Arthritis Treatment In Alameda
Stay Active. Stay Strong
Arthritis doesn't have to mean slowing down. Whether you're dealing with the ache of knee osteoarthritis on your morning walk along the Alameda Estuary, or the stiffness of hip arthritis that makes cycling the Bay Trail harder than it used to be, OSO Physical Therapy offers expert, one-on-one care that produces real, lasting results.
Our board-certified orthopedic specialists, Dr. Dan Hirai, PT, DPT, OCS and Dr. Ben Fedewa, PT, DPT, OCS, bring a decade each of clinical experience treating arthritic joints at every stage of disease progression.
Arthritis Physical Therapy in Alameda, CA | Knee & Hip OA | OSO Physical Therapy
Arthritis Physical Therapy
in Alameda, CA
Knee or hip arthritis doesn't have to mean slowing down. At OSO Physical Therapy, Dr. Dan Hirai and Dr. Ben Fedewa — both Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists — deliver one-on-one, evidence-based care that gets you back to walking, hiking, cycling, and everything else you love.
About Arthritis & Physical Therapy
Arthritis Doesn't Have to
Define Your Activity Level
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint condition in the United States, affecting over 32 million adults. A diagnosis of knee or hip OA often leads people to believe they need to stop walking, exercising, or doing the activities they love — but the science says the opposite is true.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) all place therapeutic exercise and physical therapy at the top of their evidence-based treatment guidelines for OA — not as a last resort, but as the single most effective intervention available.1,2
At OSO Physical Therapy in Alameda, we build individualized, phased rehabilitation programs grounded in those guidelines. Whether you're managing early-stage OA, preparing to delay surgery, or recovering after joint replacement, we meet you where you are.
Progressive resistance exercise for knee OA has been shown to outperform corticosteroid injections and PRP therapy for pain and function at 6 and 12 months of follow-up.3
What We Treat
Arthritis Conditions We Treat
in Alameda & the East Bay
OSO Physical Therapy specializes in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation. Our arthritis care covers the full spectrum of degenerative joint conditions affecting active adults.
The most common form of OA. We address medial and lateral compartment OA, patellofemoral arthritis, and post-meniscal OA with evidence-based progressive strengthening and load management.
Hip OA causes groin and lateral hip pain that limits walking, stair climbing, and daily activity. We restore hip mobility, strengthen gluteal musculature, and reduce pain with targeted exercise therapy.
Diagnosed with early OA but still running, hiking, or playing sports? We help you stay active safely — modifying load, building strength, and protecting your joint long-term.
Pre-hab before total knee or hip replacement dramatically improves post-surgical outcomes. We also specialize in post-operative rehabilitation for a faster, more complete recovery.
Reducing body weight reduces joint load significantly. We partner with patients on GLP-1 medications to combine weight management with strength training — protecting muscle mass while reducing OA symptoms.
Arthritis is common with aging, but functional decline is not inevitable. Our healthy aging program focuses on building the bone density, muscle mass, and balance needed to stay independent and active for life.
Our Approach
The 4 Phases of Knee OA
Rehabilitation at OSO
We follow a criterion-based, phased rehabilitation model aligned with APTA CPG recommendations. You advance based on what you can do — not just how many weeks have passed.
The first goal is reducing acute pain and restoring comfortable range of motion. We use manual therapy (joint mobilization and soft tissue work) alongside pain neuroscience education — helping you understand why the knee hurts and, critically, why movement is safe. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) activates an inhibited quadriceps. Aquatic therapy is available if land-based activity is too painful early on.
Progressive resistance training begins. Quadriceps weakness is a hallmark of knee OA — and one of the most powerful modifiable risk factors for pain. We target quads, hip abductors, and posterior chain with controlled-load exercises: terminal knee extensions, step-ups, mini-squats, and single-leg progressions. Hip strength is specifically prioritized to reduce medial knee loading. Load is increased by 2–10% when you can complete 14+ reps comfortably.
Load, volume, and exercise complexity increase significantly. Heavier squat variations, Romanian deadlifts, lunges, leg press, and loaded step-down progressions build the true strength the joint needs. RPE targets of 13–16 (Borg scale) guide intensity. Cardiovascular conditioning via cycling or walking is progressed in parallel. At this phase, patients in structured programs consistently show clinically meaningful KOOS improvements over non-exercising peers.5
For patients returning to hiking the East Bay hills, jogging the Alameda Estuary trail, cycling the Bay Trail, or playing recreational sports — Phase 4 provides a safe, graduated return to impact. Research shows recreational running does not accelerate OA in most patients and may be protective compared to inactivity.6 We progress: brisk walk → walk/jog intervals → sustained running → multidirectional movement. A home maintenance program sustains your gains for life.
Soreness during exercise does not mean your knee is being damaged. Pain in OA is largely driven by the nervous system — not by ongoing tissue injury. Moving more, in a smart, graduated way, is what actually helps.— Consistent with APTA CPG and central sensitization research (Karaarslan et al., 2023)
Why OSO Physical Therapy
What Makes Our Arthritis Care
Different in Alameda
We built OSO around one principle: you deserve the undivided attention of the best clinician in the room for the entire session. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Only ~5–6% of physical therapists in the US hold Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) board certification. Both of our clinicians do — meaning deeper diagnostic reasoning and better outcomes for complex cases like OA.
