Knee Pain Treatment in Dublin
Knee pain is very common. It can follow an injury, build up gradually with sport or activity, or come from osteoarthritis. This page explains the common causes, what usually helps, when to get urgent help, and how we approach knee pain at our clinic in Monkstown, Co. Dublin.
What causes knee pain?
- Injuries: sprains, ligament injuries and meniscus (cartilage) tears, often from sport or a fall.
- Overuse: pain at the front of the knee (patellofemoral pain) or in the tendon below the kneecap (jumper's knee), often after a change in training.
- Osteoarthritis: the most common cause of long-term knee pain in people over 45. It is usually diagnosed from your symptoms and an examination, without a scan [1].
What helps?
Exercise
For most knee problems, and especially osteoarthritis, exercise is the main treatment [1][2]. That usually means strengthening the muscles around the knee and hip, improving control and balance, and building up general activity. Benefits tend to be modest and build over several weeks, and they last best if you keep exercising [2].
Hands-on treatment
Hands-on treatment, such as joint mobilisation and soft-tissue work, can be added to an exercise programme. Guidelines for osteoarthritis say to use it only alongside exercise, not on its own [1].
Weight and activity
For people who are carrying extra weight, losing some can ease knee pain and make everyday activities easier. Even a small amount can help, and more tends to help more [1]. If you'd like support, your GP can help, and we can build activity into your plan.
Laser therapy
NICE does not recommend laser or other electrotherapy for osteoarthritis [1]. Some trials of low-level laser have found short-term pain relief [3]. Laser is available on request after we've discussed the evidence with you, alongside exercise. See laser therapy for knee pain.
Waiting for an orthopaedic appointment?
Waits for an orthopaedic appointment in Ireland can be long. An exercise and education programme while you wait can ease pain and improve walking. In a trial of people who were eligible for knee replacement, most of those given a 12-week non-surgical programme hadn't had surgery a year later, although people who had the operation improved more on average [4]. Keep your place on the waiting list, and use the time to get stronger.
Free, reliable information is available from jointpain.ie, Arthritis Ireland and GLA:D Ireland, which runs group exercise and education programmes for hip and knee osteoarthritis.
How we approach knee pain
- Assessment first. Your first visit is an assessment with our chiropractor or Chartered Physiotherapist, and includes a first treatment if it's suitable. We check for warning signs and explain what we find.
- A plan built around exercise, with hands-on treatment if it suits you.
- A review at your sixth visit. We repeat your questionnaire and check your goals. If you're not improving, we'll say so and talk about other options, including your GP or a specialist.
You can book an appointment or contact us with any questions.
Sources
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2022). Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226
- Lawford BJ, Hall M, Hinman RS, et al. (2024). Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD004376. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004376.pub4
- Stausholm MB, Naterstad IF, Joensen J, et al. (2019). Efficacy of low-level laser therapy on pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials. BMJ Open 9:e031142. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031142
- Skou ST, Roos EM, Laursen MB, et al. (2015). A randomized, controlled trial of total knee replacement. New England Journal of Medicine 373:1597–1606. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1505467