Assessment
A full hour on your history and how your body actually moves. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a clear plan you can actually follow.
Concern
Knee Pain Treatment in London
Most knee pain: around the kneecap, down the outer thigh, in a tendon, or in an early-osteoarthritic joint, is mechanical, not the start of an inevitable decline. The instinct to stop and rest usually backfires: the joint loses the strength that protected it, and the pain returns the moment you load it again. NICE names therapeutic exercise a core treatment for osteoarthritis at any age. We build that programme across six central London clinics.
Overview
Understanding knee pain
Knee pain is one of the most common reasons active adults seek physiotherapy, and most of it is mechanical rather than a sign of serious joint damage. The usual presentations are:
- Patellofemoral pain: around or behind the kneecap, often worse on stairs, squatting, or after long sitting.
- Iliotibial band (ITB) pain: on the outer knee, usually linked to a jump in running volume.
- Patellar tendinopathy: a load-related tendon problem from repetitive jumping or change of direction.
- Early osteoarthritis: age-related joint change that responds well to exercise, not rest.
- Post-injury and post-surgical knees: rebuilding strength and confidence after a sprain, ligament or meniscal injury, or an operation.
Across all of these, exercise-based loading is first-line. National guidance recommends therapeutic exercise and self-management for osteoarthritis ahead of imaging or surgery, and progressive loading is the primary treatment for tendinopathy. We assess first to rule out the rare red flags, identify which structure is driving your pain and the load behind it, then build an individualised physiotherapy plan around how you actually train, work, and move.
For a tendon that has not settled with loading, shockwave therapy may be added as an adjunct, and after knee surgery our post-operative rehabilitation rebuilds strength to clear milestones.
Excellent
From 4 five-star Google reviews
Source: Google
I had a fantastic experience working with Katrina as my physiotherapist. From the start, she was incredibly friendly and genuinely listened to my concerns. She adapted my rehab plan specifically to suit my individual needs and time frame, as I was preparing for a move and had a clear goal to be back playing football. Katrina not only helped me reach that goal right on time, but she also used a variety of techniques, including dry needling and massage, to relieve tightness in the surrounding muscles and support my overall recovery. Her attention to detail, encouragement, and tailored approach made a real difference in my progress. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a physio!
Katrina is outstanding. After struggling with a stubborn Achilles injury, she not only got me pain-free but back to running and sport. Her expertise in acupuncture, massage, and tailored rehab planning is second to none. On top of that, she brings great energy and conversation that make each session genuinely enjoyable. If you need a physio who combines real skill with a personal touch, Katrina is the one to see.
Great experience with Katrina. She helped me with a sprained ankle with a very doable and effective treatment plan. The exercises were not overcomplicated and easy to incorporate into my day to day life which meant that I actually did them and was able to recover within 5 weeks in time to do a tough mudder. Really easy to chat to! Would recommend.
Katrina was great with me! I had a hip injury and expected it to take ages to fix but with the exercises she gave me to do and acupuncture, it all went away quite quickly. I now have exercises I can do regularly in the future and knowledge on how to prevent. Great experience!
Physiotherapy for knee pain can help to:
Pin down what is actually driving it
Kneecap pain, a tendon, the outer knee, and an early-osteoarthritic joint each need different loading. We assess first to find the source and the load behind it, so the plan targets the real problem rather than the sorest spot.
Settle the pain without stopping
Complete rest tends to leave the knee weaker, so it flares the moment you load it again. We show you what to ease off and what to keep doing, so you stay active while the irritation calms down.
Rebuild the strength that protects the joint
Most knee pain responds to progressive loading of the quadriceps, hip and gluteal muscles. We build that capacity back gradually until the knee handles stairs, running and training without complaint.
Treat osteoarthritis without rushing to surgery
National guidance names therapeutic exercise a core treatment for knee osteoarthritis at any age. A structured strength programme improves pain and function, and for many people it delays or avoids the need for surgery.
Return to sport after injury or surgery
After a ligament, meniscal or post-operative knee, we rebuild strength, control and confidence to clear milestones, so you go back when the knee is ready to take the load.
Why it happens
What causes knee pain?
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A jump in running, jumping or gym work that is more than the knee is ready for
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Weakness in the thigh, glute and hip muscles, so the kneecap and tendons take load they are not ready for
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An irritated tendon just below the kneecap, from repeated jumping, hopping or turning without enough recovery
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Irritation of the tough band down the outside of the thigh, often after a jump in mileage or a change of surface or shoes
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Early arthritis: the age-related joint changes that do far better with exercise than with rest
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Recovery after a knee sprain, ligament or meniscal injury, or knee surgery, where the strength and the ability to take load need rebuilding
What happens at your first appointment
We work out what is really holding you back, then agree the plan with you before you leave.
