Overview
Understanding Knee Injuries
The knee absorbs large forces when running, landing and changing direction, so it is one of the most commonly injured joints in sport. Knee injuries range from overuse pain around the kneecap to acute ligament and cartilage tears, some of which need surgical management.
At our Castle Hill clinic we assess and rehabilitate a broad range of knee injuries for athletes and active people across Sydney. ACL injuries have their own dedicated guide; this page covers the other common knee presentations we see.
Types
Common types we see
Meniscus injuries
Tears of the medial or lateral meniscus, from acute twisting injuries to degenerative change. Managed with or without surgery, including meniscectomy or meniscal repair.
Articular cartilage injuries
Damage to the smooth chondral surface of the joint, requiring carefully dosed loading to protect long-term joint health.
Patellofemoral joint injuries
Kneecap problems including patellofemoral pain (overuse), acute patellar instability or dislocation, and growth-related presentations in younger athletes.
Collateral ligament injuries
MCL and LCL sprains from contact or valgus/varus forces, usually managed with graded rehabilitation.
Common presentations
- Pain around or behind the kneecap with stairs, squatting or running
- Locking, catching or clicking
- Swelling after activity
- Knee giving way or the kneecap shifting
Symptoms alone can't confirm a diagnosis. If you have a new injury, have it assessed by a health professional.
Rehab focus
How rehabilitation progresses
- 01
Acute Repair
Settle swelling and irritability, identify the injured structures and respect any surgical healing precautions.
- 02
Reloading
Restore walking and knee movement, introducing tolerable quadriceps, hip and calf loading.
- 03
Rebuilding
Progress lower-limb strength and single-leg control, then build running, jumping, landing and change-of-direction capacity to prepare for training.
- 04
Return to Training
Make a graded return to training from control to chaos: move from predictable drills to reactive sport situations, progressively increasing training volume and intensity.
- 05
Return to Sport
Combine objective testing with training tolerance and clinical guidance before a graded return to competition.
- 06
Prevention & Resilience
Maintain an ongoing strength plan and monitor knee swelling and load response as sport demands increase.
These are the six phases of our rehab framework, adapted to your injury. Phases overlap and are progressed by criteria, not fixed dates. See how our rehab programs are structured.
Objective testing
Testing before return to sport
Knee pain often settles before strength has fully returned. Objective testing helps reveal lingering deficits that can contribute to recurring problems.
- Quadriceps and hamstring strength
- Single-leg squat, hop and landing control
- Swelling and load response over time
- Running and change-of-direction tolerance
Recovery expectations
How long does recovery take?
Patellofemoral injuries commonly take around 2-6 months to rehabilitate, while meniscus and cartilage injuries often take 6-9 months, particularly after repair. Your timeline depends on the structure involved, any surgery and how your knee responds to progressive loading.
Typical range: Approx. 2-9 months
