Knee pain is a common clinical complaint, presenting in both active individuals and sedentary populations. Causes can vary widely from degenerative joint diseases to traumatic injuries. This article outlines the most common causes of knee pain and provides a structured clinical approach to diagnosis, with references from recent evidence-based guidelines and peer-reviewed literature.
Knee pain doesn’t just hurt, it limits confidence in movement, independence, and quality of life. While rest is important in acute injury, long-term recovery often hinges on the right kind of loading. Exercise therapy is not only effective but is considered first-line treatment for many knee conditions, including osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and tendinopathy.
Joint pain is one of the most common reasons people seek physiotherapy. Traditionally, pain has been explained through a biomedical model, focusing purely on physical causes such as injury or degeneration. However, growing evidence supports the biopsychosocial model, which recognises that biological, psychological, and social factors interact to influence pain.