LACEY (WA) – With spring in the air and summer quickly approaching, many of us are getting outside more—walking, gardening, playing with kids or grandkids. But along with this increase in activity, we often see a rise in knee pain complaints.
That’s why I want to share some practical tips and a true story from one of our patients—Nancy—that might sound familiar to you.
Meet Nancy: A Retired Nurse Held Back by Knee Pain
Nancy, a 62-year-old retired nurse, came to see us after quietly suffering with knee pain for three years. Like many people, she assumed it was due to age or arthritis. She didn’t want to “bother the doctor,” and so she pushed through the pain.
But when she could no longer get down on the floor to play with her grandkids, she finally decided it was time to get help.
“I thought my knee pain was just due to age or arthritis. I didn’t want to bother the doctor about it,” she told us.
During our thorough evaluation, we checked her range of motion, muscle strength, and pinpointed exactly which activities triggered her pain. To Nancy’s surprise, her hamstring was actually the root of the problem—not her knee joint.
She had already had an X-ray done before coming to us, which confirmed there was no arthritis—but no one had told her what exactly was causing the pain or why it started.
A Common Cause Behind Chronic Knee Pain
Through our detailed orthopedic assessment (yes, we use the same orthopedic tests surgeons do), we discovered that Nancy’s hamstring had been overstressed by a specific gym exercise. She had been working with a trainer and unknowingly “worked through the pain” because she thought that’s what she was supposed to do.
“I just thought it was ‘no pain, no gain,’” she said.
“But I had no idea the exercise I was doing was actually keeping my hamstring strained and causing my knee pain.”
After five weeks of physical therapy—including hands-on treatment and targeted exercises—Nancy was back to her normal routine, pain-free, and enjoying her retirement with her grandkids.
Lessons from Nancy’s Story
- Pain doesn’t always mean damage to the joint – Often, soft tissues like muscles or tendons are the real culprits.
- You don’t have to live with pain just because you’re aging – That’s a myth we hear all the time.
- Even if you’re in healthcare, like Nancy, it can be surprising how physical therapy works and what we actually do!
What If You Do Have Arthritis?
Even if you’ve been told you have arthritis, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck. We’ve helped many patients with arthritis improve their strength and mobility—sometimes by simply adjusting exercises and walking mechanics.
When your hips are weak, they stop supporting your knees, reducing your ability to absorb shock with each step. And poor mechanics in one part of your body can affect other areas. That’s why we always evaluate the whole picture, not just the knee.
Don’t Ignore the Pain
If you’ve had knee pain for more than two weeks and it’s not improving, it’s time to get it checked out. You don’t have to wait until it limits your lifestyle.
Think of us as your body’s mechanics. A small “tune-up” might be all it takes to decrease your pain and improve your function.
Nancy is now enjoying retirement, traveling, and playing on the floor with her grandkids. And she’s so thankful she didn’t just “live with it.”
Need Help with Your Knee Pain?
We’re here to help you move better, feel stronger, and get back to doing what you love—without pain.
Jennifer Penrose, DPT, MPT, OCS is the owner and lead physical therapist at Penrose Physical Therapy. With years of experience helping patients overcome pain and regain mobility, Jennifer is passionate about educating the community and empowering people to take control of their health. Have questions about knee pain or wondering if physical therapy can help you?
Give us a call at (360) 456-1444 or send an email to info@penrosept.com—we’re here to help!
