Why ChatGPT Can’t Fix Your Knee Pain

In a world where information is everywhere, it’s tempting to turn to tools like ChatGPT or online searches to “diagnose” pain. I've encountered more and more people trying to solve their body issues through AI or internet advice—but your body doesn’t work like a search query. No algorithm can see how you move, feel your tissue quality, or understand how your hips and spine coordinate under load. True recovery and performance improvement require human observation, skilled hands, and an in-person assessment that sees the whole picture.

I truly believe that pain is rarely a single-part problem. Too often, traditional medical evaluations zoom in on the sore spot—a knee, a shoulder, a low back—without asking why that tissue is under stress. Our approach at VeloFit flips that script: we look for patterns, not just parts.

Moving Beyond the Site of Pain

Pain is often the symptom, not the source. A cyclist’s knee discomfort might originate from hip mobility restrictions, poor core control, or even cleat alignment. Treating the knee alone may quiet the pain temporarily, but the underlying movement dysfunction remains—ready to flare up again. By analyzing movement patterns, we uncover the chain reactions that caused the issue in the first place.

The body is interconnected and it works together!

The Functional Movement Lens

Guided by the functional movement philosophy, we evaluate how your body works as an integrated system. Instead of isolating joints or muscles, we ask:

• How does your pelvis move when you hinge at the hips?

• Does your spine and rib cage allow full rotation, or is your shoulder compensating?

• Are your feet providing a stable base, or is poor ground contact affecting your entire kinetic chain?

We use hands-on assessments, markerless motion capture, and real-time feedback to observe these patterns. This big-picture lens ensures we’re not just chasing pain but improving your overall function and resilience.

Identifying Compensations and Root Causes

Compensations are clever—but costly. Your body will borrow movement from anywhere it can to keep you going. Over time, these shortcuts overload tissues and lead to breakdown. By mapping out your movement patterns, we can pinpoint the why behind your pain:

• Cycling example: Limited hip extension might cause excessive rocking on the saddle, leading to low-back or knee pain.

• Running example: A stiff ankle can shift impact forces to your knee, resulting in patellar irritation.

Personalized, Whole-Body Solutions

I wrote this post because lately, I’ve noticed more people turning to AI or ChatGPT to figure out why they hurt — and while I get the appeal, your body doesn’t work like that. Pain isn’t something you can solve online. Every body is unique and comes with different history and background. You need context — how you move, how your body compensates, and what patterns are really behind the pain. That’s where working with someone in person truly matters.

When I work with clients, my goal isn’t to hand over a list of exercises and hope it helps. I want to understand how your whole system is working together — and where it’s not. That's why, if you've worked with me, you know I ask a TON of questions. Literally, I probably spend most of the time asking a thousand questions to get a feel of where you are coming from and what context there is behind your pain. From there, we build a plan that fits you, not just your diagnosis.

That usually means combining:

• Simple, targeted exercises to improve how you move

• Strength work that supports what you actually love doing — riding, running, lifting, whatever it is

• Small bike fit or movement tweaks that make a big difference in comfort and efficiency

• Conversations about what’s happening in your body so you actually understand it

At the end of the day, I care less about “fixing” a single part and more about helping you move better overall. That’s where real, lasting change comes from — and it’s something no algorithm can replicate.