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Discover How To Ease Chronic, Daily Annoying Knee Pain so that you can increase your movement and get back to enjoying all the things you love doing.
Whether you’ve hurt yourself playing sports or noticed a niggling pain that just won’t quit, knee pain is more common than you may think. You stop running, take the stairs one at a time, avoid squatting down to the bottom cupboard, and adjust around it without ever quite deciding to do something about it.
Our osteopaths at our Murrumbeena and Mount Waverley clinics assess knee complaints by looking at the whole leg (and in fact, the whole region!), because what happens at your hip, ankle and foot often has more to do with the knee than the knee itself.
Pain at the Front of the Knee
Sore on stairs, after long periods sitting, or when squatting and/or kneeling.
Discomfort That Comes On With Activity
Fine at rest, but it appears during or after running, walking distances or training.
Stiffness That Is Worse First Thing
Slow to get going in the morning, easing as you move, and returning after long periods still.
A Knee That Feels Unreliable
Giving way, catching, or simply not feeling like you can trust it under load.
The knee sits between the hip and the ankle and has limited say in its own movement. If your hip is not controlling rotation well, or your ankle is not moving through its full range, the knee absorbs the difference. That is why assessment covers the whole leg rather than the joint you are pointing at.
Your osteopath will ask about how it started, what aggravates it, and what you are trying to get back to. They will then look at how you move, test the relevant structures, and work out what is loading the knee.
Treatment uses hands-on techniques for the surrounding muscles and joints, along with a loading program, because knees generally respond well to graded strengthening. Osteopathic treatment may help reduce discomfort and improve function for some people, though it depends considerably on what is causing the problem.
Four steps that may give you a better starting point than waiting it out. Note, if you’re unsure or feel discomfort at any point, stop – and give us a call to schedule a consultation. It’s better to be guided by a healthcare professional than risk further injury.
Complete rest tends to weaken the surrounding muscles, so staying active within a tolerable range is usually better.
Reducing distance, pace or depth often lets you keep going while the knee settles.
The muscles controlling the knee sit above and below it, and strengthening them is usually where the progress comes from.
Knee pain that persists past a few weeks, or that involves swelling or instability, is worth a closer inspection. Give us a call and we’ll assess your knee discomfort to provide a more thorough picture of what’s going on.
Here are some of the reasons people choose osteopathy for their knee pain.
Your hip, ankle and how your body moves all influence how your knee feels and functions. Our osteopath at Focus Osteopathy will assess the entire chain rather than the sore joint alone.
Assessment and hands-on treatment happen in the same appointment, so you leave with something done and a plan in place.
Knees respond well to graded strengthening, so you will be given specific exercises rather than treatment alone.
Treatment uses hands-on techniques, movement and exercise, allowing the body to be treated naturally, without relying on medication alone.
Osteopaths complete a five year university qualification and are registered with the Osteopathy Board of Australia through AHPRA, and no referral is required.
Some knee problems respond well to conservative care and some need imaging or a specialist opinion, and we will tell you if your specific situation requires additional support.
There’s a reason our patients don’t keep coming back for the same problem. We don’t just chase symptoms, we find what’s causing your pain and address the root cause of your discomfort.
We hear your story and assess thoroughly to find the true cause of your pain, not just where it hurts.
No jargon. We show you what's happening and why, so you feel confident in the plan ahead.
Hands on osteopathy tailored to you, targeting the source of your discomfort to live & feel better.
A simple strength and mobility plan stops the problem returning, so you stay active for the long run.
Choosing an osteopath is an important decision. That’s why we offer a free, no-obligation discovery session, giving you the opportunity to meet our team, discuss your concerns, and ask any questions before deciding if we’re the right fit for you.
* Note: there is no treatment given at one of our free discovery session. It’s for you to ask us more questions and for us to confirm whether or not we think we can help you. Refer to the ‘Terms and Conditions‘ page for more detail.
Ready to book your appointment?
Online bookings are available for your convenience. Please note – if you can’t find a suitable appointment time, please contact our clinic and our team will be happy to help arrange a time that works for you.
Osteopathy may be appropriate for a range of musculoskeletal concerns. Explore some of the common conditions our osteopaths assess and manage below.