About ActiveCare Physical Therapy®
The Best Physical Therapists in NYC
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Our therapists are licensed in New York State and active members in the American Physical Therapy Association. We have advanced training in joint mobilization and myofascial release techniques.
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We are dedicated practitioners with a passion for the profession and a comprehensive, holistic approach to treatment and healing. We treat each patient as an individual and treat the whole person, with a plan of care designed to meet the patient’s set goals for health, functionality and a return to work, tasks and activities. We network with a team of physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists in order to provide guidance to other modalities that may be effective in the patients’ care. We also offer superior Telehealth services for physical therapy.
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Physical Therapist and owner Dr. Karena Wu PT, DPT, OCS is a graduate of the Program in Physical Therapy at Columbia University and is affiliated with several healthcare organizations in New York City. She is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Kinesio Taping Practitioner and Pilates Instructor, and uses SpiderTech Taping. She is also a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Graston Technique Specialist and Pilates Instructor. She holds LSVT BIG, FMS and SFMA Level 1 certifications as well. Dr. Wu also specializes in vertigo and temporomandibular joint disorders.
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ActiveCare is primarily an out-of-network facility. We accept all insurance with out-of-network benefits and file for most major insurance plans. We work with all prospective patients to create workable payment plans regardless of insurance coverage.
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ActiveCare accepts Medicare, No-Fault and Workers’ Compensation patients depending on schedule availability.
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ActiveCare’s administrators provide seamless and efficient concierge-style client service to all of our patients. And the whole ActiveCare team makes sure your time with us is a beneficial, productive and enjoyable experience.
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Category Archives: Best Physical Therapist for Knee pain
Physical Therapy for Knees
Do you need physical therapy for your knees? Did you recently have surgery or hurt your knee? Or is your knee getting stiff or achy due to arthritis? In any way, you will not feel like getting up and moving your joint. But mostly, doctors suggest physical therapy for such knee conditions. Physical therapy can restore your strength and show you a way to the road of recovery.
Physical therapy, or rehabilitation, can ease you from joint and muscle pain. A licensed and professional physical therapist will use various methods to strengthen your muscles, make your body move, and feel good. Here are some of the methods that a Physical therapist might try on you:
- Joint Mobilization
- Soft Tissue Mobilization
- Limitations Assessment
- Strengthening Exercises
- Stretches for Flexibility
- Kinesio Taping for Stability
- Ultrasound massage
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When you follow the instructions of physical therapists, there are chances that you can reduce your pain and might not need any surgery to recover.
Doctors might also suggest a few weeks of physical therapy after you are done with your operation to recover faster. Your doctor will recommend a physical therapist, or you can contact us to visit a professional physical therapist at our clinic.
Symptoms of Knee Pain
The severity and location of your pain may vary, and depends on what causes you the pain. You can find some symptoms and signs for knee pain below:
- Inability to keep your knee straight
- Crunching or popping noises
- Weakness or instability
- Warmth and redness to the touch
- Stiffness and swelling
Physical Therapy for Knees: Causes of Knee Pain
You may be having knee pain due to mechanical problems, injuries, different types of arthritis, and many other problems. Here are some common reasons for developing knee pain:
1. Injury
A knee injury can damage your tendons, ligaments, bursae (fluid-filled sacs) surrounding your knee joint, and your ligaments, cartilage, and bones forming the joint. Here are some common knee injuries:
- ACL Injury: This condition is common because people who play soccer, basketball, or any other sports need sudden direction.
- Fractures: The kneecap breaks while falling or because of a vehicle collision. If you are experiencing osteoporosis, you may get a knee fracture by just stepping wrong.
- Torn Meniscus: The meniscus comprises of tough cartilage and acts as a shock absorber because of rubbery nature. If you bear weight on your knee and twist, there are chances that meniscus tears up.
- Knee Bursitis: Due to some knee injuries, you may feel inflammation in the bursae. Bursae are the small sacs containing fluid and cover the knee joint. It helps in sliding ligaments and tendons smoothly over the joint.
