The knee is a strong and stable joint that is surrounded by powerful muscles. Occasionally the knee can become injured due to repeatedly overloading the joint, or by experiencing a sudden impact or fall. Often these injuries are minor and follow the natural healing process. These injuries can be managed using the principles of POLICE, under the guidance of a Physiotherapist.
Occasionally injuries can be more severe and need medical management (see the red flags section). As with all weight-baring joints, injuries can happen slowly over time, due to excessive weight gain and a lack of muscle strength.
The best available evidence shows that for non-traumatic knee injuries, the best injury prevention and recovery strategies are weight management and graded leg strengthening exercises.