Knee pain has a way of getting in the way of everyday life: stairs, squatting at the gym, running, sport, or simply getting up from a chair. Knee pain can arise from a range of different structures, including the kneecap, tendons, ligaments or the joint itself. Every assessment begins by identifying the likely source of your symptoms, allowing us to develop an individualised management plan tailored to your needs.
Knee pain can have many different causes, and some need different management from others. An assessment helps work out what is contributing to your symptoms and what an appropriate next step looks like.
Your care starts with understanding you, your symptoms and the factors that may be contributing to them. From there, we develop an individualised management plan based on your assessment, needs and goals.
Depending on your presentation, care may include hands-on treatment from our osteopaths, myotherapists or remedial massage therapists, dry needling where clinically appropriate, and a strength and stability program for the knee and the structures around it, including the hip, glutes and ankle. We also look at lifestyle and training factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Which structure is likely involved, how the knee moves and loads, and the training, work or lifestyle factors behind your symptoms.
Hands-on treatment, load management and advice that may assist your symptoms in the short term, without simply telling you to stop moving.
A progressive strength and stability program for the knee, hip and ankle, tracked objectively with VALD strength testing where useful.
A graded return to running, sport, the gym or everyday activity, with checkpoints based on your symptoms, strength and goals.
We do not jump straight to treatment. Care begins by understanding you and the factors contributing to your symptoms, so the management plan we build together is individual to you.
We start with a conversation about your knee pain, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you want to get back to doing.
A movement and physical assessment to understand which structures are involved and the factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
We explain what we found and build an individualised plan. Where appropriate, hands-on treatment may begin in the first appointment.
Clear guidance on rehabilitation, activity and follow-up, and referral for imaging or to another practitioner where that is the right call.
These are some of the more common reasons people see us with knee pain. Each is managed differently, which is why assessment comes first.
Pain around the kneecap that increases with running, stairs or squatting. Common in active adults and often associated with load. Management commonly includes education, load modification and a progressive strengthening program tailored to the individual.
Sprains of the collateral or cruciate ligaments after a twist or contact injury. Ligament injuries range in severity, and some may need referral for imaging or a surgical opinion, which we will discuss with you if appropriate.
Pain at the patellar or quadriceps tendon, often in jumping and running sports. Tendons generally respond to an appropriate, progressive loading program rather than complete rest.
Joint changes that are more common with age, where the knee may feel stiff, swollen or painful with activity. Exercise, weight-bearing strength work and education are commonly part of management.
A presentation in growing, active young people where the patellar tendon attachment on the shin becomes sore with sport. Load management and a graded plan are usually the focus.
Knee pain that has never quite settled after an earlier injury, often with strength, balance or movement differences that can be assessed and addressed.
Our osteopaths commonly manage knee pain and sporting injuries, and people come to us for knee pain treatment from across Melbourne’s south east. Dr Tully Loomes (Osteopath) has a particular interest in knee, hip and sporting injuries and rehabilitation.
For many knee presentations, building strength and stability around the knee, hip and ankle is a central part of management. Your program is tailored to your assessment findings, your goals and the activities you want to get back to.
Where appropriate, we use VALD strength testing to objectively measure strength, compare differences between sides and monitor progress over time. This information can help inform exercise progression and return-to-sport decisions alongside your clinical assessment.
A little background on how the knee is put together can help make sense of your symptoms. Open any section below to read more.
The knee is where four bones meet: the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), fibula and patella (kneecap). Together they form the main knee joint and the joint between the kneecap and the thigh bone, which is why kneecap-related pain and joint-related pain can feel quite different.
Four major ligaments help keep the knee stable. The medial and lateral collateral ligaments sit on the inner and outer sides of the knee and limit sideways movement. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments sit inside the joint and limit the shin bone shifting forward or backward on the thigh bone.
The ends of the femur and tibia are covered in smooth articular cartilage so the joint can glide. Between them sit two C-shaped pieces of tougher cartilage, the menisci, which help distribute load and absorb shock on the inner and outer sides of the knee.
Tendons attach muscle to bone. The quadriceps and patellar tendons connect the thigh muscles to the kneecap and then to the front of the shin, and carry considerable load in running and jumping. On the inner knee, three tendons (gracilis, sartorius and semitendinosus) attach together at the pes anserine, another area that can become sore with load.
Book an appointment at our Wheelers Hill clinic, near Glen Waverley. We’ll take the time to understand your concerns, assess what may be contributing to your symptoms and tailor your care to your individual needs and goals.
