Knee Pain and Osteoarthritis Physiotherapy

Knee pain is one of the most common reasons people seek physiotherapy. Whether it came on suddenly after an injury, built up gradually from years of activity, or is related to osteoarthritis that's gotten harder to ignore. At InHealth Physiotherapy in Etobicoke, we assess what's actually driving your knee pain and build a treatment plan around it, so you can move more freely and get back to the things that matter.

What's Causing Your Knee Pain?

Knee pain rarely has a single, obvious source. Common causes we see at InHealth include:

• Knee osteoarthritis (OA):  the gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joint, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling, especially with stairs, prolonged sitting, or getting up from a chair

• Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner's knee): pain around or behind the kneecap with activity, common in runners, cyclists, and people who sit for long periods

• Meniscus injuries : a tear or irritation to the shock-absorbing cartilage pads in the knee, from a twist, squat, or repetitive load

• IT band syndrome: tightness and outer knee pain common in runners and cyclists

• Ligament sprains: including MCL, LCL, ACL, and PCL injuries from sport or sudden changes in direction

• Patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee) : tendon irritation at the front of the knee common in jumping and cutting sports

• Post-surgical rehabilitation:  after ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, or total or partial knee replacement

Your knee doesn't exist in isolation. Pain is often influenced by hip strength, foot mechanics, and movement patterns - a full assessment looks at all of it.

How We Treat Knee Pain at InHealth

Your first visit begins with a thorough one-on-one assessment. Your physiotherapist will review your history, assess your movement, strength, joint mechanics, and identify what's contributing to your pain. From there, a personalized treatment plan is built around your findings and your goals.

Treatment may include:

• Manual therapy:  hands-on joint mobilization and soft tissue techniques to restore knee mechanics and reduce pain

• Exercise rehabilitation: targeted strengthening of the quadriceps, glutes, and hip stabilizers to offload the knee joint and address root causes

• Shockwave Therapy: an evidence-supported option for persistent patellar or quadriceps tendinopathy

• Acupuncture : to support pain relief and reduce local inflammation

• Interferential Current (IFC) and TENS : for acute pain management and swelling reduction

• Taping and bracing guidance : to support the knee and modify load during recovery

• Gait and movement re-education: correcting the patterns that contribute to recurring knee stress

• Custom orthotics assessment: when foot mechanics are a contributing factor

For osteoarthritis specifically, physiotherapy is among the most evidence-supported non-surgical approaches. A structured exercise program and load management can meaningfully reduce pain and improve function, even in moderate-to-severe OA.