About Dr. Hans Knopp, DO — Training, Credentials & Philosophy

Philosophy

Function over pain scores

Dr. Knopp is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine — trained to see the body as a connected system, not a collection of isolated parts. His approach combines hands-on osteopathic diagnosis with his dual board certification in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine.

The goal of treatment isn't a number on a pain scale. It's restoring the ability to do the things that matter — walking without compensation, sleeping without waking, returning to work or sport or life without limitation.

This micropractice exists because Dr. Knopp believes the 15-minute insurance visit doesn't work for complex pain patients. Patients deserve time, direct access, and a physician who examines them — not just reviews their imaging.

Peer-reviewed publications

Board certifications

Years in practice

Training

Education & credentials

2017 — 2018

Pain Medicine Fellowship

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

2014 — 2017

PM&R Residency

Tufts Medical Center, Boston

2009 — 2013

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Rowan University SOM

Board Certifications

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (ABPMR)
Pain Medicine (ABPMR)

Professional Memberships

American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
American Academy of Pain Medicine
Connecticut Medical Society

Licensure

Connecticut state medical license — Active
DEA registration — Active

Practice Model

Why a micropractice

After completing his fellowship at UPMC and practicing within the hospital system, Dr. Knopp recognized a structural problem: the conditions required to practice osteopathic medicine well — thorough examination, hands-on treatment, relationship continuity — are incompatible with a 15-minute scheduling model designed around billing codes, not patients.

The concierge micropractice model is the answer to that problem. With a limited panel and extended appointment times, Dr. Knopp can conduct a complete osteopathic structural exam, administer OMT, review imaging, discuss interventional options, and build the kind of longitudinal relationship that produces better outcomes — all in a single visit, without the clock running against the patient.

This practice operates on direct payment. No insurance intermediaries, no pre-authorization delays, no protocol constraints on how long a visit takes. Initial consultations are 60 minutes. Return visits are 30 minutes. That is what osteopathic medicine requires to work as intended, and it is what this practice is built to deliver.

For patients who need hospital-based procedures — epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, Sprint PNS, or spinal cord stimulation — Dr. Knopp performs those through his affiliation with Hartford HealthCare Pain Treatment Center, bringing the full scope of interventional pain management to patients who also have access to his OMT practice. The two do not compete; they complement.

Scholarship

Research & publications

Dr. Knopp has authored or co-authored 25 peer-reviewed publications across the fields of physical medicine and rehabilitation, interventional pain management, and osteopathic medicine. His research interests center on outcomes measurement and evidence-based approaches to complex pain conditions.

Research areas include neuromodulation outcomes in peripheral nerve stimulation and spinal cord stimulation for chronic neuropathic pain; minimally invasive interventional approaches to failed back surgery syndrome; regenerative medicine applications in joint preservation and degenerative conditions; effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment for musculoskeletal pain and functional limitation; and quality-of-life metrics in pain rehabilitation.

He has presented research at national meetings of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Academy of Pain Medicine. A comprehensive bibliography is available upon request. Dr. Knopp's publications can also be accessed through PubMed by searching for "Knopp H" in the physical medicine, rehabilitation, and pain medicine literature.

Ongoing clinical research continues to inform his practice — particularly the intersection of OMT and neuromodulation, and the role of structural osteopathic assessment in identifying candidates for regenerative procedures before committing to more invasive intervention.

Education

Academic involvement & teaching

Throughout his training and early career, Dr. Knopp has been involved in clinical education and mentorship. During residency and fellowship, he worked directly with medical students and residents, teaching physical examination skills, diagnostic reasoning, and procedural technique in pain medicine and physical rehabilitation.

He maintains a particular interest in osteopathic manipulative treatment education, working with junior residents and physicians to develop proficiency in OMT assessment and treatment for common pain presentations and functional deficits. His approach emphasizes the integration of structural diagnosis with broader rehabilitation goals.

Dr. Knopp is committed to continuing education in emerging neuromodulation technologies and pain management techniques, ensuring his practice reflects current evidence and innovation. This commitment to lifelong learning extends directly to patient education — the blog, frequently asked questions, and detailed case discussions on this site are part of his philosophy that informed patients make better treatment decisions and achieve better outcomes.

Hans Knopp, DO