Conditions we treat
Knee pain: building strength back into the joint, not just resting it
Most knee pain improves with a well-structured loading plan rather than prolonged rest, we help you find the right level to start from.
Knee pain often gets treated with rest alone, which can settle symptoms temporarily but rarely fixes the underlying issue, and sometimes makes the knee more sensitive to normal activity afterwards. Most non-surgical knee pain responds better to a structured, gradually increasing loading plan.
The knee is also heavily influenced by what’s happening above and below it, hip strength and control, and foot and ankle mechanics, both affect how load passes through the joint. A knee assessment that only looks at the knee itself often misses part of the picture.
We assess the knee alongside the hip and lower limb as a whole, which helps explain not just what hurts, but why it started in the first place.
Common signs & symptoms
- Pain around or behind the kneecap, especially with stairs or squatting
- Swelling around the joint after activity
- A grinding or clicking sensation with bending the knee
- Pain that flares after increases in walking, running or training load
- Stiffness after sitting for a while, easing once moving
- A feeling of instability or the knee “giving way”
- Localised pain on the inner or outer side of the knee
What causes knee pain?
Patellofemoral pain — irritation around the kneecap
often linked to hip and thigh muscle control
Tendinopathy — overloaded tendons around the knee
common with running and jumping activity
Meniscus irritation — the cartilage cushioning the knee can become irritated
sometimes from twisting movements
Hip weakness — poor hip control changes how load travels through the knee during walking and running
Rapid load increases — sudden jumps in training volume or intensity are a leading cause of overuse knee pain
How we help at IA Chiropractic
We assess the knee joint itself alongside hip and ankle function, since addressing only the painful area often leaves the underlying cause untouched.
Treatment typically centres on a graded exercise programme to rebuild strength and tolerance, supported by soft tissue therapy for surrounding muscle tightness where appropriate.
For active patients, we’ll also talk through training load and technique factors, since return-to-activity timing matters as much as the treatment itself.