Knee Pain Physical Therapy
in El Paso, TX

Dr. Cisneros most often prescribes a progression that rebuilds the muscles supporting the knee. Quad sets and straight-leg raises build quadriceps strength. Clamshells and fire hydrants strengthen the glutes and steady the knee from the hip. Eccentric step-downs, step-ups and proper squat mechanics restore controlled loading. The right exercises and dosage depend on what's actually driving your pain, so he builds an individualized program after a one-on-one exam rather than handing out a generic sheet.

The key is eccentric loading — emphasizing the slow lowering phase of a movement builds strength while keeping symptoms in check. Dr. Cisneros commonly uses the leg press or leg-extension machine with a controlled 3-second eccentric (lowering) phase, progressing the load gradually as the knee adapts. Sharp or worsening pain means scale back, not push through. At Solas PT, he calibrates the eccentric loading to your specific knee so you get stronger without flaring it up.

In many cases, yes. Research consistently shows that PT is as effective as surgery for conditions like meniscus tears and mild ACL sprains in non-athletes. Dr. Cisneros will give you an honest assessment of whether PT alone is the right path for your situation.

Full return to sport after ACL reconstruction typically takes 9–12 months. However, with high-quality one-on-one PT that progresses you based on objective criteria, many patients return faster and with lower re-injury risk than with standard clinic care.

Not necessarily. Dr. Cisneros can often determine the diagnosis through a thorough clinical assessment. If imaging is warranted based on your presentation, he'll refer you for the appropriate study.

Absolutely. Dr. Cisneros is a former CrossFit coach with a deep background in barbell movements and Olympic weightlifting. He understands the demands of your sport and will get you back to training — not just tell you to stop.

In El Paso, Solas Physical Therapy offers one-on-one knee pain treatment including manual therapy, dry needling, therapeutic exercise, and movement retraining with Dr. Andrew Cisneros, PT, DPT, MS. Treatment is tailored to the specific cause — whether that's runner's knee, meniscus irritation, ACL recovery, arthritis, or post-surgical rehab. No referral needed. Located at 300 N Resler Dr, Ste F, El Paso, TX 79912. Call (915) 318-7381.

Most often it's a strength and control problem, not damage. On each step down, your quad has to slow your body on one bent leg (eccentric loading). If that muscle can't control the load, stress shifts to the front of the knee — the pattern behind patellofemoral pain (runner's knee). Stairs load the knee at 3–6 times body weight, and weak hip abductors add to it by letting the knee drift inward. Dr. Cisneros fixes it with progressive single-leg strength: partial pistol squats off a box, 3-second eccentric single-leg squats, and dumbbell front-rack reverse lunges, 2–3 sets of 6–10 reps per leg, 2–3 times a week. Mild discomfort (3/10 or less) that settles by the next day is OK; sharp or worsening pain should be evaluated. Watch the 17-second demo above ↑

Knee pain while running is most often runner's knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome) or IT band syndrome — both caused by overuse, weak hip muscles, or poor running mechanics. At Solas PT in El Paso, Dr. Cisneros identifies the specific pattern and corrects it through hip and quad strengthening, gait retraining, and dry needling when appropriate. Most runners return to full training within 4–8 weeks.

Runner's knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome) is irritation where the kneecap rests on the thighbone. The usual triggers are overuse, weak hips and glutes, a tight IT band or quads, or poor foot mechanics. The kneecap tracks incorrectly under load, creating friction and pain. It is highly treatable with targeted physical therapy — no surgery required in the vast majority of cases.

Yes — and surgery should be a last resort for most knee conditions. Physical therapy has strong evidence for treating meniscus tears, ACL sprains, patellofemoral syndrome, and even moderate osteoarthritis without surgery. At Solas PT in El Paso, Dr. Cisneros has helped many patients avoid recommended knee surgery through targeted manual therapy, progressive strengthening, and dry needling. A thorough evaluation will determine whether your condition can be resolved conservatively.

It depends on the cause. Runner's knee and IT band syndrome often resolve in 4–8 sessions over 4–6 weeks with targeted hip and quad strengthening. Meniscus irritation typically responds in 6–10 sessions. Post-surgical ACL rehab takes 4–9 months for return to sport. Dr. Cisneros will give you a realistic timeline after your first evaluation.

Yes — physical therapy is the recommended first-line treatment for most knee pain. A physical therapist identifies the specific cause (structural, muscular, or biomechanical) and treats the root issue rather than just managing symptoms. At Solas PT in El Paso, Dr. Cisneros performs a full movement assessment and builds a targeted plan. No referral required — you can book directly and start this week.

No. Texas is a direct access state — you can see a licensed physical therapist for knee pain without a doctor's referral. At Solas PT in El Paso, you can begin without a referral or prior authorization. Texas direct access covers the first 30 consecutive calendar days. A referral is only needed if care continues past that. Call (915) 318-7381 or book online at solaspt.com to start treatment this week.

Yes. Physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for knee osteoarthritis. Targeted strengthening of the quad and hip muscles reduces load on the joint, manual therapy improves mobility, and movement retraining reduces daily wear. Research shows PT produces outcomes comparable to cortisone injections — without the tissue degradation. At Solas PT, treatment is adapted to your level and goals, whether that's pain-free walking or staying active in CrossFit.

The best physical therapist for knee pain is one who identifies what is driving the pain, kneecap, meniscus, ligament or hip control, and builds an individualized strengthening program from a one-on-one exam. Solas Physical Therapy in west El Paso holds a 5.0-star rating across 47 Google reviews. Dr. Cisneros assesses the full kinetic chain — hip, knee, ankle and foot — because most knee pain is driven from above or below the joint. Loading is built around eccentric work, commonly a controlled three-second lowering phase, which builds strength while keeping symptoms in check. Every session is one-on-one with Dr. Andrew Cisneros, PT, DPT, MS for the full 60 minutes — no aides, no double-booking. Solas PT is cash-based and direct-access at 300 N Resler Dr, Ste F, and can usually see new patients the same week with no referral required.