Conditions - Pain - Knee and hip pain

• Back and neck pain
• Herniated discs
• Shoulder pain and rotator cuff injury
• Knee and hip pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis

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Patrick Massey MD, PhD  Daryl Massey PT, MPT  ALT-MED Medical and Physical therapy, Elk Grove Village IL and serving the Chicago area


Knee and hip pain is common and is easily treated with conservative therapies like ALT-MED physical therapy (click here), massage (click here) and acupuncture (click here).  In addition, select herbs and supplements can reduce inflammation and pain as a well as protect the cartilage from further damage.

Hip:  the hip joint is a very stable and strong joint.  Most “hip” pain is mis-diagnosed and is actually related to the back, the outside of the upper leg (iliotibial band) or bursitis of the hip…not the hip joint.  In those cases, “hip” pain responds very well to ALT-MED physical therapy, massage, acupuncture and select supplements to reduce inflammation.

Knee: The knee is a relatively unstable joint and is susceptible to a variety of injuries.  Pain in the knee can indicate a simple or serious injury and needs to be examined.  Most knee pain is from athletic activities and athletic, young women are to be particularly prone to knee injury.  Most common knee injuries respond well to range of motion and strengthening  movements from ALT-MED physical therapy and massage, acupuncture and select supplements to reduce inflammation.

Common Knee Injuries that respond well to ALT-MED therapy

• ACL injury: Tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) - one of four ligaments that stabilize the knee joint. An ACL injury is especially common in people who play basketball, volleyball, football, soccerand similar sports…ACL injury is often the result of sudden changes in direction.

• Torn meniscus: The meniscus is the cartilage in the knee and is the shock absorber. It can be torn if you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on it.


• Knee bursitis: The small sacs of fluid that cushion the outside of your knee joint is a bursa.  It helps the tendons and ligaments move, without friction, over the joint.  Inflammation of the bursa can be very painful.


• Shin splints or medial tibial stress syndrome:  Pain along or just behind the shinbone. Shin splints occur during too much physical activity putting stress on the tissue connecting the muscle to the shin.  Shin splints are common in runners,  basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis and even marching band and dance.


• Iliotibial band syndrome:  A large ligament that extends from the outside of your pelvic bone to the outside of your calf.  When is becomes so tight that it rubs against the outer portion of your upper leg, significant inflammation and pain can occur.  Distance runners and those who have sedentary jobs are especially susceptible to iliotibial band syndrome.

• Lack of muscle flexibility or strength:  Strength and flexibility are necessary to prevent knee injury.  Soft tissues –muscles, tendons, ligaments- absorb much of the shock of sports and daily activities.  If the tissues are tight or weak, more of the shock goes into the knee joint itself.

** Daryl Massey PT. MPT (click here) has extensive experience with sports injuries at all levels of competition. She has treated elementary school, middle school, high school and division I college athletes from football, track, cross country, volleyball, dance, cheerleading, shot put and even javelin. Her personal attention to the athlete, experience and knowledge base results in rapid and complete healing of sports-related injuries. Her four children are able to compete (competed) at the highest level in football, track and field and volleyball because, in part, of her ability to quickly heal their injuries.

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