No aides. No double-booked appointments. No "go do your exercises in the corner." Every minute of every session is spent with your therapist — reassessing, progressing, and fine-tuning your care in real time.
Our programs are built on APTA CPG, AAOS, and OARSI guidelines — not tradition or intuition. Progressive resistance, pain neuroscience education, and criterion-based progression are standard in every OA program we deliver.
We operate outside insurance constraints so your treatment plan is dictated by your clinical needs — not by what your carrier will reimburse. We provide superbills for OON reimbursement and accept HSA/FSA.
Inside The Training Station at 1726 Clement Ave — 10 minutes from Downtown Oakland, easily accessible from Berkeley, San Leandro, and across the East Bay.
Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 6 PM. We work around your schedule so consistency — the key to OA rehab outcomes — is never a barrier to care.
Your Care Team
Meet Your Alameda
Arthritis Specialists
An Alameda resident with over a decade of East Bay clinical experience, Dan has treated arthritic joints at every stage of disease — from early-stage OA management through post-arthroplasty return to sport. Board-certified in orthopedics since 2018, he has also undergone multiple surgeries and rehab processes himself, giving him a uniquely personal understanding of the patient experience. Dan works closely with the region's leading orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians.
Dr. Fedewa brings a decade of clinical experience treating orthopedic and sports injuries with a focus on evidence-based care. As a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, he applies the latest research in exercise progression, manual therapy, and rehabilitation science to help patients with arthritis regain strength, confidence, and full function. His approach emphasizes understanding the whole patient — not just the joint.
Serving the East Bay
Arthritis Physical Therapy Near You —
Alameda, Oakland & Beyond
OSO Physical Therapy is Alameda's only out-of-network physical therapy practice staffed entirely by Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists. We serve patients throughout the East Bay.
Visit Us in Alameda
We're located inside The Training Station — a full-service gym facility that gives our patients access to the equipment needed for every phase of arthritis rehabilitation.
Inside The Training Station
Review OSO on Google →
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About
Arthritis Physical Therapy in Alameda
Yes — and the evidence is robust. The APTA, AAOS, and OARSI all place exercise and physical therapy at the top of their evidence hierarchies for knee OA. A progressive strengthening program reliably reduces pain, improves walking distance and function, and in many cases reduces or eliminates the need for surgery or injections. Quadriceps strengthening has even been shown to outperform combined PRP and hyaluronic acid injections at 6 and 12 months of follow-up.
No — this is one of the most persistent myths in musculoskeletal health. Research consistently shows that properly dosed exercise does not damage articular cartilage or accelerate OA progression. In fact, the opposite is true: inactivity leads to muscle weakness, which increases abnormal joint stress. Soreness during exercise is a normal nervous system response, not a sign of harm. A 2023 review confirmed that exercise-related joint loading does not alter cartilage composition in OA patients.
Most patients notice meaningful pain reduction within 3–6 weeks. Significant improvements in strength, walking distance, and daily function are reliably documented at 8–12 weeks. Return to higher-impact activities — hiking, recreational cycling, jogging, pickleball — is realistic at 4–6 months with consistent participation. Timelines vary based on OA severity, fitness baseline, and home exercise consistency.
No. California is a direct-access state, meaning you can begin physical therapy without a physician referral. You can call or contact us directly to schedule your free phone screen, and we'll determine together if OSO is the right fit for your needs.
OSO Physical Therapy is an out-of-network (OON) provider. We provide detailed superbills after each session that you can submit to your insurance for potential OON reimbursement. We accept HSA and FSA payments. Many patients find their OON benefits cover a meaningful portion of their care. Call us at 510-915-1448 to discuss your coverage options before your first visit.
For many patients, yes. A 2023 systematic review found no significant association between recreational running and knee OA progression — and some evidence that recreational runners actually have lower rates of symptomatic OA than sedentary individuals. The key is a gradual, structured return-to-impact protocol guided by your physical therapist. OSO's Phase 4 program is specifically designed to get you back to the East Bay trails, Bay Trail cycling, and recreational sports safely.
Ready to Move Without Pain
in Alameda?
Start with a free phone screen. We'll listen to your story, explain what we can do for you, and get you on the path back to the activities you love — no obligation.
References
- Brophy RH, et al. AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee (Nonarthroplasty), 3rd Ed. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2022;30(9):e721–e729. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-21-01233.
- Bannuru RR, et al. OARSI guidelines for the non-surgical management of knee, hip, and polyarticular osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2019;27(11):1578–1589. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2019.06.011.
- Liu CL, et al. Quadriceps strengthening vs. PRP and hyaluronic acid combination therapy for knee OA. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023. PMC10508439.
- Karaarslan F, et al. Central sensitization in osteoarthritic knee pain: A cross-sectional study. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2023;69(1):20–27. PMC10186014.
- Bricca A, et al. Rehabilitation strategies for the athletic individual with early knee osteoarthritis. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2019;18(10):349–358. PMC6784825.
- Timmins KA, et al. Effects of running on the development of knee osteoarthritis: An updated systematic review. Clin J Sport Med. 2023. PMC9983113.
- Vincent KR, Vincent HK. Resistance exercise for knee osteoarthritis. PM&R. 2012;4(5 Suppl):S45–S52. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.01.019.
