What's Causing Your Knee Pain, and How Do You Treat It?

What's Causing Your Knee Pain, and How Do You Treat It?

Knee pain is one of the most common issues seen in clinic, and its causes vary widely from person to person, which is why identifying the specific cause matters more than following generic advice. Left untreated, it often leads to compensation patterns that create secondary problems in the hips, ankles, or opposite leg, alongside longer recovery times. Treatment typically combines hands-on therapy with an exercise programme tailored to strengthening the muscles supporting the knee, since the wrong exercises at the wrong stage can worsen symptoms rather than help them.

How Common Is Knee Pain, and Who Gets It?

Knee pain is one of the most common problems that we see at Relive Physiotherapy in Chester. All sorts of people get knee pain. There is no typical profile, although people who do sport are more likely to get knee injuries due to the nature of what they are doing.

We hate seeing people in pain, but we do love treating knees. The reason for this is that the knee is so complicated and there are so many things that can go wrong with it that it is a physiotherapist's dream. You can see 10 people with knee pain and the causes and conditions can all be different.

What Everyday Issues Does Knee Pain Cause?

When your knee is injured, it doesn't just affect sport. It impacts everyday life in subtle but significant ways. Some of the most common things people struggle with include:

• Walking comfortably without limping or discomfort
• Climbing or descending stairs
• Sitting down and standing up
• Getting in and out of a car
• Sleeping comfortably without pain

These are movements we take for granted until knee pain makes them difficult.

How Does Knee Pain Affect Your Movement?

When you injure your knee, your daily life will change in ways that you can't even imagine. You will start to overcompensate and try to protect your knee by changing the way that you do things. This will lead to other problems, so this is not a long-term solution.

The knee plays a major role in supporting activities such as walking, running, sitting, and climbing stairs. You don't realise how much work your knee does on a daily basis until it becomes painful and begins to limit your movement.

Why Shouldn't Knee Pain Be Ignored?

Knee pain is a warning sign. It is your body's way of telling you that there is a problem and that you need to do something to treat it. Ignore it at your peril.

You would be surprised by the number of people who think that a bit of rest will make it all go away, or that taking painkillers will solve the problem. Painkillers may reduce symptoms temporarily, but once you stop taking them, the pain often returns because the underlying issue has not been addressed.

Runners often try to train through pain. This can sometimes make the original issue worse and may even lead to additional injuries as the body compensates.

What Happens If Knee Pain Is Left Untreated?

Ignoring knee pain can lead to a gradual worsening of symptoms and reduced function. In some cases, it may also contribute to secondary issues due to altered movement patterns. Common risks of delaying treatment include:

• Increased pain and stiffness over time
• Reduced mobility and strength
• Compensation injuries in the hips, ankles, or opposite leg
• Longer recovery times
• Greater difficulty returning to sport or activity

What Does Assessment and Treatment Involve at Relive Physiotherapy?

When you come to see us, we will examine your knee and carry out a number of simple tests to help identify the type and cause of your injury. From there, we will provide a diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan based on your level of pain and functional ability.

Treatment may include a combination of hands-on therapy, ultrasound, and exercise rehabilitation. Depending on the nature and duration of your injury, additional options such as steroid injections may also be considered.

Why Does Exercise Matter in Knee Recovery?

Exercises play a vital role in recovery, as they help strengthen not only the knee itself but also the surrounding muscles that support and stabilise the joint.

These may include muscles in the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. Weakness or imbalance in these areas is often a contributing factor to knee pain and can slow recovery if not addressed properly.

While it is possible to find exercises online, it is important that they are appropriate for your specific condition. Doing the wrong exercises, or performing the right ones at the wrong time, can potentially worsen symptoms rather than improve them.

Don't Delay Treatment

When you injure your knee, it's important not to ignore it, avoid activity entirely, or attempt to push through the pain without guidance.

At Relive Physiotherapy, we help identify the cause of your knee pain, guide you through the recovery process, and support you in returning to the activities you enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is knee pain always caused by sport or injury?

No. While athletes are more likely to experience knee injuries due to the demands of their activity, knee pain affects people of all backgrounds and can have many different causes, which is why an accurate assessment matters.

Should I just rest my knee and wait for the pain to improve?

Rest alone often isn't enough, and relying on it or on painkillers can allow the underlying issue to persist, sometimes leading to compensation injuries elsewhere in the body as you unconsciously protect the knee.

What happens if I keep training through knee pain?

This can make the original issue worse and increase the risk of additional injury, as the body compensates for the pain by altering movement patterns elsewhere.

What does knee pain treatment typically involve?

Treatment is usually tailored to the individual and may include hands-on therapy, ultrasound, and a structured exercise programme, with additional options like steroid injections considered depending on the nature of the injury.

Can I just find knee exercises online?

Exercises need to be appropriate for your specific condition and stage of recovery. Doing the wrong exercises, or the right ones at the wrong time, can worsen symptoms rather than improve them.

About the Author:

Raj Gandhi

Lead Physiotherapist & Independent Non-Medical Prescriber

Raj Gandhi is a Chartered Physiotherapist and co-founder of Relive Physiotherapy, with over 20 years' specialist experience in Orthopaedics, Sports Injuries, and Musculoskeletal Medicine.

He holds a Master's degree in Sports Physiotherapy, a Postgraduate Diploma in Orthopaedic Medicine and Injection Therapy, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Independent Prescribing. Raj has a particular interest in treating back and neck pain, along with a wide range of sports injuries, and has worked as a Physiotherapist for the Commonwealth Games team. He spent over 10 years in the NHS before leaving to establish Relive Physiotherapy and is widely respected among colleagues for his expertise in Injection Therapy and his hands-on, manual approach to treatment.

Raj is a member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Orthopaedic Medicine and Injection Therapy (ACPOMIT), the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP), and the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine (ACPSEM). He also mentors the physiotherapy team at Relive, regularly leading training and supporting their ongoing development.

Outside the clinic, Raj is a father to two girls and enjoys playing tennis, listening to audiobooks, and photography.