As with all the joints in the lower limb, knee pain is often caused by problems elsewhere, usually the low back, hip or foot.

It can be caused by arthritis, and is one of the most common sporting injuries. Knee pain patients often struggle to walk especially on stairs (and very often worse going down the stairs!). Some swelling may occur on the knee, which indicates an inflammation within the joint.

A torn cartilage can be the cause, often associated with a locking or clicking of the knee, but usually it is the other soft tissues around the knee which are the problem. Ligaments, tendons and muscles are all working very hard to keep the knee stable, and they can injure if loaded wrongly.