can lead to significant limitations in daily, occupational, and recreational activities. Left untreated, 50% of patients with patellofemoral pain report symptoms at a 5 year follow up. In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice we commonly...
Updated: 7/22/26 If arthroscopic surgery has come up as an option for your knee arthritis or a meniscus tear, the evidence against it has only gotten stronger, and there’s now long-term data behind it that wasn’t available when we first covered this topic. What the Research Shows A Cochrane review on arthroscopic knee surgery for...
Authors estimate 1 in 10 Americans over age 60 report symptomatic, not to be confused with those who are pain free but have arthritis on x ray, knee osteoarthritis. Knee arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability due to its’ impact on functional activities such as getting out of chair, walking, standing, and...
Hip arthritis is a painful condition causing pain, loss of range of motion, and lost function in many middle to older aged adults. The pain from hip arthritis is multifactorial in nature arising from the cartilage and joint surfaces as well as the surrounding soft tissues. Physical Therapy consisting of manual therapy and strength training...
The labrum is a dense connective and fibrocartilage tissue lining the socket of the hip joint. It functions to deepen the hip socket and improve stability and weight bearing during functional activities. The labrum is highly innervated on top and front portions of the joint and often refers to the front of the hip when...
Hip impingement, femoracetabular impingement, is a common source of pain for patients. Much research is needed on this more recent diagnosis secondary to the high rates of impingement found in pain free athletes. In addition, more research is needed on the comparison of conservative versus surgical management of the condition. Patient’s undergoing arthroscopic surgery to...
Dry Needling performed by licensed Physical Therapists is gaining momentum in clinics and research trials across the country. This intervention can be an excellent treatment for patients suffering from pain and trigger points within their muscles. Trigger points are hyper irritable bands of tissue contributing to pain, loss of flexibility, and impaired strength in patients. The...
