Knee Pain Physical Therapy in Wilmington, NC

Knee pain can stem from many different sources—overuse injuries, muscle imbalances, poor movement mechanics, previous trauma, or degenerative changes like arthritis. During your first visit, we'll conduct a thorough assessment that includes testing your knee's range of motion, strength, and stability, as well as examining your hip and ankle function since these areas significantly impact knee health. We'll also watch you perform functional movements like squatting, lunging, or walking to see how your body moves as a whole. This comprehensive approach allows us to pinpoint the exact cause of your pain rather than just treating symptoms, which is why our patients get lasting results.

Yes, absolutely. While arthritis means there are structural changes in your knee joint, physical therapy can significantly reduce pain and improve function. Research consistently shows that strengthening the muscles around your knee, improving your movement patterns, and maintaining good mobility can decrease arthritis pain as effectively as medication—without the side effects. Many of our clients with knee arthritis are able to return to activities they love, whether that's hiking, playing with grandkids, or staying active at the gym. We'll create a plan that respects your knee's current condition while progressively building your strength and confidence. The goal isn't to reverse arthritis, but to help you move well and feel strong despite it.

Not necessarily. In fact, one of our core beliefs is keeping you active throughout your recovery whenever possible. During your evaluation, we'll determine which activities are safe to continue and which need temporary modification. For example, if running aggravates your knee, we might have you focus on cycling or swimming while we address the underlying issue, then gradually reintroduce running as your knee gets stronger. Many of our clients continue modified versions of their workouts throughout treatment. We'll give you specific guidance on what you can do, how much, and what warning signs to watch for, so you're never left guessing whether you're helping or hurting your recovery.

The biggest difference is time and individualization. Every session at Conquer Movement is a full 60 minutes, one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy—no assistants, no multitasking between patients. This allows us to thoroughly address your specific needs each visit and adjust your plan based on how you're responding. We also take a performance-based approach, meaning we're not just trying to reduce your pain—we're building a stronger, more resilient knee that can handle the demands you place on it. Additionally, because we're out-of-network, we're not limited by insurance restrictions. This means we can use advanced techniques like dry needling, spend time on manual therapy, and create truly customized exercise programs rather than following cookie-cutter protocols.

Yes, we treat both acute injuries and post-surgical rehabilitation. If you've been diagnosed with a meniscus tear, ACL injury, patellar tendinitis, or other specific knee condition, we can create a rehabilitation plan tailored to that injury. For post-surgical cases—whether you've had ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, or knee replacement—we'll work closely with your surgeon's protocol while individualizing the exercises and progressions to match your recovery and goals. Many of our clients come to us after surgery specifically because they want more attentive, one-on-one care than traditional PT clinics offer. We'll make sure you're hitting the benchmarks you need to hit while preparing your knee for real-world demands, not just passing basic strength tests.