- Patellar Tendinitis: Tendinitis is inflammation and irritation of tendons. Tendons are fibrous and thick tissue attaching bones to muscles. Cyclists, skiers, runners, and those involved in jumping activities and sports may suffer from this condition.
2. Mechanical Problems
Here some of the mechanical problems leading to knee pain:
- Loose Body
Sometimes degeneration or injury of cartilage and bone can cause you to break off your cartilage or bone and float in the spaces of your joint. This will not affect anything until the loose body interferes with the movement of your knee joint. The effect in this condition is as safe as a pencil stuck in the hinge of the door. - Iliotibial Band Syndrome
This occurs when your tissue’s tough bands extend to the outside of your knee or iliotibial band from outside the hip and become tight. They start to rub against the outer part of your femur. Cyclists and distance runners are more likely to develop iliotibial band syndrome. - Hip or Foot Pain
If you are suffering from foot or hip pain, your walking style may change to cope with the joint pain. However, this alteration will exert more pressure on your knees joint. In some of the cases, problems due to the foot or hip can cause knee pain. - Dislocated Kneecap
This happens when the patella, a triangular bone covering the front of the knee, slips off to one side. In many cases, the dislocation stays displaced and visible.
How Can a Physical Therapist Help You?
After consulting a surgeon about your condition, a physical therapist will tell you the extent of activities you should perform depending on the condition of your knee (for example, total knee replacement) you are suffering from. A physical therapist and surgeon might also involve you in physical therapy before surgery to increase your motion and strength. This may sometimes help you in recovering after surgery.
After the surgery, the physical therapist will design a rehabilitation program, especially for you, to quickly gain endurance, movement, and strength and return to your daily activities.
Call Top NYC Physical Therapists Activecare Physical Therapy ©
Contact Activecare PT at (212) 777-4374 to schedule an appointment. Visit our website for more details.
Activecare Physical Therapy ©
29 West 38th Street
Suite 601
New York, NY 10018
(212) 777-4374
staff@bestptnyc.com
What You Need to Know About a Meniscal Tear
The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped piece of cartilage that cushions each of your knees. Each of your knees has 2 menisci and together they act to absorb shock and stabilize the knee joint. The meniscal tear, a common injury is also known as torn cartilage in the knee. It can affect anyone—from the average individual to the elite athlete. Most people experience a meniscal tear usually when they twist or turn quickly on a bent knee, often with the foot planted on the ground.
When a person has a meniscal tear they might feel a sharp, intense pain in the knee area or even hear a “pop” or a tearing sensation. Most people with a meniscus tear have difficulty walking because of pain. Other symptoms include difficult straightening the knee or swelling within the first 24 hours of injury.
Getting a Diagnosis of a Meniscal Tear
Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation that includes a detailed review of your injury, your symptoms, and your health history. Additionally, special tests will be used to measure the range of motion in your knee and tests that apply pressure to the meniscus to determine whether it appears to be damaged. Depending on the results, your physical therapist may require further diagnostic tests—such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging—or a referral to an orthopedic surgeon for consultation.
Pain control for a Meniscal Tear
Your physical therapist may use ice and compression to control pain and swelling. These treatments can also be used at home. Swelling is an important “guide” during your rehabilitation. An increase in swelling could indicate that you are doing too much. If you experience an increase in swelling you will need to have your program or activity level modified.
Your physical therapist may use a treatment called neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and design special exercises to maintain your strength during recovery and help restore full movement to the knee.
Treatment for a Meniscal Tear
Some patients have serious meniscal tears, or don’t respond to a course of physical therapy may require surgery. Menisectomy involves surgically removing the torn cartilage and is usually a simple procedure that requires a brief course of physical therapy treatment. Most patients are can return to their previous level of physical activity, including sports, in less than 2 months. Other options for a meniscal tear includes repair or removal.
How to Choose a Physical Therapist
Physical therapists have the education, training and experience to treat a variety of conditions or injuries. When choosing a physical therapist, consider one that is experienced in treating people with orthopedic problems and is a board-certified clinical specialist or who completed a residency or fellowship in orthopedic physical therapy.
