Pain Condition
Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
Your knee or hip is stiff in the morning, aches after walking, and complains on stairs and when you get up from a chair. The X-ray shows arthritis. But how much a joint hurts often has as much to do with the muscles around it as with the joint itself, and those muscles can be treated, whether you are trying to avoid surgery or preparing for it.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is wear and change in the cartilage and bone of a joint. It is most common in the knees and hips and becomes more likely with age, previous injuries and body weight. Common symptoms include pain with activity, morning stiffness, reduced range of motion and aching after long walks.
X-ray findings do not always match pain levels. Some people with severe changes have little pain, while others with mild changes hurt a great deal. Muscles are a big part of that difference. Around an arthritic knee, the quadriceps, hamstrings and calves tighten and develop trigger points. Around an arthritic hip, the hip flexors, adductors, gluteals and deep rotators do the same. Staying active and strengthening the muscles around the joint are core parts of osteoarthritis care.
Your physician or orthopedist manages medications, injections and joint replacement decisions. Dr. Gordon treats the muscle and nerve contributors to arthritis pain, and supports recovery after joint replacement.
Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis at a Glance
Also called
Degenerative joint disease, knee or hip arthritis
Common symptoms
Pain with activity, morning stiffness, reduced motion, aching after walking
Key point
X-ray changes do not always match how much a joint hurts
Knee muscles involved
Quadriceps, hamstrings, calves
Hip muscles involved
Hip flexors, adductors, gluteals, deep rotators
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Arthritis care focuses on the joint, injections and replacement. The muscles that guard around the joint and add pain are often left untreated.
What routine testing is looking for
- Cartilage loss and bone changes on X-ray
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Fractures
- Candidacy for joint replacement
What often keeps symptoms going
- Quadriceps and hamstring trigger points around the knee
- Hip flexor and adductor tension around the hip
- Gluteal weakness
- Nerve sensitivity from long-term pain
- Walking pattern changes
These are assessed with hands-on and movement testing.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Morning stiffness
Stiffness that eases after moving around.
Pain with stairs
Knee or hip pain climbing or descending stairs.
Pain getting up
Pain rising from a chair or car.
Aching after walking
Pain building with walking distance.
Groin pain
Hip arthritis often causes groin pain.
Reduced range of motion
Difficulty bending, squatting or putting on shoes.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Joint changes
Cartilage and bone changes, managed with your physician.
Muscle guarding and trigger points
Muscles around the joint tighten and refer pain into it.
Weakness
Weak muscles transfer more load to the joint.
Nerve sensitivity
Long-term pain makes nerves more reactive.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your X-rays, orthopedic notes, injections and any joint replacement plans.
Joint and movement testing
Range of motion, walking, stairs and sit-to-stand testing.
Muscle mapping
Assessment of the muscles around the knee or hip.
Strength screen
Dr. Gordon checks the strength that supports the joint.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- A joint that is hot, red and swollen, especially with fever
- Inability to bear weight or use the limb after an injury
- Visible deformity after a fall or injury
- Sudden swelling after a pop or twist
- Calf pain and swelling, which can signal a blood clot
- Numbness, coldness or color change in the hand or foot
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for knee and hip osteoarthritis, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases trigger points in the muscles around the arthritic knee or hip that add pain and stiffness.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture around the joint to calm arthritis pain.
See all servicesBetween visits
Activity Plan & Team Coordination
Activity pacing and strengthening guidance, coordinated with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"For anyone considering these treatments, I have severely bulging disks in my neck and osteoarthritis in my knees. The treatment helps tremendously with pain. No medications necessary."
Amy Downs, Google Review
Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Questions
Answers About Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
Often yes. Muscle-driven pain can be reduced even with advanced arthritis.
Some people delay surgery with conservative care. Your orthopedist can discuss timing.
Yes, once cleared by your surgeon. Dr. Gordon avoids the implant and treats the surrounding muscles.
Yes. Staying active and strengthening are key parts of arthritis care.
Many people improve within six to ten sessions, with periodic maintenance if helpful.
Acupuncture is widely used for knee and hip arthritis pain alongside medical care.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For knee and hip osteoarthritis, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioFurther Reading
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From the blog: which type of shockwave reaches your injury, and four questions to ask before you book.
Hip Arthritis or Muscle Pain? How to Tell the Difference
From the blog: Hip arthritis and hip muscle pain can feel alike. Where each one tends to hurt, why X-rays and pain often disagree, and why many people have both at once.
Pain After a Hip or Knee Replacement: When Recovery Stalls
From the blog: Some pain after a hip or knee replacement is expected. When it lingers, your surgeon checks the joint first. Muscles, scar and nerves can also be involved.
Book an Evaluation for Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis
Book a full evaluation with Dr. Gordon and address the muscle side of your arthritis pain.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
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