Knee
Knee pain
Pain on stairs, after running, or a knee that will not fully bend or straighten.
Photograph: Kampus Production, Pexels
In one paragraph
Knee pain has many causes: the kneecap tracking badly, an irritated tendon, a worn joint, a meniscus tear or a ligament strain. Most respond to physiotherapy once the cause is clear. The assessment looks at the hip and ankle too, because the knee often pays for what happens above and below it.
What you may notice
- 01
Pain going down stairs, squatting or after sitting with the knee bent.
- 02
An ache after running or a long walk that settles by morning.
- 03
The knee will not fully straighten or bend, or it swells after use.
- 04
A feeling of the knee catching or giving way.
The first visit
What is looked at
Range, swelling, strength of the thigh and hip, how you squat, step down and land, and specific tests for the meniscus, ligaments and kneecap; the aim is a named cause and a plan for it.
Treatment
What is done
Settling the joint or tendon first, then strength: quadriceps, hip and calf work progressed week by week, changes to training load, and hands-on treatment where the joint is stiff.
See a doctor first if
A knee that locked, gave way with a pop, swelled within hours of an injury, or cannot take weight needs a doctor’s assessment and possibly imaging before physiotherapy.
The range in question
The textbook full range for a healthy joint, the figure the assessment measures you against.
A patient wrote
Dr. Brijesh is a magician when it comes to treating pain. I’ve visited him multiple times for issues with knee, hand, and wrist pain, and each time he managed to relieve my discomfort completely. I highly recommend him for physiotherapy.
Questions
Is knee pain after 50 always arthritis?
No. Even where an X-ray shows wear, most pain comes from weak muscles and a stiff joint that respond to a strength programme; the assessment tells you what is treatable.
Can I keep running?
Often yes, with a change in distance or surface while the strength work catches up; stopping completely is rarely the answer.
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