Knee Pain

Knee pain is the single most common complaint we treat in runners and running-based athletes at our Bardon podiatry clinic. Anterior knee pain — pain under or around the kneecap — accounts for 40% of all pain presentations we see in runners, and that figure is even higher in adolescents, particularly female adolescents.

The reason knee pain is so prevalent is anatomical: the knee sits directly between the foot and the hip. Any instability travelling up from the foot, and any instability coming down from the hip, converges at the knee. This is why treating the knee in isolation so often fails — the real drivers are frequently above or below it.

Book online with our Sports Podiatrists →

Why a Correct Diagnosis Comes First

Before any treatment begins, our podiatrists carry out a thorough clinical assessment to identify exactly what structure is causing your knee pain and — critically — where the instability is coming from. Is it foot pronation loading the inside of the knee? Weak glutes causing the knee to collapse inward? Poor run technique placing excessive force through the kneecap? The answer determines the treatment.

"Knee pain has many causes and many faces. I see patients who've been told to rest for months with no improvement, because the underlying biomechanical driver was never identified. Getting the diagnosis right first is what makes everything else work."
— Peter Charles, Sports Podiatrist & Owner, Shoes Feet Gear Bardon

Our Targeted Treatment Approach

The good news is that knee pain has many treatment angles — and we use all of them. Once we have an accurate diagnosis, our treatment pathway typically addresses:

• Feet & footwear — Correct shoe selection and prescription orthotics to control foot pronation and reduce the load travelling up to the knee. This is often the fastest and most effective first intervention.
• Run technique — Overstriding, crossover gait and excessive forward lean all increase knee load significantly. Small technique changes can produce dramatic reductions in knee pain for runners.
• Glute strengthening & muscle rebalancing — Weak glutes are one of the most common contributors to knee pain, particularly in female runners and adolescents. Targeted hip strengthening reduces the inward collapse of the knee during loading.
• Direct knee treatment — Stretching, foam rolling, and soft tissue work to the quadriceps, ITB, and surrounding structures to reduce local pain and improve joint mechanics.

Who We See

We treat knee pain in kids and adults across Brisbane's inner west — from recreational joggers to competitive athletes, and from children with growing pains to adults managing long-term knee conditions. Our Bardon clinic serves Paddington, Ashgrove, Toowong, Red Hill and surrounding suburbs.

Select your knee pain type below for detailed diagnosis and treatment information, or book online to see one of our podiatrists today.

---