The knee is subject to a great deal of use in daily life, and knee pain is a common problem that many people will experience. Although there are many possible causes of knee pain, most knee pains are simply due to overuse or sprains and strains, and can be treated effectively, affordably and quickly with physical therapy.
We are a welcoming family clinic offering osteopathy in Blackheath, South-East London. We are easily accessible from the surrounding areas including Greenwich, Woolwich and Lewisham, and offer a range of treatments including osteopathy, cranial osteopathy and dry needling. We also treat common related conditions including back pain, hip pain and foot and ankle pain, and booking is quick and easy with our online system.
There are various conditions which can cause knee pain. Many are simply due to overuse, will come on gradually and will have no clear and obvious cause, whilst others may have an obvious cause, e.g. a sudden sprain or strain whilst playing sports, gardening, etc., or be due to an underlying illness or condition such as Osgood-Shattler disease.
Some common causes of knee pain include:
Strains and sprains, when the muscles or tendons of the knee (strain) or ligaments of the knee (sprain) have been forced into an unnatural position or outside of their range of motion, or injured by excessive load (e.g. by lifting a heavy weight)
Bursitis – inflammation of the bursa, a fluid filled sac which protects and cushions the knee joint. This often occurs due to repeated pressure on the knee, for example for kneeling for a long time, making certain professions such as plumbers more susceptible.
Patellar Tendinitis – inflammation of the tendon which joins the kneecap to the shin. This may occur due to repeated use, for example by running, or competing in sports which involve jumping, or simply due to wear and tear through gardening, housework or daily life.
Torn ligaments – the collateral and cruciate ligaments which support and strengthen the knee are frequently damaged. These range from a grade 1 injury – where the ligament is overstretched without other damage, through to a grade 3 injury where the ligament is completely torn and may require surgery.
At our Blackheath osteopathic clinic, we are able to thoroughly assess and accurately diagnose the cause of your knee pain, and refer you to the appropriate service if osteopathic treatment is not right for your condition or if you require further tests or scans. There is no need to wait to start your journey to recovery as you can normally make an appointment within 24-48 hours.
The knee joint essentially joins together the thigh bone and the shin bone. Four ligaments, the ACL, MCL, PCL and LCL, run down the front and back and either side of the knee, giving it strength and stability, and two C-shaped pieces of cartilage called the meniscus are situated on either side of the knee joint, providing further stability and acting as shock absorbers between the different parts of the joint. The quadriceps (front of the thigh) and hamstring (back of the thigh) muscles move the joint back and forth.
The knee joints carry the weight of the entire upper body and are subject to a lot of use in daily life. Although the knee joint flexes back and forth easily, it has not evolved to handle a twisting motion or to bend forward. All these factors mean that the knee joint is particularly vulnerable to injury, and knee injuries are reasonably common as a result.
Although it’s no substitute for a professional examination, the location of pain can often give clues as to the type of knee problem you’re experiencing:
Pain above the knee can be caused by a problem with the quadricep muscle due to excessive use or lifting
Pain at the front of the knee could be bursitis, arthritis, or an injury to the patella (kneecap)
Pain behind the knee could be arthritis, a Baker’s cyst, or caused by a hamstring problem
Pain at the sides of the knee could be caused by damage to the collateral ligaments or meniscus
To get to the root cause of your knee pain and start effective treatment, book an appointment at our Blackheath osteopathy clinic
Our skilled and experienced practitioners take a person-centred approach and are dedicated to helping you back to full health, whatever your age, activity level or health goals. Our osteopaths are fully registered with the General Osteopathic Council and Institute of Osteopathy.
Osteopathy is an ideal treatment for most musculoskeletal knee pain that does not involve a fracture or dislocation or require surgery. Osteopaths use a range of physical therapy techniques to remove muscular tension, promote healing and improve joint alignment. These include direct manipulation of the joint, soft tissue techniques such as deep tissue massage and myofascial release, and dry needling.
Osteopaths train for a minimum of 4 years and are regulated in the UK by the General Osteopathic Council. Osteopathy is one of the 14 Allied Health Professions and you can also find many osteopaths working in musculoskeletal departments of the NHS. Osteopaths are also Primary Care Practitioners, meaning we are able to accurately assess and diagnose your problem in the first instance and refer you to the correct service or for further tests if osteopathy is not the most appropriate treatment for you.
You can learn more about osteopathy on our osteopathy page, or contact us with any questions and we will be happy to advise.
At our Blackheath osteopathic clinic, we offer effective diagnosis and treatment of knee pain and related conditions including hip pain and foot and ankle pain, and offer Blackheath back pain clinic and Blackheath sports injury clinic services.
We are a welcoming clinic suitable for all the family. We offer a range of treatments including osteopathy, cranial osteopathy, dry needling and sports therapy, and booking is quick and easy using our online system. If you have any questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help and advise.
The information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Nirosan Sriskandarajah MOst, osteopath and clinical director of Sphere Osteopathic Clinic.
Sphere Osteopathic Clinic
5 Delacourt Road
Blackheath
London SE3 8XA
