Kneecap Pain (Patellofemoral Pain) Treatment in Mineola, NY

MULLIGAN CONCEPT

Kneecap Pain (Patellofemoral)

Kneecap pain, also called patellofemoral pain or runner's knee, is pain around or behind the kneecap that gets worse with stairs, squats, sitting with bent knees and running. At Enhanced Physical Therapy in Mineola, we use Mulligan knee mobilization, Mulligan knee taping and Pain Release Phenomenon to reduce pain, then build hip and thigh strength.

Certified Mulligan Practitioner Over 10 Years of Experience

Our clinics director is a Certified Mulligan Practitioner (CMP) with over a decade
of experience using this evidence-based approach. Each treatment is customized to
your specific diagnosis and movement limitations to achieve optimal outcomes.

Common signs of kneecap pain (patellofemoral)

Pain around or behind the kneecap
Pain going down stairs or squatting
Pain after sitting with bent knees, such as at the movies
Pain running, especially downhill
Grinding without much swelling

What causes it

Increases in training, weak hip and thigh muscles, stiff ankles, foot mechanics and running technique can overload the kneecap joint.

How we examine it

Before any hands-on treatment, we ask about your health and screen for anything that needs a doctor first. We assess the knee, hip and ankle, strength and how you squat, step and run. We test Mulligan glides and taping to see if squatting or stepping becomes less painful.

Mulligan techniques we use

Tibial rotation MWM. A gentle rotational glide of the shin bone during a squat or step.
Mulligan knee taping. Tape that holds the glide during activity.
Pain Release Phenomenon (PRP). For kneecap pain lasting more than six weeks, sustained gentle pressure held until the pain fades. Pain Release Phenomenon, not platelet rich plasma.
Hip and ankle MWM. For stiffness above or below the knee that adds to kneecap load.

What the research says

Randomized trials have found Mulligan knee mobilization, Mulligan knee taping and Pain Release Phenomenon can reduce kneecap pain in the short term. Hip and knee strengthening has the strongest evidence overall, so Mulligan techniques are used to make that exercise more comfortable.

What else is in your treatment plan

Your plan includes manual therapy, taping, hip and quad strengthening, running load changes and technique coaching.

How long recovery takes

Many people improve over 6 to 12 weeks.

When to see a doctor first

Call your doctor, or get urgent care, if you have any of the following:

A knee that locks or gives way
Significant swelling after an injury
Unable to bear weight
A hot, red knee
Knee pain in a child or teen with a limp or hip pain: see a doctor

Kneecap pain (patellofemoral) treatment near Mineola

Enhanced Physical Therapy is at 137 Willis Ave, Suite 100, Mineola, NY 11501, a short walk from NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island. We see patients from Mineola, Garden City, Williston Park, New Hyde Park, Carle Place, Westbury, Albertson and Manhasset, and across central Nassau County.

Frequently asked questions

Should I stop running?

Usually you reduce rather than stop. We set a running plan you can manage.

Why do stairs hurt?

Going down stairs puts high load through the kneecap joint.

What is Pain Release Phenomenon?

A Mulligan technique where gentle pressure or contraction is held until the pain fades. It is not platelet rich plasma.

Does knee taping help?

It can reduce pain in the short term while you build strength.

Written and clinically reviewed by Jacob Kurian, PT, MSPT, CMP, DPT, Certified Mulligan Practitioner, Enhanced Physical Therapy, Mineola NY. Last updated October 14, 2026.

Move Better, Feel Better

If this is limiting your work, sleep or activity, call Enhanced Physical Therapy at (516) 833-5880 to book an evaluation with Jacob Kurian, Certified Mulligan Practitioner. Mulligan treatment may help reduce pain and improve movement, and we will tell you honestly what to expect.