FOR LIFTERS, ATHLETES & ACTIVE ADULTS
You Shouldn't Still Have Knee Pain.
We'll Find Out Why.
Most knee pain isn't treated. It's managed. If you've been through physical therapy, injections, or even surgery and the pain keeps coming back — the root cause was never found. That's what we do differently.
Know exactly what's causing it — diagnosed on your first visit
Get back to running, jumping, and training without limitation
Stop the cycle of rest → return → re-injury for good
FOR LIFTERS, ATHLETES & ACTIVE ADULTS
You Shouldn't Still Have Knee Pain.
We'll Find Out Why.
Most knee pain isn't treated. It's managed. If you've been through physical therapy, injections, or even surgery and the pain keeps coming back — the root cause was never found. That's what we do differently.
Know exactly what's causing it — diagnosed on your first visit
Get back to running, jumping, and training without limitation
Stop the cycle of rest → return → re-injury for good
★★★★★
500+ Five-Star Google Reviews
5.0 Rating · Google
Trusted by professional athletes
competing at the highest levels
"Not only do I get stretches, exercises, and techniques to improve my knees, but he is also good at educating me on the why and preventative measures. My knees are getting stronger and better each day!"
— MYRA · GOOGLE REVIEW
★★★★★
500+ Five-Star Google Reviews
5.0 Rating · Google
Trusted by professional athletes
competing at the highest levels
"Not only do I get stretches, exercises, and techniques to improve my knees, but he is also good at educating me on the why and preventative measures. My knees are getting stronger and better each day!"
— MYRA · GOOGLE REVIEW
WHY YOU'RE STILL HURTING
Why Knee Pain Keeps Coming Back
Most knee pain treatment follows the same playbook: ice it, do some quad sets, get some ultrasound, maybe a cortisone shot. If that didn't fix it — try again. Then try surgery.
The problem isn't the treatment. It's that nobody stopped to ask why.
Knee pain in active adults and athletes almost always has a mechanical driver — something upstream or downstream that's been overlooked. Hip mechanics. Ankle mobility. Movement patterns that have been compensating for years. When those are addressed, the knee stops taking the abuse.
You're not imagining it. And you don't have to settle for managing it.
IF YOU'VE ALREADY TRIED:
▲ Generic PT exercises that helped temporarily — but didn't last
▲ Cortisone injections or PRP that gave short-term relief
▲ Knee surgery — and you still have pain
▲ Resting for weeks, only to have pain return the moment you trained again
▲ Being told "just stop running" or "give up squatting"
WHY YOU'RE STILL HURTING
Why Knee Pain Keeps Coming Back
Most knee pain treatment follows the same playbook: ice it, do some quad sets, get some ultrasound, maybe a cortisone shot. If that didn't fix it — try again. Then try surgery.
The problem isn't the treatment. It's that nobody stopped to ask why.
Knee pain in active adults and athletes almost always has a mechanical driver — something upstream or downstream that's been overlooked. Hip mechanics. Ankle mobility. Movement patterns that have been compensating for years. When those are addressed, the knee stops taking the abuse.
You're not imagining it. And you don't have to settle for managing it.
IF YOU'VE ALREADY TRIED:
▲ Generic PT exercises that helped temporarily — but didn't last
▲ Cortisone injections or PRP that gave short-term relief
▲ Knee surgery — and you still have pain
▲ Resting for weeks, only to have pain return the moment you trained again
▲ Being told "just stop running" or "give up squatting"
THE PROBLEM WITH STANDARD PT
What Most Clinics Miss
Insurance-based physical therapy isn't designed for root-cause diagnosis. It's designed for billing codes and visit caps.
1-on-1 Care
Every session is 60 minutes with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. No aides. No techs. No half-attention split between three patients.
Root-Cause First
We don't treat the knee. We treat what's driving the knee pain — whether that's hip dysfunction, ankle mobility, or a compensatory movement pattern that's been loading the wrong tissue for years.