Your first appointment runs a full 60 minutes: a detailed history, then a thorough examination of how you move, your strength, and the affected area. We explain what we find in plain English and agree a working diagnosis with you.
Treatment starts the same day, and you leave with the first exercises of a plan built around your goal.
Move well, move freely. That has been the idea since 1997. We settle the symptoms first, then rebuild the strength that stops them coming back, so you finish stronger than when you started.
- One clinical team across six central London clinics, from Soho to Canary Wharf, with same-week appointments.
- Treating central London since 1997: 28 years and roughly 160,000 patients.
- Recognised by seven major UK insurers, including Bupa, AXA and Vitality, with self-pay welcome.
Physiotherapy fees and insurance in London
You can book online directly, with no GP referral needed and same-week appointments across all six clinics. If you are using private health insurance, check your policy first: some insurers ask for a GP referral before your first session.
- Initial assessment: a full 60 minutes covering your history, examination and a working diagnosis
- Follow-up treatment: 45 minutes, with your plan progressed at each visit
- Extended 60-minute treatments for complex or multi-area problems
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna, Nuffield Health and WPA
Your journey
with Soho Physiotherapy
Everything is built around you. Whether the goal is a marathon or a comfortable commute, we find what is driving the problem, treat it, and build the strength that keeps the fix in place. Our aim is to get you better and give you the tools to stay better for the long term.
Treatment
Hands-on care to settle symptoms and restore movement: joint mobilisation, soft-tissue work and dry needling where they genuinely help, in line with national guidance.
Rebuild
Progressive exercise that returns the strength, control and load tolerance your body needs for work, sport and everything in between. This is the part that makes recovery last.
Perform
A short home programme, sensible loads, and the habits that keep problems rare. Then we discharge you: we don't sell sessions you don't need.
What we treat across our six London clinics
- Musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy
- Manual therapy and progressive exercise rehabilitation
- Dry needling and Western medical acupuncture
- Sports massage and soft-tissue therapy
- Shockwave therapy for stubborn tendon problems
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Women's and pelvic health physiotherapy
- Workplace and desk setup assessments
- Running and gait analysis
Treatment approach
How do we treat knee pain?
Physiotherapy
Price on enquiryAssessment identifies which structure is driving the pain: patellofemoral, ITB, tendon, or early osteoarthritis, then delivers an individualised, progressive loading programme, the first-line, best-evidenced treatment across all of these presentations.
See treatment detail →Shockwave Therapy
Price on enquiryFor patellar tendinopathy that has not settled with first-line loading, focused shockwave may be worth considering alongside continued rehabilitation, in line with NICE interventional procedures guidance: never a substitute for progressive loading.
See treatment detail →Post-Operative Rehabilitation
Price on enquiryAfter ligament reconstruction, meniscal surgery, or knee replacement, a structured, surgeon-aligned, criteria-based programme rebuilds range, strength, and confidence for a safe return to sport and daily life.
See treatment detail →Sports Massage
Price on enquiryAdjunctive soft-tissue work for the surrounding quadriceps, ITB, and calf tension during a rehab or training block: useful alongside loading, not as a stand-alone treatment for knee pain.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Common questions about
knee pain in London
What is the best treatment for knee pain?
For most knee pain: patellofemoral, ITB-related, tendon-related, or early osteoarthritis, exercise-based loading is first-line. NICE recommends therapeutic exercise for osteoarthritis, and the BJSM consensus supports progressive loading for tendinopathy. A graded strength programme tailored to your knee rebuilds capacity. Rest alone rarely works and can leave the joint weaker than before.
Should I rest my knee or keep moving?
Usually keep moving within sensible limits. Complete rest tends to leave the knee weaker, so pain returns when you resume activity. The evidence supports relative rest: temporarily easing the most aggravating loads while progressively rebuilding tolerance through structured exercise. Your physiotherapist guides exactly how much load is right for your stage of recovery.
Do I need a scan for my knee pain?
Usually not. NICE advises against routine imaging for osteoarthritis, and scans often show age-related changes common in pain-free people that rarely alter treatment. We reserve imaging for clear red flags, a locked or giving-way knee suggesting a structural injury, or symptoms that fail to improve and point to a specific cause needing investigation.
When should I seek urgent help for my knee?
Seek urgent care after significant trauma, or if your knee is hot, swollen, and you feel unwell with a fever, which can signal infection. A knee that locks, gives way, or cannot bear weight needs prompt assessment for a structural injury. For these, physiotherapy is not the first step: see your GP or attend A&E.
Related Concerns
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Soho Physiotherapy • 111 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DT
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