Knee Pain

About knee pain

From sport and running to everyday activity - physiotherapy can help you understand and manage your knee pain

Knee pain is common in people of all ages, no matter what level of activity they participate in. Sometimes there can be a clear injury, event or change in circumstances that leads to knee pain. At other times it may come on without warning.

Conditions causing knee pain

There are a number of specific conditions that we commonly see in clinic, such as:

• Patellofemoral joint (PFJ) pain – pain arising from the joint between the patella (kneecap) and the end of the femur (thigh bone).
• Patellar tendinopathy – soreness in the tendon that joins the bottom of your patella to the top of the tibia (shin bone); you may have previously heard the term tendinitis
• Osgood-Schlatter disease – pain at the site where the patellar tendon attaches to the tibia
• Osteoarthritis (OA) – degenerative wear of the knee joint cartilage, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced function, most common in older adults
• Meniscal tear – damage to the C-shaped cartilage discs that cushion and stabilise the knee, often from twisting injuries or degenerative chang
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury – a sprain or tear of the ligament that stabilises the knee against forward and rotational movement, commonly from pivoting or landing injuries.
• Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome – irritation of the thick band of tissue running down the outside of the thigh, causing pain on the outer side of the knee, often in runners.

Causes of knee pain

Acute knee injuries such as cartilage, cruciate or collateral ligament tears are commonly associated with trauma related to daily living, sports injuries and car or bike accidents. The knee is also prone to more chronic conditions such as arthritis, often related to poor biomechanics.

How physiotherapy can help

Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history and conduct a thorough examination of your knee movement, joints and muscles. This can help identify the specific area and nature of your pain, along with other contributing factors, which then guides the best management.

Many of these problems can be significantly improved with:

• Modification of training and playing volume, with pain management strategies to help recovery
• Addressing muscle tightness, muscle weakness or alignment issues
• Knee taping or bracing in certain conditions — used only once a correct diagnosis has been made

In the case of injury-related knee pain, a sports physiotherapist can assist in designing a treatment plan to manage your pain and support a safe return to activity.

What to expect at your appointment

• A detailed discussion of your symptoms, history and goals
• A thorough examination of your knee movement, joints and muscles
• A clear explanation and a plan built around your goals
• Exercises and advice to begin straight away

Related service: Sports Physiotherapy →