Conditions

Knee Pain

One-on-one care for knee pain in a private South Natick studio: a full session with a Doctor of Physical Therapy every visit, for people who want to run, squat, climb stairs, and get up off the floor without thinking about their knee.

The knee is usually where the problem shows up, not where it starts

A knee that hurts on stairs, aches after a run, or swells after a hard workout is often paying for something above or below it: a hip that isn't controlling the leg, an ankle that has lost motion, or a quad and hamstring that stopped pulling their weight. Treating the knee alone is why so many people stall.

Knee care here is led by clinicians with advanced residency training at the Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy and board certification as Orthopedic Clinical Specialists, in a facility built for strength work: a full training floor, turf, and a machine room. Every session is one-on-one for the full visit. No aides, no handoffs, no exercise sheet doing the treating.

In Massachusetts you have direct access: no physician referral is needed to start. If your evaluation shows something outside the scope of physical therapy, we will tell you and point you to the right practitioner.

A client training on the Shuttle MVP leg press in the PT Progression machine room

Mobilize what's tight. Strengthen what's weak.

That is the whole approach, applied to the whole leg. Your evaluation identifies which joints and tissues are restricted and which muscles are underperforming, and treatment works both sides of that equation every session.

Hands-on treatment for what's tight

Restoring motion in the knee, hip, and ankle:

  • Joint mobilization for the knee, kneecap, hip, and ankle
  • Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (Graston)
  • Deep tissue massage for the quad, hamstring, calf, and IT band
  • Dry needling
  • Assisted stretching & mobility work

Progressive strengthening for what's weak

Rebuilding the muscles that protect the joint:

  • Quad, hamstring, and calf strength
  • Hip and glute control so the knee tracks straight
  • Balance and single-leg stability
  • Graded return to running, jumping, squatting, and sport
  • An individualized home program that evolves with you

Knee problems we treat

  • Meniscus tears
  • Runner's knee (patellofemoral pain)
  • Jumper's knee (patellar tendonitis)
  • IT band syndrome
  • ACL, MCL, and other ligament injuries
  • Knee osteoarthritis
  • Post-surgical recovery (ACL, meniscus, knee replacement)
  • Knee pain with squats, stairs, or running
  • Swelling and stiffness after activity
  • Recurring flare-ups

Not sure what yours is? That is what the evaluation is for.

A Doctor of Physical Therapy guiding a hamstring stretch on the treatment table

Results from real knees

"Working with Shawn has been a game-changer. He has a great amount of knowledge and knows what he is talking about. I first met Shawn when I had to have surgery on my medial meniscus, and he was great at rehabilitating me and getting me back to full strength. We then transitioned to working on my mobility with stretching classes. One of the best parts of working with Shawn is the amount of knowledge you gain from him. He explains every exercise or stretch and tells you what it is for."
Jack Funke Meniscus surgery, back to full strength · Google review
"I was referred to PT because of a torn meniscus. Shawn supported me with exercises, therapy, and overall great encouragement. His immense knowledge and techniques helped me to continue my everyday life pain-free. I would absolutely recommend him!"
Sandy F. Torn meniscus, everyday life pain-free · Google review
"Shawn has been helping me with a knee injury. I had been struggling with pain that made it difficult for me to walk. After a couple months of sessions, I can now go up stairs without pain. I'm doing things that I never thought I could do again. My quality of life has improved so much. His gym has great equipment. He does an amazing job at helping me push myself. I highly recommend PT Progression. I can't thank Shawn enough."
SD Knee injury, stairs without pain · Google review
"Our son came to Shawn while recovering from a knee injury at a critical time in his life, as a future college student with aspirations of playing D3 baseball. Shawn provided outstanding physical and mental support, helping our son stay focused, motivated, and confident throughout the recovery process. His thoughtful, step-by-step approach ensured proper healing. Thanks to Shawn's dedication and expertise, our son was able to take on the challenge of trying out for the baseball team with a strong, healed knee and the confidence to compete."
Carrie Graham Son's knee injury, back to competitive baseball · Google review

Read all 81 reviews on Google →

Where it leads

The goal is not just a quiet knee. It is a leg you trust again under load. When pain resolves, your plan progresses from rehab into performance training with the same clinician in the same facility, so the strength that protects the joint keeps building instead of stopping at discharge. That transition is the Progression Method.

Knee pain FAQs

Do I need a referral to see a physical therapist for knee pain in Massachusetts?
No. Massachusetts has direct access, so you can start physical therapy without a physician referral. Book a free 15-minute fit call and we'll tell you whether we're the right place to start.
How soon should I see a physical therapist for knee pain?
Sooner is better. A knee that hurts changes how you walk, climb stairs, and squat, and the hip and ankle start compensating within weeks. If pain or swelling is limiting how you run, train, kneel, or get through a day on your feet, that's reason enough to be evaluated.
Can physical therapy help a meniscus tear?
Often, yes. Many meniscus tears, especially degenerative ones, respond well to hands-on treatment plus a progressive strengthening program for the hip, quad, and hamstring, without surgery. When surgery is the right call, rehab before and after it is what gets you back to full strength. Imaging findings don't decide the plan on their own; what your knee can and can't do does.
Do I need an MRI before starting physical therapy?
Usually not. Meniscus fraying and cartilage changes show up on scans of plenty of people with no knee pain at all. A thorough orthopedic evaluation of how your knee, hip, and ankle move together tells us more in most cases. If we see signs that imaging or a physician consult is warranted, we'll tell you.
Do you take insurance?
We're an out-of-network, fee-for-service practice. That's what lets every visit be a full session, one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, with no aides, no double-booking, and no visit limits set by a payer. Many PPO plans reimburse a portion of out-of-network care through the Super Bill we provide, and HSA/FSA funds typically apply. We'll walk you through what care costs on your free fit call.
What happens in a session?
You work start to finish with one senior Doctor of Physical Therapy. Sessions combine hands-on treatment, such as joint mobilization, Graston, deep tissue work, or dry needling, with corrective and strengthening exercise on the floor and in the machine room, plus a home program you actually understand.
Can I keep running, lifting, or playing my sport while my knee hurts?
Often yes, with modifications. Complete rest rarely fixes a knee, and it costs you the strength you need to protect it. Part of the evaluation is working out what you can keep doing safely, what needs a temporary change, and how to keep training the rest of your body while the knee catches up.
I already had knee surgery. Can you still help?
Yes. We treat clients after ACL reconstruction, meniscus surgery, and knee replacement, including people who finished post-operative rehab elsewhere and still don't trust the knee. The work is the same: restore what's stiff, build what's weak, and progress load until you're back to what you did before.

Start with a free 15-minute fit call

Tell us what your knee is doing and what it is keeping you from. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit, what care would look like, and what it costs.

Book a Free 15-Minute Fit Call