Knee
Pain
Physiotherapy for knee pain, stiffness, weakness and movement difficulties — helping you improve strength, mobility and confidence in everyday movement.
Knee pain can affect simple everyday movement.
Knee pain is a common problem that can occur for many different reasons. It may develop gradually with changes in joint loading, or appear after an injury, sports activity, surgery or another musculoskeletal problem.
Pain may be accompanied by stiffness, swelling, weakness, reduced movement or difficulty walking, climbing stairs, squatting or standing for longer periods.
One important example is knee osteoarthritis, but knee pain is not the same as osteoarthritis in every person. Meniscal problems, ligament injuries, patellofemoral pain, tendinopathy and other conditions can also cause symptoms.
This is why an individual assessment is important before deciding what type of rehabilitation is most appropriate.
Knee pain can show up in many different ways.
Some people experience pain while walking or using stairs, while others mainly notice discomfort during squatting, kneeling, running or longer periods of activity.
Stiffness may make it difficult to fully bend or straighten the knee. Weakness around the thigh and hip can also affect confidence during walking, stairs and other functional activities.
Swelling, clicking, catching or a feeling of instability may also occur depending on the underlying problem.
Sudden severe pain, a major traumatic injury, inability to bear weight, a locked knee, marked swelling or other concerning symptoms require appropriate medical assessment.
Find out what is limiting your knee function.
A physiotherapy assessment considers symptoms, movement, strength and functional limitations. The exact assessment depends on the person's history and the suspected cause of knee pain.
Pain & History
Pain location, onset, aggravating activities, previous injuries, surgery and changes in symptoms are considered.
Knee Movement
Knee flexion and extension are assessed along with movement quality and any restrictions that may affect daily function.
Strength
Quadriceps, hamstrings, hip and other relevant muscle groups may be assessed according to the person's presentation.
Walking & Function
Walking, stairs, sit-to-stand, squatting or other relevant activities may be assessed to understand how knee symptoms affect function.
Individual Goals
Rehabilitation is connected to meaningful goals such as comfortable walking, returning to exercise, improving stairs or getting back to sport.
Treatment depends on what is causing the pain.
There is no single exercise or treatment that is appropriate for every type of knee pain. A rehabilitation programme should be selected according to the diagnosis, symptoms, physical capacity and functional goals.
For people with knee osteoarthritis, clinical guidelines strongly support exercise and self-management as part of non-surgical care. Exercise can be supervised, performed independently or delivered through aquatic programmes. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Build the capacity needed for daily life.
Rehabilitation may focus on improving knee and hip strength, movement, balance and tolerance for everyday activities.
For knee osteoarthritis specifically, neuromuscular training combined with traditional exercise may also improve performance-based function and walking speed. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Exercise intensity can be gradually progressed as strength and tolerance improve.
Stronger legs can make movement more manageable.
Exercise selection depends on the cause and severity of knee symptoms. Depending on the individual, rehabilitation may include strengthening for the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip muscles and other relevant muscle groups.
Functional exercises such as sit-to-stand, step exercises and controlled squatting may be introduced when appropriate. Balance and movement-control exercises can also be useful for selected patients.
The goal is not simply to make the muscles stronger. Rehabilitation aims to improve the knee's ability to tolerate the loads required for walking, stairs, work, exercise and other meaningful activities.
For knee osteoarthritis, AAOS clinical guidance recommends supervised, unsupervised and/or aquatic exercise over no exercise for improving pain and function. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Recovery is about getting back to movement.
A good rehabilitation programme should connect exercise with the activities that matter to you. This may include walking longer distances, climbing stairs, returning to the gym or resuming sport.
Activity can often be modified rather than stopped completely. The appropriate amount of loading depends on the underlying condition and how the knee responds.
As capacity improves, exercises and functional activities can be progressively increased so that the knee becomes better prepared for everyday and recreational demands.
Rehabilitation around your everyday routine.
Home physiotherapy can be useful when knee pain makes travelling difficult or when rehabilitation needs to be integrated into the home environment.
A physiotherapist can assess movement and strength, teach appropriate exercises and modify the programme according to progress.