When you’re looking for a physical therapist get recommendations from family, friends or referrals from your primary health care provider. When making an appointment, ask about the physical therapist’s experience in helping people with a meniscal tear.
Physical therapy will help you properly recover from a meniscal tear. Don’t delay getting treatment as it may cause further damage to your injury. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best physical therapist in NYC.
Physical Therapy for Knee Pain
Everyone knows where their knees are, but not all the different parts of the knees. Knee area hinge joints that are comprised of the tibia (shin) and the femur (thigh). The patella, or kneecap, is located in the front of the knee, is supported by four ligaments and also has two shock absorbers, a meniscus, within the knee.
Pain in the knee can happen when the knee is exposed to repetitive trauma, strain, an injury or for no apparent reason. Most people report knee pain after a fall or car accident. Knee pain makes it very difficult to do everyday activities such as walking, rising from sitting or going up or down a flight of stairs.
If your knees are feeling bad, a physical therapist can determine if the pain is acute, sub-acute, or chronic in nature to help guide proper diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, the location of your knee pain can help determine which part of the knee is injured or damaged to help ensure the best possible treatment.
A good way to reduce inflammation and pain in the knee is to apply the R.I.C.E. principle (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). After a few days of R.I.C.E., you can begin to resume moderate activities. When R.I.C.E does not help or pain persists for more than a few weeks, a physical therapist should be consulted to ensure proper diagnosis and management.
Physical Therapy for Knee Pain
During your first visit, your physical therapist will interview you to gather information about the history of your problem, your current knee pain complaint and about any past medical history. From the information gathered during the history, a focused examination will be conducted that may consist of several sections including, but not limited to:
Gait evaluation
- Palpation
- Range of motion measurements
- Girth or swelling measurements
- Strength measurements
- Other special tests
After a detailed examination has been completed, your physical therapist can use the information collected to help you to initiate the correct treatment. Most patients are required to perform exercises at home as well. It is very important for you to be active and engaged in the program in order to recover and avoid further injury.
Knee Pain: Extra Care May Be Needed
Some patients need supportive aids such as crutches, brace or a cane, until they are able to walk on their own. Using these devices properly during physical therapy is essential to avoid further injury to the knee.
Always check with your physician or physical therapist if your knee pain is severe or lasts more than a few weeks. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best physical therapist in NYC.
Physical Therapy for Knee Pain
Physical Therapy for Pain in the Knee
Almost every individual will suffer through some degree of knee pain throughout their lives, with chronic arthritis of the knee the single largest cause of chronic disability in Americans older than 65. Whether caused by arthritis, overuse of the muscles, a sprain or strain of the knee, or foot pronation while running (an inwards curl of the foot during movement that can result in improper weight balance) knee pain is something that affects every aspect of the body. There is good news regarding your knee pain: In many cases, it is entirely avoidable. Treatment of knee pain through physical therapy (PT) and exercise can be just as effective as invasive procedures, as proven by trials by Harvard Medical School and as published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Working on the muscles that support your knee with PT to strengthen and stretch them can provide a large degree of pain relief and help to lengthen their health. Our therapists are very capable of teaching preventative and maintenance techniques that can improve the strength of these muscles.
Treating Knee Pain with Physical Therapy
The exercises your therapists will have you performing are gentle movements to relax the muscles of the knee joint in order to provide pain relief. PT will focus on improving the range of motion of your knee while reducing pain in order to restore function to your knee. Our therapist will also teach you how to avoid knee pain during your treatment by showing you how to quell your pain symptoms, such as with a warm compress or the use of a topical agent. Your therapist will likely ask you what your common day-to-day activities are and explain ways to perform them without placing excess strain upon your knee.
Physical Therapy following Surgery
For patients who have had to undergo surgery due to a muscle tear or severe arthritic damage to the knee, PT is used as part of the recovery process. Depending on the cause of your knee pain, it may be possible to entirely avoid surgery through the use of physical therapy. Contact us today to rid yourself of problematic knee pain. 
Best PT NYC Karena Wu featured in Dessert Professional Magazine–Knee Knowledge
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ActiveCare Physical Therapy, PC
29 West 38th Street
Suite 601
New York, NY 10018
