Hips and knees that keep up with you.
Knee pain often starts at the hip or the ankle. Hip pain often isn't the hip at all. We sort out which is which, then treat the real one.
Stairs, squats, or sitting?
Hip and knee trouble tends to show up in the same places.
- Pain going up or down stairs
- A knee that aches after sitting through a movie or long drive
- A pinch in the front of your hip when you squat
- Kneecap pain that flares when you run
- A deep ache in your groin or outer hip
- A knee that feels like it might give way
The knee is the middle child of the chain.
Your knee is a hinge caught between two ball-and-socket systems: the hip above and the foot below. When the hip fails to control the thigh or the ankle stops moving well, the knee absorbs the twisting and load they should have handled. It complains loudest, but in our assessments it is rarely the instigator.
So we assess the whole leg, not just where it hurts. We even wrote a whole article on why knee pain often isn't a knee problem. Fix the drivers above and below, and the knee finally gets to be a hinge again.
Things you've heard that aren't true.
Bad information keeps a lot of people hurting longer than they should. Let's clear a few up.
"Running ruins your knees."
The research says otherwise. Recreational runners don't have worse knees than non-runners. Problems come from load your body isn't prepared for, and preparation is trainable.
"I'm bone-on-bone, so nothing helps."
X-ray findings correlate surprisingly poorly with pain. People with significant joint changes routinely get stronger, hurt less, and do more with the right program.
"A brace will fix it."
A brace can help you through a season, but it doesn't change the mechanics that overloaded the joint. Think of it as a bridge, not a destination.
Treat the whole leg.
Your plan is built from what your assessment reveals, using tools like these.
Whole-chain assessment
We watch how your hip, knee, and ankle actually share work, and find which link is off.
How our assessment works →
Hands-on treatment
Joint and soft-tissue work to restore the hip and ankle motion your knee depends on.
Explore manual therapy →
Progressive strengthening
Targeted, joint-friendly loading that rebuilds the muscle supporting your hip and knee, so the joint stops taking the strain.
About therapeutic exercise →
Release restricted tissue
Instrument-assisted work for stubborn tendon and soft-tissue restrictions around the knee.
About Graston Technique →No referral needed. Most insurance accepted.
In Illinois you can start physical therapy without a doctor's referral, so there's nothing standing between you and relief. We accept most major plans and offer self-pay options. Not sure about your coverage? We'll check it for you before your first visit.
What to expect, start to finish.
Here's exactly what your first visit looks like.
We listen first
We start with your history, your symptoms, and the goals that matter to you.
We find the cause
We look at how your whole body moves to find what's driving your pain, not just where it hurts.
You leave with a plan
A hands-on treatment plan built around your body and your life, and a therapist who stays with you the whole way.
Keep exploring.
The same care at every clinic.
Every therapist on our team is trained in the entirety of the kinetic chain. That means we look at how your whole body moves, not just the part that hurts, and treat the cause instead of the symptom. You get that same care at all 10 of our clinics.
One proven approach
The same hands-on, whole-body approach guides every plan we build.
One standard, every clinic
Every clinic is held to the same standard, set by therapists with advanced training in how the body moves.
A team that knows you
You'll see the same faces at your home clinic, people who know your name and your goals.
You're in good hands.
"Came in with a nagging knee injury and the whole team was awesome. Tim and Ben were very helpful and knowledgeable."
"Excellent experience, fixed my hip, groin feet and ankles, all in 6 months! Customer centric, helpful and friendly. Completely recommend!"
Hip & knee pain, answered.
Does a meniscus tear need surgery?
Why does my knee hurt going down stairs but not up?
Is it safe to exercise with hip arthritis?
Do I need orthotics?
How long before stairs feel normal?
Care near you.
Treated at all 10 of our clinics in the greater Chicago area.
Ready to feel like yourself again?
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what's bothering you. You'll hear from us within one business day to get you scheduled.
- No Referral Needed
- Most Major Insurances Accepted
- Appointments Within 48 to 72 Hours