Understanding It
What Knee Pain Is
The knee is a hinge joint carrying substantial load with every step, supported by ligaments, cushioned by cartilage and menisci, and controlled by the muscles of the thigh, hip and calf.
Pain can come from the joint surfaces, the kneecap and its tracking, the menisci, the tendons around the joint, or from load being poorly distributed by the hip, foot or ankle. Knee pain is frequently a symptom of what is happening above or below the knee rather than a problem confined to the joint itself.
How does it usually present?
- Pain at the front of the knee with stairs, squatting or prolonged sitting
- Pain on the inside or outside of the joint with walking or weight bearing
- Stiffness, particularly first thing in the morning or after sitting
- Swelling, either immediate after injury or gradual
- Clicking, grinding or a sense of giving way
- Difficulty kneeling or getting up from a low chair
- Pain that limits walking distance
When to Act
When to Seek Help
See a physiotherapist if pain persists beyond a couple of weeks, limits your walking, or keeps recurring.See your GP promptly if the knee gives way repeatedly, or pain is constant, unrelenting and worse at night.
Seek urgent medical care if you have:
- A red, hot, markedly swollen knee with fever or feeling unwell — this may indicate joint infection and needs same-day assessment
- Inability to bear weight after an injury
- A knee that is locked and cannot be straightened
- Obvious deformity after trauma
- Rapid swelling within an hour of an injury — which may indicate bleeding within the joint
- Calf pain, swelling, warmth or redness — which may indicate a blood clot and needs urgent assessment
Causes & Risk
What Causes It and Who Is at Risk
Common causes include osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain (kneecap-related), meniscal injury or degeneration, tendon problems, and ligament injury following trauma.
Risk is higher with previous knee injury or surgery, sudden increases in activity, occupations involving heavy lifting or kneeling, reduced thigh and hip strength, and carrying additional weight: the knee experiences several times body weight with each step, so weight change has a disproportionate effect.
How We Help
How Our Team Can Help
Our physiotherapists assess the knee alongside the hip, ankle and foot, because load coming from those areas often drives knee symptoms. Assessment covers strength, movement, walking pattern and the specific activities that provoke pain.
Physiotherapy
A progressive strengthening program — the intervention with the strongest evidence for most knee pain, including osteoarthritis — along with hands-on treatment, load and activity modification, and guidance on footwear.
Podiatry
Where foot mechanics are contributing to knee load, our podiatrists can assess and may recommend orthotics.
For osteoarthritis specifically, exercise and load management can help manage symptoms and maintain function; this is recommended as first-line care before considering surgical options.
Starting Out
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your clinician will ask how the pain started, what movements and activities aggravate it, and how far you can comfortably walk. They will examine the knee, test the surrounding muscles, watch how you move and walk, and screen for the warning features above.
You will receive an explanation of the likely cause, initial treatment, and a strengthening program with realistic timeframes. Appointments are available in clinic at Roxburgh Park or in your home.
Ready to book?
Ready to get started?
Contact inOne Healthcare on 1300 765 456 or submit a referral online. Knee pain is most commonly managed by our Physiotherapy team, with Podiatry where foot mechanics are involved.
info@inonehealthcare.com.au
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Funding we accept.
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