Pain Symptom
Knee Pain
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
Your knee aches going down stairs, squatting, kneeling or after a long walk. Maybe it swells or stiffens, or you were told you have arthritis. The knee sits between the hip and the ankle, and it often takes the blame for problems in the muscles above and below it. Treating those muscles can reduce pain, even when the joint shows wear.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Knee Pain
Knee pain is one of the most common joint complaints. Sources include arthritis, meniscus tears, ligament injuries, patellar tendon irritation and problems with how the kneecap tracks. Your physician may order imaging, especially after an injury or with swelling or locking.
Whatever the structural finding, muscle patterns often shape how much the knee hurts. Tight quadriceps and a stiff IT band increase pressure behind the kneecap. Weak hip muscles let the knee cave inward. Tight calves and hamstrings change how the knee absorbs load. Trigger points in the quadriceps and around the knee can also refer pain into the joint. Many people with arthritis on X-ray still improve with treatment focused on the surrounding muscles.
Dr. Gordon treats the muscles around the knee and hip, and coordinates with your orthopedist or physical therapist.
Knee Pain at a Glance
Common sources
Arthritis, meniscus, kneecap tracking, tendons, muscle trigger points
Common aggravators
Stairs, squatting, kneeling, running, getting up from a chair
Key idea
Muscles above and below the knee shape how it is loaded
With arthritis
Muscle-focused treatment can reduce pain even when the joint shows wear
Key muscles
Quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, hip abductors and rotators
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Knee pain is usually evaluated through imaging of the joint. The muscles that control knee load are often less examined.
What routine testing is looking for
- Arthritis
- Meniscus tears
- Ligament injuries
- Fractures or bone bruises
What often keeps symptoms going
- Quadriceps trigger points that refer into the knee
- Tight IT band and lateral thigh
- Weak hip muscles that let the knee cave
- Tight calves and hamstrings
- Kneecap tracking from muscle imbalance
These are found 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.
Pain on stairs
Especially going down.
Pain squatting or kneeling
Pain with deep bending.
Stiffness after sitting
Stiffness getting up after sitting.
Swelling
Puffiness around the knee.
Pain with running or walking
Aching during or after activity.
Clicking or grinding
Noises with movement.
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.
Muscle trigger points
Quadriceps trigger points refer pain into the knee joint.
Hip weakness
Weak hip muscles change knee alignment.
Tight calves and hamstrings
These change how the knee absorbs load.
Joint changes
Arthritis and meniscus changes, managed with your orthopedist.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Knee Pain
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.
- 1
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your imaging, physician or physical therapy notes, medications and past treatments so he knows what has been ruled out and what has already been tried.
- 2
Knee joint screen
Tests for ligament, meniscus and kneecap involvement.
- 3
Muscle mapping
Assessment of the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and IT band.
- 4
Hip and movement testing
Squat, step and single-leg testing with hip strength.
- 5
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 pain, chosen from your exam findings.
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases quadriceps, hamstring, calf and hip muscles that load the knee and refer pain into it.
See all servicesNeuro-Functional Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture around the knee to calm joint pain.
See all servicesKnee Plan & Team Coordination
Activity and strengthening guidance, coordinated with your orthopedist or physical therapist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
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.
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
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
I have seen Dr. Gordon for back pain, knee issue and most recently foot pain and I have to say every single time I visit the very next day I'm back to resuming my very active lifestyle.Judy Castellanos, Google Review
Knee Pain Questions
Answers About Knee Pain
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
Before You Book
General Questions
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 bioBook an Evaluation for Knee Pain
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