Conditions / Knee Pain

🦵 Knee Pain

Understand the common causes of knee pain, what you can do about it, and when physiotherapy may help.

What is knee pain?

Knee pain can come from everyday wear, an old injury, or overuse. It doesn't always need surgery to improve, and in many cases the right movement and strengthening plan makes a real difference.

Common causes

• Everyday wear and tear (osteoarthritis)
• Ligament or meniscus injury
• Overuse from running or repetitive activity
• Muscle imbalance around the knee or hip
• A previous injury that never fully resolved

Common symptoms

• Pain when climbing stairs or standing up
• Swelling or a feeling of tightness
• A clicking or grinding sensation
• Pain after sitting for a while
• A sense that the knee might give way

When to see a physiotherapist

• Is the knee swollen, unstable, or giving way?
• Does it affect how you walk, climb stairs, or exercise?
• Has it lasted more than a couple of weeks without improving?
• Are you avoiding activities you used to enjoy because of it?

How physiotherapy can help

A physiotherapist can assess what's driving your knee pain — whether it's the joint, surrounding muscles, or how you move — and build a plan to reduce pain and restore strength and confidence in the knee.

Treatment approaches

• Personalised exercise therapy
• Strengthening around the knee and hip
• Balance and stability training
• Manual therapy where appropriate
• Activity modification advice
• Home exercise programme

What to expect at your first visit

Your physiotherapist will typically start by discussing your symptoms and history, then carry out an appropriate assessment. They'll talk through what they find in plain language, answer your questions, and work with you to build an individualised plan — there's no expectation that everything gets fixed in one visit.

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