Knee Pain refers to any kind of pain or discomfort felt in either one or both of the knees. Up to 25% of adults experience knee pain at any given time (Nguyen et. al., 2011), and assessment of the knee can be complex because the knee is a highly integrated joint. The knee contains multiple interacting structures—muscles, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and nerves, each of which fulfils specific functions and each of which can contribute to pain in different ways. Assessment and mnagement of knee pain is often complex because people cannot simply stop using their knees to rest them, and daily movement continues to load the joint.
Knee pain may appear at the front, back, or sides of the knee, or above and below the kneecap. It may be felt deep within the joint or only when the knee moves through a specific range. The location of the discomfort within the knee may offer an indication of the structure at fault, and recognising these patterns helps guide accurate diagnosis. Some people experience locking, clunking, or a sense of instability, and these symptoms that may indicate involvement of specific joint structures such as the meniscus or ligaments. Meniscal injuries account for nearly 12% of all knee-related presentations in primary care (Logerstedt et. al., 2018), while ligament injuries contribute to approximately 20% of sports‑related knee complaints (Alanazi et. al., 2025). Knee pain can arise from muscular, bony, joint, ligamentous, or neurological sources, and each presents its own unique challenges.
The experience of knee pain may be influenced by factors other than those related to potentially injured or irritated tissues. Physical factors such as weakness, stiffness, or reduced balance can add nuance to the assessment of knee pain. Practical and occupational factors like work environments, repetitive tasks, or prolonged kneeling can also contribute to the development, experience, and prognosis of knee pain. Workplace demands are one of the most typical drivers of persistent knee pain, where occupations that require frequent kneeling or squatting experienced an increased risk of knee pain by up to 52% (Wang et. al., 2020). Psychological factors, including fear of movement or uncertainty about treatment, can further complicate recovery. Ageing, previous injuries, and past management choices also shape how the knee functions over time.
Management of Knee Pain depends on the cause of the pain, how it feels and changes over the day, what makes it better or worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing the pain. These details are explored during your first assessment, which lays the groundwork for reducing pain and improving comfort. From there, your treatment plan is tailored to the specific cause, with a focus on relieving pain, restoring pain-free movement, and building strategies to lower the chance of future flare-ups, where structured exercise therapy can reduce knee pain by up to 45% in some cases (Thomas et. al., 2002).
At Atlas Physio, we guide you with clear education, structured management, and ongoing support both in the clinic and at home. We make care easy to access by opening seven days a week, offering evening appointments, providing bulk billing for eligible clients, and ensuring no gap fees for WorkCover or TAC clients. Get in touch today to take the first step toward feeling more comfortable, moving with confidence, and enjoying care that is practical, dependable, and designed to deliver lasting results.
REFERENCES
Alanazi, S. A., Alamrani, S. A., Bajuaifer, S. S., Alhammad, L., Alotaibi, N., Alrashdi, N. Z., Alzhrani, M., Alanazi, A. D., Almansour, A. M., Alfayyadh, A., & Alenazi, A. M. (2025). “Returning to Sport Is Not Just About the Knee”: Physiotherapists’ Experiences of the Management of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(20), 7301.
Logerstedt, D. S., Scalzitti, D. A., Bennell, K. L., Hinman, R. S., Silvers-Granelli, H., Ebert, J., Hambly, K., Carey, J. L., Snyder-Mackler, L., Axe, M. J. & Torburn, L. (2018). Knee pain and mobility impairments: meniscal and articular cartilage lesions revision 2018: clinical practice guidelines linked to the International classification of Functioning, disability and health from the Orthopaedic section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 48(2), A1-A50.
Nguyen, U. S., Zhang, Y., Zhu, Y., Niu, J., Zhang, B., & Felson, D. T. (2011). Increasing prevalence of knee pain and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: survey and cohort data. Annals of internal medicine, 155(11), 725–732.
Thomas, K. S., Muir, K. R., Doherty, M., Jones, A. C., O'Reilly, S. C., & Bassey, E. J. (2002). Home based exercise programme for knee pain and knee osteoarthritis: randomised controlled trial. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 325(7367), 752.
Wang, X., Perry, T.A., Arden, N., Chen, L., Parsons, C.M., Cooper, C., Gates, L. and Hunter, D.J. (2020), Occupational Risk in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Arthritis Care Res, 72: 1213-1223.