Abstract
A 71-year-old male patient with a medical diagnosis of right knee osteoarthritis was seen for physical therapy for 13 sessions in a 9-week period at an outpatient physical therapy clinic. The treatments were provided by a physical therapist student under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The patient was evaluated at the initial encounter with goniometry, manual muscle testing, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and 30-Second Chair Stand. A plan of care was established to address strength deficits, range of motion impairments, gait deviations, limitations in functional mobility, and restrictions in home maintenance. Main goals for the patient were to walk without a cane, traverse stairs without difficulty, and walk confidently on uneven terrain. Main interventions used were manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and balance training. The patient achieved the following goals: increased lower extremity strength, decreased knee pain with all activities, ambulation without an assistive device, and ability to walk up and down stairs with minimal difficulty. The patient was discharged to his home with independent status, education on symptom modulation, and a comprehensive home exercise program.