Built for Athletes
We don't discharge you when the pain goes away. We build you back to the performance level you want — with the mechanics to stay there and less risk of reinjury.
THE PROBLEM WITH STANDARD PT
What Most Clinics Miss
Insurance-based physical therapy isn't designed for root-cause diagnosis. It's designed for billing codes and visit caps.
1-on-1 Care
Every session is 60 minutes with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. No aides. No techs. No half-attention split between three patients.
Root-Cause First
We don't treat the knee. We treat what's driving the knee pain — whether that's hip dysfunction, ankle mobility, or a compensatory movement pattern that's been loading the wrong tissue for years.
Built for Athletes
We don't discharge you when the pain goes away. We build you back to the performance level you want — with the mechanics to stay there and less risk of reinjury.
HOW WE WORK
Our Approach to Knee Pain Treatment
01
Find the Real Cause
Before we treat anything, we do a full movement and biomechanical assessment. We're looking for what's driving the problem — not just where it hurts.
02
Build a Real Plan
You get a complete plan of care — 12–16 weeks, built around your specific diagnosis and performance goals. No generic protocol. No cookie-cutter exercises.
03
Return Stronger
We don't stop at pain-free. We train you back to full performance — squatting, running, jumping, competing — with the strength and mechanics to stay there.
HOW WE WORK
Our Approach to Knee Pain Treatment
01
Find the Real Cause
Before we treat anything, we do a full movement and biomechanical assessment. We're looking for what's driving the problem — not just where it hurts.
02
Build a Real Plan
You get a complete plan of care — 12–16 weeks, built around your specific diagnosis and performance goals. No generic protocol. No cookie-cutter exercises.
03
Return Stronger
We don't stop at pain-free. We train you back to full performance — squatting, running, jumping, competing — with the strength and mechanics to stay there.
OUR PATIENTS
Who We Treat
If your knee pain is getting in the way of training, competing, or living the way you want to — this is for you.
We work with serious athletes and active adults who have tried everything else, and are done settling for answers that don't hold. Our patients aren't looking to manage their pain. They're looking to eliminate it — and get back to performing at their best.
■ Barbell athletes with chronic knee pain under load — squatters, powerlifters, Olympic lifters
■ Runners dealing with patellofemoral pain, IT band syndrome, or patellar tendinopathy
■ Basketball players with jumper's knee, meniscus issues, or post-ACL return to sport
■ CrossFit athletes struggling with knee pain during squats, lunges, or box jumps
■ Post-surgical patients (ACL, meniscus, TKR) who feel stuck in their recovery
■ Active adults who want to walk, hike, or play with their kids without pain
OUR PATIENTS
Who We Treat
If your knee pain is getting in the way of training, competing, or living the way you want to — this is for you.
We work with serious athletes and active adults who have tried everything else, and are done settling for answers that don't hold. Our patients aren't looking to manage their pain. They're looking to eliminate it — and get back to performing at their best.
■ Barbell athletes with chronic knee pain under load — squatters, powerlifters, Olympic lifters
■ Runners dealing with patellofemoral pain, IT band syndrome, or patellar tendinopathy
■ Basketball players with jumper's knee, meniscus issues, or post-ACL return to sport
■ CrossFit athletes struggling with knee pain during squats, lunges, or box jumps
■ Post-surgical patients (ACL, meniscus, TKR) who feel stuck in their recovery
■ Active adults who want to walk, hike, or play with their kids without pain
PATIENT OUTCOMES
What Patients Are Saying
★★★★★
Dr. Zaki is a life changer. I had been having issues with my left knee for years. After doing X-rays and jumping through the insurance hurdles to get a MRI done, prognosis was that a microscopic knee surgery could help make my knee “better”… I wasn’t ecstatic about the recommendation of surgery. One day a personal trainer at Lifetime gym said me he had a physical therapist that could help me out. Wanted to try anything but surgery I figured Id’d give it a shot. From the start Dr. Zaki was super comprehensive wanting to learn about my situation, my type of lifestyle to fully tailor a program for me. He broke down what was going on to layman’s terms, easy to process and understand. I was fully in. After only my 1st session, my knee was feeling so much better, that I no longer wore my knee straps to the gym! He incorporated his program into my workouts with tweaks to what I was already doing which made it super easy to stick to it. I can’t recommend Dr. Zaki enough, if you want to get back to normal or better, he is the one!
