Abstract
A 45-year-old male patient with a medical diagnosis of chronic bilateral knee osteoarthritis and pain was seen for outpatient physical therapy for 8 treatment sessions over an 8-week period. Treatments were provided by a student physical therapist under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The patient was examined during the initial encounter with goniometry, manual muscle testing, functional squat, and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The Western Ontario & McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Patient-Specific Functional Scale patient-reported outcome measures were also used. A plan of care was established to address impairments in pain, functional knee range of motion, strength, and muscle length, limitations in all weight-bearing activities, and limitations in activities of daily living and participation at work. The primary goals for the patient were to decrease pain, improve strength, range of motion, and muscle length, and optimize lower extremity mechanics and functional capacity. The primary interventions incorporated in this plan of care were manual therapy passive mobilizations to the bilateral patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joints, progressive therapeutic exercise, functional retraining, and patient education. The patient achieved meaningful and detectable change in pain levels, functional knee range of motion and strength, and body mechanics in all functional activities. The patient was discharged with full independence in his prescribed home exercise program and no restrictions in work or activities of daily living to continue living independently with his family.