Home-based exercises can then be continued between supervised sessions to support consistency and gradual progression.
Understand the problem. Build capacity. Move with confidence.
Knee rehabilitation is progressive. The programme should change as pain, strength, movement and activity tolerance improve.
Understand the Knee
Identify the likely source of symptoms and the movements or activities that are currently limited.
Improve Strength
Progress appropriate strengthening and movement-control exercises according to tolerance.
Resume Activity
Gradually increase walking, stairs, exercise, work or sport according to the person's goals and capacity.
Knee pain, explained simply.
Common questions about physiotherapy, exercise and recovery.
Can physiotherapy help knee pain?
Is exercise good for knee pain?
Should I stop walking if my knee hurts?
What exercises are used for knee pain?
Can physiotherapy help knee osteoarthritis?
Does every knee pain need surgery?
Can knee physiotherapy be done at home?
Exercise is an important part of evidence-based knee rehabilitation.
Knee pain has many possible causes, so treatment should not be based on a single generic protocol. For adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends exercise and self-management approaches as part of non-surgical care. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
AAOS specifically recommends supervised exercise, unsupervised exercise and/or aquatic exercise over no exercise for improving pain and function in knee osteoarthritis. Neuromuscular training may also be combined with traditional exercise to improve performance-based function and walking speed. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
These recommendations apply specifically to knee osteoarthritis and should not automatically be applied to every person with knee pain. The underlying diagnosis and individual clinical presentation should guide rehabilitation.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons — Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Clinical Practice Guideline.
View AAOS Guideline →
AAOS — Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline, Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee.
View Full Guideline PDF →
AAOS — Clinical Practice Guideline Overview.
View Guideline Overview →
Move with greater confidence and build a stronger knee.
Individualized physiotherapy for knee pain, stiffness, weakness and movement limitations, with home physiotherapy available.
Research & Sources
AAOS — Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee.
View AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline
AAOS — Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline,
Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee.
View Full Guideline
AAOS — Clinical Practice Guideline Overview.
View Guideline Overview
Knee
Pain
Physiotherapy for knee pain, stiffness, weakness and movement difficulties — helping you improve strength, mobility and confidence in everyday movement.
Knee pain can affect simple everyday movement.
Knee pain is a common problem that can occur for many different reasons. It may develop gradually with changes in joint loading, or appear after an injury, sports activity, surgery or another musculoskeletal problem.
Pain may be accompanied by stiffness, swelling, weakness, reduced movement or difficulty walking, climbing stairs, squatting or standing for longer periods.
One important example is knee osteoarthritis, but knee pain is not the same as osteoarthritis in every person. Meniscal problems, ligament injuries, patellofemoral pain, tendinopathy and other conditions can also cause symptoms.
This is why an individual assessment is important before deciding what type of rehabilitation is most appropriate.
Knee pain can show up in many different ways.
Some people experience pain while walking or using stairs, while others mainly notice discomfort during squatting, kneeling, running or longer periods of activity.
Stiffness may make it difficult to fully bend or straighten the knee. Weakness around the thigh and hip can also affect confidence during walking, stairs and other functional activities.
Swelling, clicking, catching or a feeling of instability may also occur depending on the underlying problem.
Sudden severe pain, a major traumatic injury, inability to bear weight, a locked knee, marked swelling or other concerning symptoms require appropriate medical assessment.
Find out what is limiting your knee function.
A physiotherapy assessment considers symptoms, movement, strength and functional limitations. The exact assessment depends on the person's history and the suspected cause of knee pain.
Pain & History
Pain location, onset, aggravating activities, previous injuries, surgery and changes in symptoms are considered.
Knee Movement
Knee flexion and extension are assessed along with movement quality and any restrictions that may affect daily function.
Strength
Quadriceps, hamstrings, hip and other relevant muscle groups may be assessed according to the person's presentation.
Walking & Function
Walking, stairs, sit-to-stand, squatting or other relevant activities may be assessed to understand how knee symptoms affect function.
Individual Goals
Rehabilitation is connected to meaningful goals such as comfortable walking, returning to exercise, improving stairs or getting back to sport.