— Rudy G.
★★★★★
Optimize and Dr Christie have been life changing. I started going to see Dr Christie as a last ditch effort. I was in constant pain in my back hips and knees, I could barely get off the floor. I wasnt even able to work out anymore. Not only did she help get me out of constant pain, and back in the gym, I was actually able to start competing again in the Firefighter Challenge. I’d never would’ve been able to do it without her skills and expertise. I will never be able to thank you enough!
— Jacque P.
★★★★★
Dr. Zaki is amazing!! I was in a motorized vehicle accident while on vacation a couple years ago. The incident caused severe knee pain which made it difficult for me to live a normal life. I eventually had arthroscopic surgery to clear out scar tissue from the area. After surgery, I was told to find a physical therapist. I found one based on convenience of location near my house - which was a big mistake. The office I ended up at did not have one on one attention or concern with what was needed for my healing. After a few appointments, I finally discovered Dr. Zaki (I wish I went to him from the beginning). He is extremely thorough with his work, shows compassion towards his patients, and helps you understand why certain exercises or movements are important for improvement. Because of him I can go back to a normal lifestyle where I don't walk with a limp and I can go up and down the stairs without any issue. Now I'm on track to start running again, which I haven't been able to do in nearly two years!! Thank you, Dr. Zaki!!
— Chelynne T.
★★★★★
I am so fortunate to have found Dr. Zaki and his amazing staff! I've been having issues with my knees the past couple of years. It got really bad earlier this year when I was putting in more dance classes in my schedule (sucks getting old). I have been always told to do more low impact exercises because of my age and body; I lost hope and thought I wouldn't be able to do what I've been doing since I was 5. My husband referred me to Dr. Zaki because he had a great experience. Not only do I get stretches, exercises, and techniques to improve my knees, but he is also good at educating me on the why and preventative measures. My knees are getting stronger and better each day! :)
— Myra T.
★★★★★
Dr Zaki is phenomenal! He kept me healthy and strong through knee, ankle, and foot issues and saw me through my ultra marathon finish! I highly recommend him, especially for runners who want to keep running no matter their age.
— Shannon D.
★★★★★
Dr. Zaki Afzal at Optimize PT has worked wonders with some of the athletes I train! They were bounced around with different, traditional, and outdated physical therapy clinics with little to no resolve in their symptoms. After just a couple of sessions with Dr. Afzal, their knee pain was gone and they were no longer sidelined due to injury. From what I’ve been able to tell, he does an incredible job at understanding the needs of each individual patient and designing an effective treatment plan tailored to them. Thank you Dr. Afzal and Optimize PT for helping my athletes stay healthy and perform at the top of their game!
— Jose L.
PATIENT OUTCOMES
What Patients Are Saying
★★★★★
Dr. Zaki is a life changer. I had been having issues with my left knee for years. After doing X-rays and jumping through the insurance hurdles to get a MRI done, prognosis was that a microscopic knee surgery could help make my knee “better”… I wasn’t ecstatic about the recommendation of surgery. One day a personal trainer at Lifetime gym said me he had a physical therapist that could help me out. Wanted to try anything but surgery I figured Id’d give it a shot. From the start Dr. Zaki was super comprehensive wanting to learn about my situation, my type of lifestyle to fully tailor a program for me. He broke down what was going on to layman’s terms, easy to process and understand. I was fully in. After only my 1st session, my knee was feeling so much better, that I no longer wore my knee straps to the gym! He incorporated his program into my workouts with tweaks to what I was already doing which made it super easy to stick to it. I can’t recommend Dr. Zaki enough, if you want to get back to normal or better, he is the one!
