Blog Layout

KNEE PAIN - Your complete guide!

Ben Smith • Oct 11, 2021

The knee joint – We only get two of them! 


Your knee joint health is critical across the lifespan and throughout various domains of human performance and endeavour.

 Knee structure is critical in high level athletic pursuits such as sprinting, jumping for a volleyball spike or changing direction in field sports.

Its equally as important in manual labour; lifting heavy machinery, crawling in a roof or kneeling to lay some pavers.


Chronic overuse can lead to debilitating pain in running athletes

It’s function can be compromised when adolescents are ‘growing into their bodies’

Likewise, females who are generally more flexible than stiff, have an increased risk of front of knee pain

As a senior citizen we start to see the effects of osteoarthritis, resulting in joint swelling, weakness, pain & stiffness.


So it’s evident knee pain can affect all walks of life.


Lets take a look at the basic anatomy and where things can go wrong…..


Knee Integrity

Essentially, the knee is made up of 3 compartments – which houses cartilage - Meniscus and joint surface cartilage that act as ‘shock absorbers’.

Strong ligaments such as the cruciate ligaments bind these compartments together. Damage to the cartilage and ligaments can occur in high- speed athletic injuries and can interfere with the joint integrity, such as when an AFL player does their ACL.

Joint surface cartilage can become a little rougher as we age and give rise to symptoms of osteoarthritis.


Anterior 'Front' Knee Pain

Pain at the front of the knee generally arises from 3 structures Knee cap joint (Patellofemoral joint)

Infrapatellar fat pad

 Patella tendon

We commonly see these issues in female adolescents, jumping athletes & long- distance runners.

Pain is typically aggravated by knee over toes positions, such as descending stairs


Lateral Knee Pain

A common problem that presents in long distance runners.

 Typically this is can be a problem associated with the cartilage in the lateral compartment &/OR an issue with the ITB insertion. The ITB is like a thick tendon that runs down the side of the thigh and is prone to injury in high distance running sports.


 What to look out for…………

An acute injury –Knee twisting or buckling, hearing an audible ‘POP’ and difficulty putting weight through knee.

Gradual onset pain – Does it get worse with activity or flare up post activity?

Knee swelling, giving way or locking?


While knee pain can affect your quality of life, there will always be a solution!

- Strength program

- Mobility program combined with some hands-on treatment

 - General exercise

 - Medical interventions

By Shane O'Sullivan 18 Mar, 2024
Picture this : you're walking in the sunshine, whistling dixie and having the best day. All of a sudden you step wrong, and your ankle twists. Ouch! You've got yourself a ‘ simple ’ ankle sprain, right? Well, not so fast. What might seem like a minor injury can sometimes turn into a bigger problem than you'd expect. Here's the lowdown: An ankle sprain happens when the bands of tissue (ligaments) that hold your ankle bones together get stretched or torn. You might think r est , ice , and a bit of elevation will sort it out – and sometimes they do. But other times, there's more going on under the surface. Amazingly, Once you have injured your ankle for the first time, you have a whopping 47% chance of re-injuring that same ankle in the future! Not to mention 40% of first time ankle sprainers, go on to develop Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI)!
By Shane O'Sullivan 26 Feb, 2024
Do you get pain at the front of your knee? Walking downstairs? Sometimes you feel like you have to go down sideways ! When you’re hiking…… Especially when you have to go downhill? Playing sport…. Especially when you have to do a lot of short stop and start type movements?
By Shane O'Sullivan 30 Jan, 2024
So, you have done your ACL. You felt the pop, your knee collapsed and the pain was excruciating for the first 30 seconds. You hobble off the field, and thoughts start rushing through your mind… Oh no I'm going to need surgery! How much will it cost me? How long will I be ou t for?
By Jacob Jewson 24 Oct, 2023
Adhesive capsulitis , or frozen shoulder , is a condition that affects the capsule/lining of the shoulder joint. It occurs most commonly in people aged 40-60 and while it can result from an injury or surgery to the shoulder, in the majority of cases there is no obvious cause. The condition involves inflammation and scarring of the shoulder joint capsule. The inflammation causes pain, particularly at night, while the scarring results in reduced range of motion in the shoulder joint as the capsule tightens. Then if the shoulder is pushed into extreme positions, the scar tissue becomes irritated, causing more discomfort. While there is often no cause, adhesive capsulitis occurs more commonly in people with diabetes and other systemic inflammatory diseases, so it may be worth performing some blood tests if these haven’t been done previously. Imaging with an X-ray and ultrasound (or sometimes an MRI) is not always essential as adhesive capsulitis can be diagnosed based on symptoms and clinical tests, but may be performed to ensure there is not another diagnosis to explain the symptoms. Adhesive capsulitis has a natural history of resolution after typically 12-24 months. It is characterised by 3 phases: freezing, frozen and thawing phase. The freezing phase is often the most painful, as the inflammation causes progressive pain and loss of range of motion. The duration of symptoms is often unchanged by treatments, however the goal of management strategies is to reduce pain and improve function during the course of the condition.
By Shane O'Sullivan 19 Sep, 2023
Whether you're training for the Melbourne marathon, a dedicated athlete or just someone who enjoys staying active, the guidance of a sports physician can be a game-changer! Our very own Dr Jacob Jewson offers a unique set of skills and insights that can enhance your performance, prevent injuries, and keep you in peak condition. 
By Ruby Elder 30 May, 2023
What is an Achilles Tendon rupture?
By Sue Gertzel 11 Apr, 2023
Does the thought of biting into a hard apple give you goose bumps? The constant clicking and pain that occurs when you bite is enough to turn you off hard fruit - For life! & Don't even talk about yawning......
By Shane O'Sullivan 14 Mar, 2023
Stretching has long been considered a vital component of a proper warm-up before physical activity..... However, recent studies suggest that stretching may not be as effective as once thought for injury prevention , especially when done before exercise!
By Sam Turner 13 Feb, 2023
Blisters are the most common injury in sport...
By Shane O'Sullivan 18 Jan, 2023
5 Tips to return to pre-season safely!
More Posts
Share by: