There are various types of knee pain, each with its own set of causes. Here are some common types of knee pain and their associated causes:

1. Acute Injury-Related Pain: Knee pain resulting from sudden injuries such as ligament tears (e.g., ACL, MCL), meniscus tears, fractures, or dislocations. These injuries often occur during sports activities or accidents and can feel like a sudden sharp or stabbing pain in or around the knee.

2. Overuse or Repetitive Strain Pain: Knee pain caused by repetitive stress on the knee joint, leading to conditions such as patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner's knee), tendinitis, or bursitis. This is often a dull or nagging type of knee pain. Activities like running, jumping, or prolonged kneeling can contribute to this type of pain. 

3. Osteoarthritis: Knee pain resulting from the wear and tear of the joint over time. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition characterised by the breakdown of cartilage, leading to effects on bone surfaces, inflammation, and pain. Osteoarthritis can make your knee feel stiff, puffy and swollen when you rise from a sitting position, and in some cases wobbly or like it's going to buckle. You may also experience cracking or grinding noises accompanied by sensations of pain when you move your knee. 

4. Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in the joints, including the knees. Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to joint damage, swelling, stiffness, and constant pain, usually that is felt most in the morning.

5. Gout: A type of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, including the knee. Gout flare-ups result in intense pain, swelling, and redness.

6. Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendons surrounding the knee joint, often caused by repetitive activities, improper form, or sudden increase in physical activity levels. You may experience a dull ache, or knee pain particularly when you perform certain activities like running, jumping and walking.

7. Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome: Irritation of the iliotibial band, a thick band of tissue running along the outside of the thigh. IT band syndrome commonly occurs in runners and can cause pain on the outer side of the knee.

It's important to note that these are general types of knee pain and individual cases may have multiple factors contributing to knee pain. When you consult with Pro-Form physio for knee pain, we ensure to accurately diagnose the specific type and underlying causes of knee pain in order to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

There are several common knee injuries that can cause pain and affect the function of the knee. While most of these injuries can be managed by a physio for knee related issues, in rare cases when orthopedic surgeons or specialists are involved, physiotherapy is used as a supplementary treatment for knee pain or a post-surgery rehabilitation to help your knee regain its optimal functioning. 

Here are a few examples of common knee injuries seen in adults:

1. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear: The ACL is one of the major ligaments in the knee. ACL tears often occur in individuals participating in sports activities that involve sudden stops, changes in direction, or direct impacts to the knee.

2. Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tear: PCL tears are usually caused by a direct blow to the front of the knee. They are often seen in car accidents, football, or during high-impact falls.

3. Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Tear: MCL tears typically occur due to a direct impact or a force that pushes the knee inwards. MCL tears are commonly seen in contact sports like football or rugby.

4. Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Tear: While MCL tears are caused by an impact that pushes the knee inwards, LCL tears are caused by a direct impact or a force that pushes the knee outwards. These are also often seen in contact sports or accidents.

5. Meniscus Tear: The meniscus is a cartilage structure that acts as a shock absorber in the knee. A tear in the meniscus can occur due to twisting or direct force on the knee, commonly seen in sports or activities that involve sudden movements. Meniscus tears can also be degenerative, as a result of repetitive poor knee loading over time. 

6. Patellar Tendinitis: Also known as jumper's knee, patellar tendinitis is an overuse injury that causes inflammation and pain in the tendon connecting the patella (kneecap) to the shinbone. It is commonly seen in athletes involved in sports that involve a lot of jumping.

7. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: This condition, also called runner's knee, involves pain around or behind the kneecap. It can be caused by factors such as overuse, muscle imbalances, improper tracking of the patella, or poor biomechanics during movement.

8. Knee Bursitis: Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the knee joint. Inflammation of the bursa, known as bursitis, can occur due to repetitive kneeling, prolonged pressure on the knee, or direct trauma.

9. Knee Dislocation: A knee dislocation occurs when the bones of the knee joint are forced out of their normal position, usually due to a severe trauma or injury. Knee dislocations are usually a severe and potentially limb-threatening injury that requires immediate medical attention. 

10. Patellar Dislocation: Occurs when the kneecap slips out of place from its normal position, often due to a sudden change in direction, twisting, or a direct blow to the knee. 

What differentiates a knee dislocation from a patellar dislocation is that a knee dislocation often involves two considerable impact to two other bones that make up the knee joint - the thigh bone and the shinbone whereas a patellar dislocation generally just involves the displacement of the one bone - the kneecap. 

These are just a few examples of common knee injuries, and there are other conditions and injuries that can affect the knee as well. If you're experiencing knee pain or have sustained a knee injury, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional or a specialised physio for knee pain for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate knee pain treatment.

Physiotherapy plays an important role in the management of knee injuries and knee pain. At Pro-Form, we have helped several patients manage knee pain due to injuries or other conditions. Sometimes in the case of more serious injuries that are bone related, like a fracture, we work with your orthopaedic surgeon to design an appropriate knee pain treatment plan to help you recover and regain optimum knee function. 

When you come to Pro-Form physio for knee pain, here's is a treatment approach you can expect:

1. Pain Management: Knee injuries can often be very painful and so our team of physiotherapists focus first on reducing pain. We may employ various techniques, such as manual therapy, heat/cold therapy, and electrical modalities, to reduce knee pain and inflammation associated with common knee injuries. In the initial stages, we also may provide guidance on pain-relieving exercises and techniques you can perform at home in between physio sessions.

2. Rehabilitation and Strengthening: Once knee pain has reduced a certain amount, we work on rehabilitating and strengthening the muscles around your knee to promote stability and support. We work with you to design a custom exercise program based on your goals and the type of knee injury to help restore range of motion, improve flexibility, and enhance overall knee function needed to get you where you want to go.

3. Joint Mobilization: Impact and injury to the knee can leave the joint and the surrounding muscles stiff and swollen. Through hands-on techniques, we work to mobilize and manipulate the knee joint to restore normal movement, reduce stiffness, and improve joint mechanics.

4. Balance and Proprioception Training: Since the knee plays an important role in supporting your body weight when you move, as part of our rehabilitation program, we incorporate balance and proprioception exercises to improve coordination and enhance joint stability. These exercises may also help prevent future injuries and restore confidence in knee movement.

5. Gait Training: If you’re a sprinter or a runner, knee injuries have the potential to alter your gait patterns that can reduce your performance and efficiency. Therefore, based on your goals, we may provide gait training to improve running mechanics, stride length, and overall walking function. 

6. Functional Rehabilitation: Knee injuries have the potential to affect how you perform day to day activities. Our physio programs for knee pain are partly crafted around functional rehabilitation focussing on specific movements and activities relevant to daily life or sports to help you regain functional abilities after knee injuries. Through this, we help you improve agility, strength, and endurance to help you safely return to normal activities.

7. Education and Self-Management: In addition to treatment and pain management, we ensure to educate you about the knee, and potential injuries or knee conditions you may be at risk for and also provide you with self-care techniques to manage pain at home. Sometimes, dislocation and tears can cause immense pain at the time of injury and we want to equip you with tools to take immediate measures to manage the pain. 

8. Bracing and Assistive Devices: If required, we may recommend and show you how to use knee braces, crutches, or other assistive devices to support your knee during the recovery process.

We at Pro-Form Physiotherapy offer you a comprehensive approach to knee injury management, combining various therapeutic techniques to reduce pain, improve function, and enhance overall quality of life. 

Chat to one of our team to learn more about how we can help you accelerate your recovery today!