Knee pain

Knee pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints, affecting people of all ages and activity levels. Whether it develops gradually or follows an injury, knee pain can have a significant impact on everyday life, making activities such as walking, climbing stairs, kneeling, squatting and exercising uncomfortable. It can also prevent participation in sport and other physical activities that are important for both physical health and mental wellbeing.

Many people stop exercising when knee pain develops for fear of causing further damage. However, in many cases this can lead to reduced strength and conditioning, making the knee less able to cope with everyday demands. With the right advice, carefully graded exercise programme and appropriate management of training loads, it is often possible to reduce pain and gradually return to the activities you enjoy.

Knee pain commonly develops when activity levels increase, such as starting a new exercise programme, increasing running mileage, returning to sport after a break, or performing repeated squatting, jumping or lunging activities. It may also develop following a twist, fall or direct injury, or as part of age-related changes such as osteoarthritis.

Because the knee sits between the hip and the foot, problems elsewhere in the body can contribute to increased stress at the knee. Reduced hip strength, stiffness in the ankle, altered foot mechanics and changes in movement patterns can all influence how forces are transmitted through the joint. Identifying and addressing these contributing factors is often an important part of successful treatment.