Abstract
A 15-year-old female with knee plica syndrome was seen physical therapy for 16 sessions over an 8-week period at a private practice outpatient clinic. Treatment was performed by a physical therapist student under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The patient was evaluated at the initial encounter with manual muscle testing, the numeric pain rating scale, and the lower extremity functional scale. A plan of care was established to address lower extremity muscle weakness, pain, limitations in functional activities, and the inability to play sports without restrictions. Main goals for the patient were to improve strength, reduce pain, and return to full participation on her school basketball and volleyball teams without pain. Main interventions used were therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activities, neuromuscular reeducation, and task-specific training. The patient achieved the goals of increasing muscle strength and decreasing pain however she did not obtain the goal of returning to sport without pain. The patient was discharged to home with a home exercise program.