Knee pain treatment in Wokingham, Berkshire

Knee pain affects people of all ages – from runners and sportspeople to those experiencing age-related wear and tear. At the Wokingham Therapy Clinic, our team of therapists offers a range of effective treatments to help you move more freely and get back to the activities you enjoy.

On this page

1. Common causes of knee pain
2. Symptoms
3. How we treat knee pain
4. Research and evidence
5. Self-help advice
6. Our acupuncturist

1. Common causes of knee pain

The knee is a complex joint that takes significant load with every step. Common causes of knee pain include:

• Osteoarthritis – wear and tear of the cartilage, more common with age
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner's knee) – pain around or behind the kneecap
• Meniscus injury – tear of the cartilage cushion inside the knee
• Ligament injury – including ACL, PCL, MCL and LCL sprains or tears
• Patellar tendonitis (jumper's knee) – inflammation of the tendon below the kneecap
• Iliotibial band syndrome – common in runners and cyclists
• Bursitis – inflammation of the small fluid-filled sacs around the joint
• Referred pain – from the hip or lower back

2. Symptoms of knee pain

Knee pain presents in many different ways depending on the underlying cause. Common symptoms include:

• Aching or sharp pain in or around the knee
• Swelling and stiffness
• Clicking, popping or grinding sensations
• Instability or the knee "giving way"
• Reduced range of movement
• Pain when walking up or down stairs
• Pain that worsens with activity or after prolonged sitting

3. How we treat knee pain

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is recommended by NICE as a treatment option for osteoarthritis of the knee. It reduces pain and inflammation, improves joint function and stimulates the body's own healing response. Research has consistently shown acupuncture to be effective for knee osteoarthritis, often providing results that last well beyond the course of treatment.

Osteopathy

Osteopathy takes a whole-body approach to knee pain, addressing not just the knee itself but also the hip, ankle and lower back, which often contribute to knee problems through altered biomechanics.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is central to the treatment of most knee problems. Targeted exercises strengthen the quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes, improve patellar tracking and correct movement patterns that may be contributing to your pain.

Sports massage

Sports massage helps release tension in the quadriceps, hamstrings, calf muscles and IT band, all of which influence knee mechanics.

4. Research and evidence

Research strongly supports the use of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. A large meta-analysis published in The Lancet found that acupuncture provided significantly better pain relief than sham acupuncture or usual care for chronic musculoskeletal pain, including knee osteoarthritis. The benefits were maintained at 12-month follow-up.

NICE guidelines for osteoarthritis (NG226) recommend therapeutic exercise as first-line treatment, which all of our physiotherapists, osteopaths and sports massage therapists can support.

5. Self-help advice

Alongside treatment, the following measures can help:

• Maintain a healthy weight to reduce load on the knees
• Strengthen the muscles around the knee, particularly the quadriceps and glutes
• Warm up properly before exercise
• Choose supportive, well-fitting footwear
• Avoid prolonged periods of sitting with the knees bent
• Apply ice to an acutely painful or swollen knee

What patients say – Google reviews

Our knee pain acupuncturist in Wokingham

Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto BM (Beijing), BSc (Hons) TCM, MBAcC, MRCHM

Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto has practised acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for over 25 years and has helped many runners, athletes and patients with age-related knee pain return to normal activity. NICE specifically recommends acupuncture as an option for knee osteoarthritis. He holds a 5.0-star Google rating from over 230 reviews. Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto's acupuncture is recognised by most private health insurance companies.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine (BM) from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine – a full-time, five-year medical degree including clinical internships at two of the largest hospitals in Beijing. He is a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine and the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine.