What is knee pain?

Knee pain is a very general term for pain surrounding the knee.

Let’s first take a basic look at the anatomy of the knee.

The knee is comprised of two main joints, the tibiofemoral joint (between the femur (thigh) bone, and the tibia (shin) bone), and the patellofemoral joint (between the patella (knee cap) and the femur). The knee is mainly a hinge joint (bends and straightens), however there is some rotation that occurs at the joint to allow the knee to move efficiently. The joint surfaces are coated with cartilage to help the knee move smoothly and surrounded by a synovial fluid to keep the joint lubricated.

Between the femur and tibia sit the medial and lateral meniscus which are strong structures that provide shock absorption and stability to our knees.

The quadriceps (front of thigh muscles) help to straighten the knee, while the hamstrings (muscles at back of thigh) function to bend the knee. These muscles attach onto the knee via their tendons. The quadriceps tendon attaches onto the kneecap, then through to the shin bone via the patella tendon.

The hamstrings attach onto the back of the knee via the hamstring tendons.

There are many ligaments which provide stability to the knee. The ligaments that are commonly injured are the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament.

All these structures allow us to walk, run, squat, get in and out of the car etc. Knee pain can be the result of injury or aggravation of any of these structures. Knee pain can also be ‘referred pain’ coming from your lower back or hip.

Role of physiotherapists:

Physiotherapists are trained to assess knee pain to give you a diagnosis and management plan. An assessment for knee pain may involve:

• Gait analysis - watching how you walk and/or run

• Posture assessment - looking at the position of your hips, knees and feet

• Functional movements such as squats, sit to stands and lunges

• Range of movement and strength testing

• Ligament and meniscus testing

• Palpation

• Sport specific movements - jumping, dodging, running

Physiotherapists can then provide management strategies including:  

• Pain relief options such as soft tissue massage, mobilisations, taping, cryotherapy etc.

• Advice and education on how to manage your knee pain relevant to your lifestyle

• Provide strengthening exercises and stretches as appropriate

Common knee conditions:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) - more common in an older population and associated with pain during activity and stiffness after rest

• Osgood Schlatter’s - bony lump on the front of the knee which is more common in teenagers while growing

• Patellofemoral pain - common in teenagers, runners and people with arthritis

• Patella tendinopathy “jumper’s knee”- pain at the front of the knee, common in athletes

• ITB syndrome - pain on the outside of the knee, common in runners

• ACL rupture/tear - trauma to the knee such as in netball, football, car accidents, work injuries

• MCL strain/tear - trauma to the knee such as in netball, football, car accidents, work injuries

• Patella dislocations - trauma to the knee such as injuries in netball, football, car accidents, work injuries; can be recurrent

• Meniscus tear - can be related to trauma or can be degenerative

Factors that may increase your risk of developing knee pain:

• Age

  • Anterior knee pain (pain at the front of the knee) is common in adolescents

  • Increased age is a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis

• Increased body mass index (BMI) associated with being overweight or obesity

• Overtraining or sudden change in load

• Foot posture

• Weakness in surrounding muscles

For further advice, you can arrange an appointment with one of our qualified physiotherapists via phone (see phone numbers below) or through our online booking system on our website www.goodcountryphysio.com.au.

Bordertown: (08) 8752 2330  

Keith: (08) 8755 1530  

Naracoorte: (08) 8762 1515 

Kingston: (08) 8767 4600