When Helen G., a 69-year-old retired teacher and active grandmother from Brooklyn, came to our clinic, she was facing a tough decision: undergo total knee replacement surgery, or try one last attempt at conservative treatment.
Helen had been diagnosed with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis over a year earlier. Daily stiffness, swelling, and bone-on-bone grinding made walking difficult. She had already tried steroid injections, painkillers, and even hyaluronic acid injections—with only temporary relief.
But surgery scared her. She had heard about long recovery times, post-op pain, and risks with anesthesia. That’s when a friend suggested she try our clinic’s integrated physical therapy and acupuncture program.
On her first visit, Helen reported:
Pain level of 7/10, especially with stairs and long walks
Morning stiffness lasting over 45 minutes
Knee “giving out” on uneven ground
Sleep interrupted by throbbing knee discomfort
An orthopedic diagnosis confirmed:
Grade 3–4 osteoarthritis in the left knee
Cartilage loss, joint space narrowing, and osteophytes (bone spurs)
Muscle weakness and reduced range of motion
Despite the severity, she still had functional mobility—and that gave us the opportunity to intervene.
We created a 12-week conservative care plan tailored to her age, joint condition, and activity goals, using:
✅ Acupuncture (2x/week):
To reduce joint inflammation, improve circulation to the knee, and calm nerve irritation.
✅ Manual Physical Therapy:
Hands-on joint mobilizations, soft tissue release, and stretching to improve mobility.
✅ Low-Impact Strengthening:
Using seated, isometric, and resistance band exercises to rebuild quad and hip strength without straining the joint.
✅ Balance & Gait Training:
Focused on walking stability, preventing falls, and stair navigation.
✅ Daily Home Mobility Routines:
Gentle morning warm-ups and evening stretches to ease stiffness and support joint lubrication.
✅ Pain Management Education:
Lifestyle modifications, pacing strategies, and ergonomic adaptations.