General Information
Resources for your Knee (alternatively visit our Hip or Thigh/Leg/Calf resource pages)
Many of us will experience knee pain at some point in our lives. Although it can be painful, it very rarely due to a serious cause.
What causes knee pain?
- Repetitive, new or reduced exercise or activities (e.g. running, gardening, owkr)
- Bone, ligament or cartilage injury due to an injury or a fall
- Muscle or tendon strain or rupture
- Weight gain increases the load carried through the knee
- Other conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia
- Factors such as poor sleep, stress or anxiety, feeling run down, obesity or smoking
What are the symptoms?
You may experience constant or intermittent (comes and goes) symptoms that are aggravated by certain activities and reduced by others. Symptoms include:
- Pain
- Swelling or bruising
- Reduced movement of the knee
- Reduced power in the knee muscles e.g. quadriceps (front of thigh) or hamstrings (back of thigh)
- Redness, warmth to touch
- 'Giving way' on weight bearing
- 'Locking' of the knee joint
Self Help
Knee pain will normally resolve within 6-8 weeks without any intervention. Try some of these self-help measures to aid your recovery:
- For the first few days after onset of pain, changing or reducing your usual activities / exercise may help e.g. cycling rather than running. As your pain improves, aim to gradually return to your usual activities / exercise, which will help your recovery in the long term
- Try a short cause of pain medication as advised by your pharmacist
- Try to stay at work, or return as soon as you are able. Your employer, GP or health practitioner should be able to support a graded return to your normal duties
- Try and get a good night's sleep - placing a pillow between your knees may help
- Try some of the exercises on these pages and build up gradually
Should I refer myself to Physiotherapy?
If you have tried the self-help measures on these pages and the symptoms have not settled, you can self-refer to MSK Physiotherapy if you live in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.
For more information on how to self-refer to MSK Physiotherapy visit our Service Page.
When should I seek urgent medical advice?
Call 111 for advice or visit your local Walk-In Centre if you have any of the following:
- your knee is hot, red, swollen and painful
- after an injury e.g. a fall or twisting movement
- you've had difficulty weight-beraing or walking on your painful leg
- you are unable to straighten your knee (e.g. feels locked)
- your knee is swollen and/or giving way
Call your GP if:
- your pain is getting progressively worse
Useful websites and resources
General Knee Advice and Exercises
Other Useful Advice or Information
Videos
Stiff Knee after Knee Replacement
Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Alternatively visit our Hip or Thigh/Leg/Calf resource pages.
Urgent / Out of Hours Health Care
If in doubt which service is best for you, call 111 for advice or visit LLR ICB Urgent Health Care for more information.
Back to MSK Service Page
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