ACL injuries are often a result of either blunt force trauma or a sudden change of direction while planted on the ground. ACL injuries may cause the knee to feel unstable along with associated pain. If training for a sport it is important to train proper knee mechanics as well as hip and ankle strengthening in order to prevent excess stress on the ligament. Treatment following a repair is a phased program, but athletes will also benefit from being prophylactic in preventing ACL injuries via strengthening. ​

At Breakaway PT we make sure that you are not only recovered from your surgery, but confident and ready to return to your sport at your fullest potential. Traditional PT only focuses on getting you through your post-op protocol. We use our specialty in performance training to make sure that you are in a position to succeed when you hit the field again!

Everybody has a lateral and medial meniscus. The meniscus acts as a pad between the femur and tibia. Meniscus tears may be a result of rotating on a fixed knee such as cutting playing a sport or may also be degenerative in nature. Poor knee mechanics may cause stress to the meniscus such as genu valgus (knock knees) due to the increased pressure on the medial meniscus. Surgical intervention often is a meniscectomy which is when they remove the torn part of the meniscus. Physical therapy can help with pain control, neuromuscular reeducation and strengthening in order to return to daily activities without limitations.

Symptoms may include, but are not limited to:

• Popping or clicking in knee
• Locking of knee
• Knee feels unstable
• Pain often increases with twisting of the knee when planted
• Usually specific to inside or outside of knee
• May experience associated weakness or balance deficits

Patellar tendonitis is inflammation of the thick quad tendon either above or below the patella. It is often seen in jumping sports, but may also affect runners, cyclists and skiers or be a result of overuse. Treatment of tendonitis involves neuromuscular reeducation, stretching, strengthening, improving balance and proper loading of the tendon with eccentric contractions. Physical therapy can help introduce loading of the tendon to promote healing and accelerate healing in order to avoid chronic inflammation or tendinosis.

Like arthritis of every joint, knee arthritis is generally the result of ageing. Traumatic injuries such as fractures, ACL tears and meniscus tears can speed up the development of arthritis. Avoiding motion will cause even more pain and stiffness so it is important to learn how to effectively manage your activity levels to avoid flare ups and avoid doing harm by not doing enough. Physical therapy can help you find a program that encourages mobility and slows down the degenerative changes that may be occurring to the knee.

Pain in the knee may be a result of an injury to the hip, ankle, knee or referred pain from the spine. If you have pain in your hip or ankle with walking you may change your gait or how you perform an activity in order to avoid the pain. Changing the mechanics of your gait or how you perform an activity will then transfer the load to your knee putting stress on those structures. This also causes you to learn bad motor habits which can be challenging to overcome since you may not be aware of them. It is important to fix the cause of the pain and not just chase the symptoms.