Treatment depends on what is causing the pain.
There is no single exercise or treatment that is appropriate for every type of knee pain. A rehabilitation programme should be selected according to the diagnosis, symptoms, physical capacity and functional goals.
For people with knee osteoarthritis, clinical guidelines strongly support exercise and self-management as part of non-surgical care. Exercise can be supervised, performed independently or delivered through aquatic programmes. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Build the capacity needed for daily life.
Rehabilitation may focus on improving knee and hip strength, movement, balance and tolerance for everyday activities.
For knee osteoarthritis specifically, neuromuscular training combined with traditional exercise may also improve performance-based function and walking speed. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Exercise intensity can be gradually progressed as strength and tolerance improve.
Stronger legs can make movement more manageable.
Exercise selection depends on the cause and severity of knee symptoms. Depending on the individual, rehabilitation may include strengthening for the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip muscles and other relevant muscle groups.
Functional exercises such as sit-to-stand, step exercises and controlled squatting may be introduced when appropriate. Balance and movement-control exercises can also be useful for selected patients.
The goal is not simply to make the muscles stronger. Rehabilitation aims to improve the knee's ability to tolerate the loads required for walking, stairs, work, exercise and other meaningful activities.
For knee osteoarthritis, AAOS clinical guidance recommends supervised, unsupervised and/or aquatic exercise over no exercise for improving pain and function. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Recovery is about getting back to movement.
A good rehabilitation programme should connect exercise with the activities that matter to you. This may include walking longer distances, climbing stairs, returning to the gym or resuming sport.
Activity can often be modified rather than stopped completely. The appropriate amount of loading depends on the underlying condition and how the knee responds.
As capacity improves, exercises and functional activities can be progressively increased so that the knee becomes better prepared for everyday and recreational demands.
Rehabilitation around your everyday routine.
Home physiotherapy can be useful when knee pain makes travelling difficult or when rehabilitation needs to be integrated into the home environment.
A physiotherapist can assess movement and strength, teach appropriate exercises and modify the programme according to progress.
Home-based exercises can then be continued between supervised sessions to support consistency and gradual progression.
Understand the problem. Build capacity. Move with confidence.
Knee rehabilitation is progressive. The programme should change as pain, strength, movement and activity tolerance improve.
Understand the Knee
Identify the likely source of symptoms and the movements or activities that are currently limited.
Improve Strength
Progress appropriate strengthening and movement-control exercises according to tolerance.
Resume Activity
Gradually increase walking, stairs, exercise, work or sport according to the person's goals and capacity.
Knee pain, explained simply.
Common questions about physiotherapy, exercise and recovery.
Can physiotherapy help knee pain?
Is exercise good for knee pain?
Should I stop walking if my knee hurts?
What exercises are used for knee pain?
Can physiotherapy help knee osteoarthritis?
Does every knee pain need surgery?
Can knee physiotherapy be done at home?
Exercise is an important part of evidence-based knee rehabilitation.
Knee pain has many possible causes, so treatment should not be based on a single generic protocol. For adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends exercise and self-management approaches as part of non-surgical care. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
AAOS specifically recommends supervised exercise, unsupervised exercise and/or aquatic exercise over no exercise for improving pain and function in knee osteoarthritis. Neuromuscular training may also be combined with traditional exercise to improve performance-based function and walking speed. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
These recommendations apply specifically to knee osteoarthritis and should not automatically be applied to every person with knee pain. The underlying diagnosis and individual clinical presentation should guide rehabilitation.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons — Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Clinical Practice Guideline.
View AAOS Guideline →
AAOS — Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline, Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee.
View Full Guideline PDF →
AAOS — Clinical Practice Guideline Overview.
View Guideline Overview →
Move with greater confidence and build a stronger knee.
Individualized physiotherapy for knee pain, stiffness, weakness and movement limitations, with home physiotherapy available.
Research & Sources
AAOS — Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee.
View AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline
AAOS — Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline,
Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee.
View Full Guideline
AAOS — Clinical Practice Guideline Overview.
View Guideline Overview