Two different starting points
Some people come to us with a knee that has been aching for weeks or months: on stairs, after sitting, or when squatting or kneeling. Others come in days after a knee replacement, an arthroscopy or a ligament repair, with a surgeon’s protocol in hand. The goals overlap, but the starting point and the pace are different, and so is the first visit.
Knee pain without surgery
For knee pain, your first visit is a one-on-one evaluation by our Doctor of Physical Therapy. We look at where the pain is, what brings it on, and how the hip, ankle and foot are sharing the load with the knee. A knee often hurts because of how the rest of the leg is moving, so we test the whole chain, not just the joint.
From there, your plan may include hands-on treatment, strengthening for the thigh, hip and calf muscles, and practice with the specific movements that bother you. We also tell you plainly if anything in your evaluation suggests you should see a physician or get imaging.
Rehab after knee surgery
After surgery, we work inside your surgeon’s written protocol. That protocol sets limits on bending, weight bearing and loading during each phase, and we follow it while tailoring everything within those limits to you. If something in your recovery looks off, we contact your surgeon’s office rather than guess.
- Protecting the repair, managing swelling and regaining motion
- Waking up the thigh muscles and walking well again
- Building strength for stairs, getting up from low chairs and kneeling where allowed
- Returning to work, sport or the activities you care about
Post-surgery rehab usually moves through phases:
We move you to the next phase when you meet that phase’s goals, not just because a date on the calendar arrived.
What to bring to your first visit after surgery
Bringing these helps us start on the right foot:
- Your surgeon’s protocol or rehab instructions, if you were given them
- Your operative date and the name of the procedure
- Any brace, crutches or walker you were told to use
- Your insurance card and a photo ID
- Comfortable clothes that let us see and reach the knee, such as shorts
Small caseloads, close supervision
The early weeks after knee surgery are when technique matters most. At Direct PT of Huntsville each clinician works with no more than 2 patients at a time, so someone is watching how your knee moves through every exercise. Sessions commonly run 45 to 60 minutes.
We are at 3200 Robinson Creek Parkway, Suite B, in Huntsville, and we see patients from across Walker County. Call (936) 439-4770 or request an appointment online.