A Holistic Approach from Don Kelly Physiotherapy & Acupuncture
Do you suffer from nagging pain in your hip and knee that appears to be getting worse, not better? Many people mistakenly believe these are two separate issues. After two decades of clinical experience in Limerick and Charleville, Don Kelly Physiotherapy & Acupuncture understands that simultaneous hip and knee pain is a classic sign of a problem further up or down the body’s interconnected chain
At Don Kelly Physiotherapy & Acupuncture, we don’t just treat the sore spots; we find the root cause of the mechanical breakdown to provide lasting pain relief—without relying on endless medications, injections, or unnecessary surgeries
The Kinetic Chain Disruption: From Foot to Hip
The body’s lower half operates as a kinetic chain, where the movement of one joint directly impacts the others. When the hip and knee hurt together, the culprit is often a biomechanical imbalance that has stressed both joints beyond their capacity.
The most frequent source of this misalignment? The feet.
Foot Instability (Flat Feet/Overpronation): If your foot arch collapses, it forces your lower leg to rotate inward.
Knee Stress: This inward rotation immediately places abnormal tension and friction on the knee joint structures.
Hip Imbalance: The chronic misalignment at the knee then travels up, causing muscle imbalances and excessive strain on the hip joint and pelvis.
Over time, this repeated stress can lead to inflammation, severe muscle tension, and the acceleration of Osteoarthritis in both the hip and knee.
Our Integrated Solution
At our Limerick and Charleville clinics, we offer an integrated treatment model that combines the best of Physiotherapy and Acupuncture to address this complex joint pain. This holistic strategy is why we’ve successfully helped thousands of patients avoid surgery over the last 26+ years.
1. Biomechanical Correction with Physiotherapy & Orthotics
Our treatment begins with a precise diagnosis to understand how your body is moving incorrectly:
Initial Assessment: We perform a thorough physical and gait analysis to identify the exact muscle imbalances, stiffness, and alignment issues driving your pain.
Medical Grade Custom Orthotics: If poor foot mechanics are the root cause, we prescribe custom orthotics. These are specifically designed to restore your foot’s natural arch, correct leg rotation, and immediately reduce the abnormal pressure being transferred to your knees and hips.
Targeted Exercise: Personalized physiotherapy programs strengthen weak muscles (especially around the hip and core) and improve joint flexibility, re-establishing proper movement patterns for long-term recovery.
2. Advanced Pain Relief with Acupuncture & Dry Needling
To provide effective, immediate relief and speed up natural healing, we integrate proven techniques from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
| Therapy | Primary Benefit for Hip & Knee Pain |
| Dry Needling | Targets and releases deep, stubborn trigger points (muscle knots) in the hip, buttock, and thigh muscles that cause radiating pain and stiffness in the joints. |
| Acupuncture | Supports the body’s natural healing process by improving circulation, reducing systemic inflammation, and stimulating the release of natural painkillers (endorphins), offering powerful, drug-free relief for chronic pain like arthritis. |
The combination of correcting the structure (Physiotherapy/Orthotics) and relieving the pain and inflammation (Acupuncture/Dry Needling) is what makes the Don Kelly approach so effective for simultaneous hip and knee pain.
Take the First Step Towards a Pain-Free Life
You don’t have to live with the cycle of pain and limitation. If you’re struggling with debilitating hip and knee pain, Don Kelly Physiotherapy & Acupuncture offers a proven path to recovery.
Contact our Limerick or Charleville clinic today to book an Initial Assessment and discover the root cause of your pain.