— Rudy G.
★★★★★
Optimize and Dr Christie have been life changing. I started going to see Dr Christie as a last ditch effort. I was in constant pain in my back hips and knees, I could barely get off the floor. I wasnt even able to work out anymore. Not only did she help get me out of constant pain, and back in the gym, I was actually able to start competing again in the Firefighter Challenge. I’d never would’ve been able to do it without her skills and expertise. I will never be able to thank you enough!
— Jacque P.
★★★★★
Dr. Zaki is amazing!! I was in a motorized vehicle accident while on vacation a couple years ago. The incident caused severe knee pain which made it difficult for me to live a normal life. I eventually had arthroscopic surgery to clear out scar tissue from the area. After surgery, I was told to find a physical therapist. I found one based on convenience of location near my house - which was a big mistake. The office I ended up at did not have one on one attention or concern with what was needed for my healing. After a few appointments, I finally discovered Dr. Zaki (I wish I went to him from the beginning). He is extremely thorough with his work, shows compassion towards his patients, and helps you understand why certain exercises or movements are important for improvement. Because of him I can go back to a normal lifestyle where I don't walk with a limp and I can go up and down the stairs without any issue. Now I'm on track to start running again, which I haven't been able to do in nearly two years!! Thank you, Dr. Zaki!!
— Chelynne T.
★★★★★
I am so fortunate to have found Dr. Zaki and his amazing staff! I've been having issues with my knees the past couple of years. It got really bad earlier this year when I was putting in more dance classes in my schedule (sucks getting old). I have been always told to do more low impact exercises because of my age and body; I lost hope and thought I wouldn't be able to do what I've been doing since I was 5. My husband referred me to Dr. Zaki because he had a great experience. Not only do I get stretches, exercises, and techniques to improve my knees, but he is also good at educating me on the why and preventative measures. My knees are getting stronger and better each day! :)
— Myra T.
★★★★★
Dr Zaki is phenomenal! He kept me healthy and strong through knee, ankle, and foot issues and saw me through my ultra marathon finish! I highly recommend him, especially for runners who want to keep running no matter their age.
— Shannon D.
★★★★★
Dr. Zaki Afzal at Optimize PT has worked wonders with some of the athletes I train! They were bounced around with different, traditional, and outdated physical therapy clinics with little to no resolve in their symptoms. After just a couple of sessions with Dr. Afzal, their knee pain was gone and they were no longer sidelined due to injury. From what I’ve been able to tell, he does an incredible job at understanding the needs of each individual patient and designing an effective treatment plan tailored to them. Thank you Dr. Afzal and Optimize PT for helping my athletes stay healthy and perform at the top of their game!
— Jose L.
NEXT STEP
Ready to Find Out What's Actually Causing Your Knee Pain?
Book a free 20-minute consultation call. You'll speak directly with George, our Head of Client Experience to talk through your history, your goals, and whether Optimize is the right fit for you.
No commitment. Just a conversation.
NEXT STEP
Ready to Find Out What's Actually Causing Your Knee Pain?
Book a free 20-minute consultation call. You'll speak directly with George, our Head of Client Experience to talk through your history, your goals, and whether Optimize is the right fit for you.
No commitment. Just a conversation.
CONTACT
Las Vegas: 702.550.9552
Michigan: 248.985.8552
Las Vegas - Maryland Pkwy
9890 S. Maryland Parkway #230
Las Vegas, NV 89183
Las Vegas - Cheyenne
8988 W. Cheyenne Avenue #120
Las Vegas, NV 89129
Bloomfield Township, MI
2378 Franklin Road
Bloomfield Township, MI 48302
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
All information on this website is intended for instruction and informational purposes only. The authors are not responsible for any harm or injury that may result. Significant injury risk is possible if you do not follow due diligence and seek suitable professional advice about your injury. No guarantees of specific results are expressly made or implied on this website.
© Copyright 2026. Optimize Physical Therapy and Performance. All Rights Reserved.