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
- Common causes of knee pain
- Symptoms
- How we treat knee pain
- Research and evidence
- Self-help advice
- 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
Our acupuncturist
Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto BM (Beijing), BSc (Hons) TCM, MBAcC, MRCHM
Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto has been practising acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for over 25 years. He is passionate about empowering people with the ancient knowledge of Chinese medicine through lifestyle and diet.
Dr (TCM) D'Alberto graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in China – a full-time, five-year degree programme that included six months of clinical internship at two of the largest hospitals in Beijing.
Dr (TCM) D'Alberto practises acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping from his own acupuncture clinic in Wokingham. He is a member of the British Acupuncture Council and practises traditional Chinese acupuncture.
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