Knee Pain
Knee pain changes how you move - down stairs, out of chairs, through your sport. We measure what your knee can actually do, work out why it is overloaded, and rebuild from there.
Your care, at a glance
The questions worth asking any clinic — answered up front.
Who you'll see
Jonty lists knee pain among his particular interests, Oliver puts strength training at the centre of rehab, and Craig brings 20+ years of lower-limb biomechanics — especially for runners' knees. Complex or recurrent cases can be reviewed by Dr Steve Saunders.
How we assess it
History and hands-on examination to reach a working diagnosis, then objective testing of quadriceps, hip and calf strength — with video analysis of squatting, stairs or running where the way you move is part of the problem.
How we treat it
Diagnosis-specific progressive loading: build the strength the knee is missing, adjust the load it's asked to tolerate, address hip and ankle contributions, and use hands-on treatment to keep symptoms workable along the way.
When you progress
- Strength targets for quadriceps, hip and calf, re-tested against baseline
- Graded return to the tasks that hurt: stairs, squatting, running
- Symptom response to load monitored and trending down
- Sport- or goal-specific testing before full return
The evidence behind this approach
Exercise-based rehabilitation is first-line care for most knee problems, including osteoarthritis — the approach behind the GLA:D program, whose Australian implementation shows meaningful improvements in pain and function (Barton et al., 2021). Our objective testing shows whether that strength work is actually working — see how we measure outcomes.
Why it happens
The knee is caught between two neighbours: to a large extent it does what the hip and ankle let it do. That is why knee pain so often traces back to strength deficits, movement habits or training load rather than the knee itself.
Common problems we see include patellofemoral (kneecap) pain, patellar and quadriceps tendinopathy, meniscus irritation, ligament injuries and osteoarthritis. Each behaves differently and each responds to different loading - a program that helps a tendon can flare a kneecap - which is why guessing is a poor strategy.
How we assess it
We start with your story: when the pain began, what brings it on, what you have tried and what you want to get back to. Then we assess the knee alongside the whole lower limb - hip and ankle mobility, movement patterns like squatting and stair descent, and, importantly, objective strength.
Using KangaTech, the measurement system our founder Steve Saunders pioneered in elite sport, we isolate and measure the strength of the muscle groups around your hip and knee. Numbers beat impressions: they show exactly where the deficits are and, later, whether they are actually improving.
How we treat it
Progressive, targeted exercise is the backbone of knee rehab: restoring quadriceps, hip and calf strength while adjusting how your knee is loaded day to day. We manage your training or activity so you keep doing as much as your knee tolerates while it builds capacity, supported by structured exercise therapy.
Depending on your diagnosis we may add manual therapy, dry needling, shockwave therapy for stubborn tendinopathy, or orthotics where foot mechanics contribute. Passive treatments support the plan - they are never the whole plan.
Do I need a scan or surgery?
Often, no. Research supports exercise-based rehabilitation as first-line care for many knee problems, including degenerative meniscus changes and osteoarthritis, and scan findings frequently do not match symptoms. If your presentation genuinely calls for imaging or a surgical opinion, we will say so and refer you promptly - and if you do have surgery, we can guide your recovery and return to activity afterwards.
Getting back to what you love
From footballers and runners to walkers, gardeners and people who simply want stairs to be uneventful, the process is the same: measure, rebuild, re-test. We have applied it to elite athletes and everyday Adelaideans for more than 35 years.
Book online through HotDoc at our Adelaide CBD or Edwardstown clinic - no referral needed, with HICAPS for on-the-spot claims.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a scan before seeing a physio for knee pain?
Usually not. Most knee problems can be diagnosed with a thorough clinical assessment, and scan findings often do not match symptoms. We recommend imaging only when it would change your management.
Can physiotherapy help knee osteoarthritis?
Yes. Exercise-based rehabilitation is recommended as first-line care for knee osteoarthritis and improves pain and function for many people. We build a strength program at the right level and progress it as your knee adapts.
What is KangaTech and why does it matter for my knee?
KangaTech is a system that objectively measures isolated muscle strength, developed by our founder Steve Saunders in elite football. For knee pain it shows precisely which muscles are underperforming and lets us track your progress with real numbers.
Can I keep exercising with knee pain?
In most cases yes, with modifications. We work out what your knee tolerates now and keep you active while we build its capacity, rather than resting everything and losing fitness.