When Mark R., a 33-year-old recreational basketball player from Brooklyn, twisted his knee during a weekend game, he thought it was a minor tweak. But after weeks of swelling, limping, and sharp pain every time he pivoted or squatted, he finally sought help.
An MRI confirmed it: a medial meniscus tear—a common injury among athletes, weekend warriors, and even active adults. He was advised by his orthopedic specialist that while surgery was an option, a conservative, non-surgical approach could be successful with the right care.
That’s when Mark came to Brooklyn Pain Doctors clinic, determined to avoid surgery, regain strength, and get back on the court.
During his initial evaluation, our team assessed:
Moderate medial meniscus tear
Swelling and stiffness around the knee joint
Reduced quadriceps strength and knee stability
Limited range of motion and pain with deep flexion
Mark’s goals were clear:
Eliminate swelling and pain
Restore strength, speed, and stability
Avoid surgery if possible
Return to recreational sports safely
To support his recovery and return to sports, we developed a multi-phase treatment plan combining:
✅ Acupuncture (2x/week):
To reduce inflammation, promote healing, and relieve pain—especially after exercise or manual therapy sessions.
✅ Manual Physical Therapy:
To mobilize the knee joint, release surrounding soft tissue restrictions, and restore proper patellar tracking.
✅ Targeted Strengthening:
Focusing on quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, and calf muscles to re-stabilize the knee and prevent reinjury.
✅ Balance and Proprioception Training:
Using BOSU balls, wobble boards, and dynamic drills to rebuild joint awareness and athletic function.
✅ Gradual Sport Reintroduction:
Controlled return-to-play protocol including jumping, cutting, and pivoting drills.