Hip & Knee Pain in Frisco and Dallas, TX

Hip and knee pain can make simple activities like walking, climbing stairs, or getting in and out of a chair feel demanding. Stiffness at night, discomfort with standing, or difficulty with exercise may be signs that your joints and surrounding muscles are not moving or loading as well as they could.

At Ace Physical Therapy and Wellness in Frisco and Dallas, Texas, we evaluate how your hips, knees, and spine are working together, then design a plan to help reduce pain, improve mobility, and support more comfortable daily movement.

Why Hips and Knees Become Painful

Your hips and knees share many muscle, joint, and nerve connections and both manage a significant amount of your body weight. Common contributors to pain include:

• Muscle and movement imbalances
  Weakness, tightness, or altered alignment can place extra stress on certain parts of the joint.

• Repetitive loading and overuse
  Activities such as running, jumping, or frequent lifting without adequate recovery can irritate tissues over time.

• Arthritis and age related changes
  Gradual wear of joint cartilage may lead to stiffness, swelling, and reduced motion, sometimes accompanied by bony changes around the joint.

A thorough assessment helps clarify which of these factors are most relevant in your case and how they affect your function.

Treatment Approach at Ace Physical Therapy and Wellness

Care is tailored to your needs and may include:

• Manual therapy and joint mobilization
  Gentle hands on techniques to reduce stiffness, improve joint motion, and address soft tissue restrictions.

• Targeted strengthening and control
  Exercises to support hip and knee alignment, build stability, and improve tolerance for walking, stairs, and other daily activities.

• Gait and movement retraining
  Guidance on more efficient walking patterns, sit to stand mechanics, and strategies for transitioning on and off the floor or stairs.

• Education and long term joint protection
  Recommendations for warm ups, activity pacing, footwear, and home or workplace modifications to reduce joint stress over time.

As you progress, your program is updated to match your goals, whether that is comfortable daily walking, returning to exercise, or managing long standing stiffness more effectively.

Spotlight on Dr. Stephen Fort

Our programs are led by Dr. Stephen Fort, a nationally and internationally recognized expert in advanced physical therapy care. His background spans manual therapy, orthopedics, dry needling, and movement science, allowing him to design treatment plans rooted in the latest clinical research.

• Doctor of Physical Therapy – Texas Tech University

• Orthopedic Certified Specialist

• Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist

• Fellowship in Manual Therapy and Orthopedics – The Manual Therapy Institute

• International educator in manual therapy, physical therapy, and dry needling

Dr. Fort brings a high level of clinical reasoning and hands-on expertise to every service we offer, ensuring patients receive individualized, effective, and research-driven care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do hip and knee pain often occur together?
The hip and knee share many muscle groups and are both influenced by pelvis and trunk alignment. When one area is stiff or weak, other joints may compensate, which can contribute to symptoms in more than one location.

Why does hip pain sometimes travel down the leg?
Structures in the low back, hip, or surrounding soft tissues can irritate nearby nerves, leading to pain that is felt lower in the leg. Your therapist will screen for these patterns and, when needed, recommend coordination with your medical provider.

When should I seek treatment?
If pain or swelling limits your walking, sleep, or ability to manage daily tasks, or if symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, an evaluation can help clarify what is going on and how to address it.

How can I reduce the chance of hip and knee pain returning?
A combination of strength, flexibility, and movement training is often helpful. Your therapist will provide a home program and strategies to support ongoing joint health beyond your time in the clinic.

Take the Next Step

You do not have to navigate hip and knee pain on your own. A focused hip and knee assessment can help you understand what is contributing to your symptoms and outline practical steps to improve comfort and function.

Contact Ace Physical Therapy and Wellness in Frisco and Dallas, Texas to schedule an appointment. We will work with you to design an individualized program aimed at reducing pain, improving mobility, and supporting the activities that are important to you.