Who We Help

• Runners, field/court athletes, and gym enthusiasts with overuse or acute knee injuries
• People with knee osteoarthritis seeking non-operative management or prehabilitation
• Patients after knee replacement, knee arthroscopy, or ACL reconstruction
• Adults with patellofemoral pain, ITB friction, or tendinopathy
• Adolescents with growth-related knee pain (e.g., Osgood-Schlatter) and return-to-sport planning
• Workers needing safe, staged return-to-work programs after injury or surgery

Our Assessment: Clear Diagnosis, Clear Plan

Every program begins with a detailed, face-to-face assessment. We explain the diagnosis in plain language and agree on goals and timelines.

• History & functional testing: symptom behaviour, aggravators, red flags, sport/work demands
• Movement analysis: gait, stair negotiation, sit-to-stand, double/single-leg squat mechanics
• Strength & capacity: quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteals, calf; balance and hop testing (as appropriate)
• Range of motion & irritability: effusion grading; pain-limited vs stiffness-limited patterns
• Imaging coordination (if needed): X-ray or MRI via our knee specialists if results will change management
• Baseline metrics: strength tests, step count, sit-to-stand, and patient-reported outcomes (e.g., KOOS-JR or Oxford Knee Score)

Treatment Pillars of Knee Physiotherapy

1) Individualised Exercise Therapy

We prescribe graded, condition-specific exercise to restore strength, control, and resilience. Typical components include:

• Isometrics for pain modulation (e.g., 30–45 s holds, 4–5 sets)
• Heavy-slow resistance for tendon and muscle capacity (2–4 sessions/week)
• Functional strength (squats, step-ups, split squats, bridges, calf raises)
• Neuromuscular control (valgus control, landing mechanics, balance/proprioception)
• Mobility targeted to restrictions (capsular/soft-tissue techniques and ROM drills)

2) Load Management & Activity Pacing

We calibrate training volume, intensity, and frequency to reduce irritability while maintaining fitness.

• Adjust weekly running kilometres, intensity distribution, and surfaces
• Swap painful drills for bike, pool, or elliptical to preserve conditioning
• Structure 48–72 h recovery windows around high-load sessions

3) Technique Coaching

Movement quality changes tissue load. We address:

• Running cadence & stride to reduce patellofemoral/ITB load
• Hip–knee alignment during squats/lunges; cueing to minimise dynamic valgus
• Sport-specific patterns (cutting, landing, acceleration/deceleration)

4) Pain Relief Strategies

Education, temporary activity modifications, and isometric analgesia help settle symptoms. Where appropriate, we co-ordinate guided injections (e.g., corticosteroid, PRP, or hyaluronic acid for selected conditions) with our orthopaedic and sports medicine colleagues.

5) Lifestyle & Recovery

Sleep, nutrition, and bone health matter—especially for osteoarthritis, stress injuries, and tendon pain. We advise on recovery routines and liaise with your GP for broader health checks when indicated.

Your Program: Phases, Progressions, and Milestones

1. Settle & Stabilise: symptom control, isometrics, effusion management, load audit
2. Build Capacity: heavy-slow resistance; single-leg control; progressive ROM
3. Integrate & Perform: running drills, change-of-direction, plyometrics (when appropriate)
4. Return & Prevent: graded return-to-run/return-to-play plans; maintenance strength

We track objective markers (strength ratios, limb symmetry index, step count, KOOS-JR/Oxford Knee Score) and adapt weekly. You’ll know exactly what to do, how much, and when to progress.

Physiotherapy After Knee Surgery

After Total/Partial Knee Replacement

• Days 0–14: swelling control, pain plan, gait re-education, extension priority, quads activation
• Weeks 2–6: ROM progression, stationary bike, functional strength and balance
• Weeks 6–12: stair confidence, endurance, return to driving/desk work as advised
• 3–6 months: higher-level tasks (hills, uneven ground), low-impact sport introduction

See our Total Knee Replacement pathway for procedure details and timelines.

After ACL Reconstruction

• Phase 1 (0–6 weeks): swelling/extension, gait quality, early quads strength
• Phase 2 (6–12 weeks): progressive strength, balance, bike/rower as tolerated
• Phase 3 (3–6 months): running, hop progressions, agility drills
• Phase 4 (≥9 months): change-of-direction, contact prep, return-to-sport testing (LSI, hop tests, strength ratios)

More on surgery: ACL Reconstruction.

After Meniscus Repair/Arthroscopy

• Protect repair (surgeon-aligned restrictions), restore extension early, gait retraining
• Progressive strengthening and proprioception; staged return to impact

Learn more at Knee Arthroscopy.

Programs for Specific Populations

Runners

Cadence optimisation, tissue-specific loading, hill/track strategies, and shoe advice. Graded return with objective hop and strength criteria.

Field & Court Athletes

Valgus control, acceleration/deceleration drills, landing mechanics, and change-of-direction progressions.

Older Adults with Knee OA

Low-impact conditioning (bike, pool), strength for transfers and stairs, and pain-management education. If surgery is appropriate, we provide prehab to improve outcomes.

Work-Related Recovery

Task-specific conditioning, ergonomic advice, and graduated return-to-work plans aligned with employer requirements.

What to Expect & Results

• Clear diagnosis and a written plan after your first visit
• Symptom improvement often begins within 2–6 weeks with consistent rehab
• Strength and function gains progress over 8–12 weeks and beyond
• Objective re-testing to confirm readiness for running, sport, or work demands
• Education and a long-term maintenance plan to reduce recurrence