Knee pain might be pain on stairs, an ache after running, discomfort kneeling, or swelling that appears the day after activity. It affects people across every age group and activity level.

What tends to cause it

Knee pain frequently comes from how the hip, ankle and foot are loading it rather than from the knee itself. Load changes matter too: a jump in running volume, a new job on your feet, or a return to sport after time off will all show up at the knee first.

How we treat it

Treatment addresses the local irritation and the loading pattern driving it, with a graded return to whatever you have stopped doing. If there is a specific structure involved, we will tell you what it means and whether it needs imaging or referral.

What it often feels like

• Pain going up or down stairs

• Aching after running or walking

• Swelling after activity

• Pain kneeling or squatting

• A sense of giving way or instability