Physiotherapy involves a series of exercises and manual therapies designed to improve knee strength, flexibility, and mobility, ultimately reducing pain and enhancing function. It often includes stretching, strengthening, and balance exercises tailored to your specific condition. It is typically the first line of treatment for many knee conditions and can be done in a clinic or at home with guidance.
Generally not painful, but some discomfort may occur during certain exercises, especially if the knee is already inflamed or sore.
Physiotherapy is very effective, especially when started early. It can help improve knee function, reduce pain, and in many cases, prevent the need for surgery.
Yes, absolutely! Home exercises are not just permissible; they are a critical and non-negotiable component of successful physiotherapy. The sessions you have in the clinic are important for hands-on treatment, expert assessment, and learning the correct form, but they only occur a few times a week. The real progress happens in the gaps between these sessions. Think of your time in the clinic as receiving the instruction manual and your home exercises as putting in the daily practice to build muscle memory and strength. Your physiotherapist will design a specific routine tailored to your condition, often involving stretches, strengthening exercises, and balance work. They will ensure you know how to perform them safely and effectively, perhaps using simple tools like resistance bands or even just your own body weight . Consistency is the key; performing your prescribed routine even for 15-20 minutes daily yields far better results than doing a marathon session once a week. This regular effort accelerates healing, reinforces corrected movement patterns, and empowers you to take control of your recovery.
For many common orthopaedic problems, physiotherapy can absolutely prevent the need for surgery, and this is often the primary goal when surgery isn't immediately necessary. Conditions like rotator cuff tendinopathy, mild to moderate knee arthritis, and many forms of mechanical back pain frequently respond well to a focused course of rehabilitation. By strengthening the supporting muscles, improving joint flexibility, and correcting poor movement patterns, physiotherapy can offload the injured or painful joint, significantly reducing symptoms and improving function. Think of it as creating a strong, supportive scaffolding around a weak structure . If you can achieve a good quality of life and manage your pain effectively through conservative means, there is no need to proceed with an operation. Even when surgery is ultimately unavoidable—such as for a complete ACL tear—pre-operative physiotherapy (prehab) can optimise your strength and range of motion, which is directly linked to faster and more successful recovery after the operation. It buys time, improves function, and often eliminates the need for an invasive procedure.
Knowing if your physiotherapy is successful involves looking beyond just the pain score. While a reduction in pain is an obvious and welcome sign, Dr Khoo encourages patients to focus on functional improvements as the key indicator. Is your ability to perform daily tasks, like climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, or reaching overhead, becoming easier? Are you noticing an increase in your walking distance or duration? Can you now stand for longer periods without discomfort? These are the real-world metrics of success. Your physiotherapist will use objective measures in the clinic, such as measuring your joint range of motion, muscle strength, and balance, and they will track these against your baseline assessment. It's a gradual process, but you should notice a slow, steady upward trend in your capabilities over a few weeks. If your function is improving and your reliance on pain medication is decreasing, even if your pain hasn't vanished entirely, the treatment is working. Open communication with your therapist about your weekly achievements and struggles is essential for monitoring progress and adjusting the plan.
The timeline for seeing results from physiotherapy is highly individualised and depends on several factors: the nature of your condition, how long you’ve had it, your age, overall health, and, critically, your commitment to the home exercise program. For many soft tissue injuries or general back and neck pain, you might feel a noticeable difference within the first two to four weeks of consistent therapy. This initial period is often focused on reducing inflammation and improving pain tolerance. More complex or chronic conditions, such as recovery from a fracture or managing a long-standing arthritic condition, may require several months to achieve a stable and satisfactory outcome. Dr Khoo often tells patients, “Think of rehabilitation as a marathon, not a sprint.” It’s a process of gradually re-educating your muscles and nervous system. While quick initial relief is encouraging, the long-term, lasting results come from disciplined effort over an extended period. Your physiotherapist will set realistic milestones and periodically reassess your progress to give you an estimated timeframe for achieving your personal goals.
The frequency of your physiotherapy sessions is tailored to the stage and severity of your injury. Typically, when you are in the acute phase, dealing with high pain and limited mobility, Dr Khoo often recommends sessions two to three times per week. This higher frequency allows the therapist to provide hands-on treatment, ensure your exercises are being done correctly, and quickly adjust the plan as your body begins to heal. As your pain starts to decrease and you become more confident and independent with your home exercises, the frequency will usually be tapered down to once a week, then perhaps once every two weeks. The ultimate goal is to transition you to a point where you are managing your condition entirely on your own, with the knowledge and tools provided by the therapist. Consistent attendance, especially in the early weeks, is crucial because it builds the foundation for long-term recovery and prevents the development of bad habits or compensatory movement patterns. Always discuss the ideal frequency with your therapist based on their clinical judgment of your progress.
Physiotherapy is often the first-line treatment and, for many orthopaedic conditions, it can absolutely be enough. Dr Khoo often sees patients with issues like early-stage arthritis, mild ligament sprains, or general muscle imbalances where a structured physiotherapy program provides complete relief and restoration of function. Think of it like tuning a finely engineered car ; sometimes all the car needs is proper balancing and alignment to run smoothly again, not a major engine overhaul. The decision comes down to the severity and nature of your specific condition. If your joint damage is extensive, such as advanced arthritis with bone-on-bone contact, or if you have a complete tear of a major structure like an ACL or a severe rotator cuff tear, surgery may eventually be required. However, even in these complex cases, pre-operative physiotherapy (prehab) is crucial for optimising your outcome. Physiotherapy’s goal is to maximise your body’s natural healing and compensating abilities, addressing the root cause of the pain rather than just masking the symptoms. For many common aches, pains, and functional limitations, it is the most effective and safest standalone treatment.
It’s important to understand that some transient discomfort or muscle soreness is a normal part of the rehabilitation process, especially when you are challenging muscles and joints that have been inactive or injured. However, a sharp, sudden, or lasting increase in pain is a signal that something needs attention. If your pain increases significantly during a specific exercise, you should immediately stop that activity and inform your physiotherapist. Never try to "push through" a pain that feels wrong or destabilising; this is often how minor irritations turn into setbacks. A common example is someone starting an intensive leg strengthening program; mild muscle burn is expected, but sharp knee joint pain is not. Your therapist needs to know the exact nature of the pain—its location, type (sharp, dull, throbbing), and how long it lasts. They can then modify the exercise, reduce the load, or adjust the technique to ensure you continue to progress without causing harm. Always remember that your physiotherapy plan is individualised and flexible, and the therapist is there to guide you safely through the process, not just to give you exercises.
Depending on your condition, physiotherapy may be one component of a multi-faceted treatment plan. Dr Khoo always advocates for a comprehensive approach. For example, if you are experiencing severe joint pain from inflammation, your treatment plan might involve medication (such as anti-inflammatories) alongside physiotherapy to manage the initial pain and allow you to participate in the exercises effectively. For some chronic pain conditions, additional treatments might include seeing a pain specialist, having a steroid or local anaesthetic injection into a joint or bursa, or consulting with an occupational therapist. Sometimes, particularly for complex spinal issues, a referral to a different health professional, such as an exercise physiologist or a clinical Pilates instructor, can be beneficial once the initial acute pain has settled. The decision to incorporate other treatments is always made collaboratively and based on your specific diagnostic findings and your response to the initial phase of physiotherapy. The goal is to use the least invasive, most effective combination of therapies to restore your function.