Abstract
A patient with anterior knee pain along the patellofemoral joint who experienced pain with running, squatting, and climbing stairs that interfered with her ability to work and attend classes at university was seen for physical therapy treatment. The patient was seen for 12 sessions from June to August of 2017 at an outpatient physical therapy clinic. Treatment was provided by a student physical therapist under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The patient was evaluated at the initial encounter with manual muscle testing, a universal goniometer, the lower extremity functional index, and the numeric pain rating Scale, and a plan of care was established. The main goals for the patient were to improve strength, decrease pain level at rest and during squatting, improve pain during stair climbing and running, and to ultimately have decreased pain during work and school and return to her exercise routine. The main interventions used were isolated strengthening, task-specific strengthening, and education on long term pain management. The patient improved in knee and hip strength, functional movement, and overall pain, and was able to resume her exercise routine, attend the university, and work full-time shifts without significant pain or restrictions. The patient was discharged to continue living at home with a home exercise program and with recommendations for long-term symptom management.