Knee Pain · Evolutio Sports Physio Richmond
Knee pain treated at the source.
ACL rehabilitation, patellofemoral pain, IT band syndrome, meniscus tears, runner's knee and post-surgical rehab. The knee is rarely the whole story. 45-minute assessments that look at the full picture.
Why the knee is complex
Knee pain is one of the most common presentations in sports physiotherapy, and one of the most frequently mismanaged. The knee is not usually the problem. It is the place where problems from the hip above and the ankle and foot below are expressed. Weak hip abductors allow the knee to collapse inward. Limited ankle dorsiflexion forces the knee to compensate during squatting and running. Understanding this chain is the difference between treatment that works and treatment that doesn't.
At Evolutio, our 45-minute initial assessment examines not just the knee but the full kinetic chain. We look at hip strength, ankle mobility, foot mechanics, movement patterns, and training load. We use video treadmill analysis for runners and VALD objective strength testing for complex cases and post-surgical rehabilitation. We work with Ciclo Melbourne on cycling-specific knee issues where bike position is a factor. Read about what to expect at your first visit.
We treat Melbourne's runners, cyclists, CrossFit athletes, AFL and football players, and the active professionals whose knees have started limiting them. If your knee pain has been diagnosed without a thorough assessment of why it developed, the diagnosis is likely incomplete.
Book an assessment
Prefer to call or WhatsApp? 03 9100 3798 or +61 430 436 531. Open Mon to Thu until 7:30pm, Fri until 6pm, Sat until 1pm.
Knee conditions we treat
Treating the knee without understanding why it hurts is what keeps people in pain long-term. These are the conditions we see most often and know best.
The most career-defining knee injury in sport. ACL rehabilitation done properly takes 9 to 12 months. We use VALD objective strength testing at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months to track progress with data, not guesswork, and to clear return to sport only when the numbers support it. We also manage non-surgical ACL pathways for selected patients. Read our complete ACL recovery guide.
Pain behind or around the kneecap that worsens with running, stairs, squatting or prolonged sitting. The most common knee complaint in runners and cyclists. Caused by abnormal kneecap tracking, usually driven by hip weakness, foot mechanics or altered movement patterns rather than a problem in the knee itself. Responds well to targeted rehabilitation when the contributing factors are identified.
Sharp or burning pain on the outer knee that typically develops at a consistent point in a run and forces you to stop. The iliotibial band itself rarely causes ITBS in isolation. Hip abductor weakness, training load spikes and running mechanics are almost always involved. We use video gait analysis to identify the contributing factors and treat the actual cause, not just the painful area. Read our running injury guide.
C-shaped cartilage that cushions and stabilises the knee joint. Tears occur during sudden twisting or rotational forces, common in AFL, soccer and basketball, or through degenerative changes with age. Symptoms include pain, swelling, locking or catching sensations and difficulty fully bending or straightening the knee. Many meniscus tears are managed effectively with physiotherapy without surgery, particularly in the degenerative category. Research from the British Journal of Sports Medicine consistently supports conservative management as a first-line approach.
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is the most commonly sprained knee ligament, typically injured by contact or valgus force during sport. PCL injuries are less common but occur in high-impact sport and motor vehicle accidents. Most MCL and PCL injuries heal well with conservative physiotherapy management. We grade the injury at assessment and develop a sport-specific return-to-play programme from day one.
Degeneration of the patellar tendon, the structure connecting the kneecap to the tibia. Classic presentation is anterior knee pain just below the kneecap, worse after loading activities like jumping, running and squatting. Common in basketball, volleyball, CrossFit and AFL. Responds well to progressive heavy tendon loading programmes rather than rest. We follow the Alfredson-inspired loading protocols validated in sports medicine research.
Gradual cartilage degeneration producing pain, stiffness and swelling that worsens with activity and in the morning. Exercise-based physiotherapy is the most evidence-supported treatment for knee OA, with Cochrane reviews consistently demonstrating its effectiveness for pain and function. We treat knee OA at every stage, including pre and post knee replacement rehabilitation.
Following knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair or arthroscopy, structured rehabilitation is essential for optimal outcomes. We develop sport and activity-specific return programmes, use VALD testing for objective strength benchmarks at key milestones, and communicate with your surgeon throughout. The quality of your rehabilitation determines your outcome more than the surgery itself.
Osgood-Schlatter disease causes pain and swelling at the tibial tubercle (the bony prominence just below the kneecap) in adolescents involved in running and jumping sport. It results from repetitive traction at the growth plate. Load management, targeted strengthening and activity modification allow most young athletes to continue training while symptoms resolve. Read our Osgood-Schlatter guide.
How we treat knee pain
The treatment plan we build for your knee comes entirely from what we find in the assessment. Nothing is generic. Nothing is assumed.
Forty-five minutes examining not just the knee but the hip, ankle, foot and movement patterns that drive knee problems. We use provocation testing, muscle strength assessment, video analysis for runners, and imaging review if available. Within 48 hours you receive a detailed email with your diagnosis and plan.
Manual therapy matched to your specific diagnosis. Joint mobilisation to restore mechanics. Soft tissue work for contributing muscle dysfunction. Dry needling where clinically appropriate. Exercise prescription that loads the correct structures in the right sequence, not a generic knee programme.
Sport-specific rehabilitation that rebuilds strength, power and confidence. For ACL and post-surgical patients we use objective VALD strength testing at each milestone. For runners, treadmill reanalysis confirms gait corrections are holding. You are not cleared until the data supports it.
The clinic
Our Richmond clinic at 11/3 Bromham Place is where Melbourne's active community comes to sort out injuries that have not resolved elsewhere. The combination of extended assessment time, the same physio every session, and a plan delivered in writing within 48 hours is consistently what patients tell us makes the difference.
We work with Ciclo Melbourne on cycling knee cases. We partner with HomeRun Physio on complex running injury cases. We use VALD force plate and dynamometry testing to measure strength asymmetries and track rehabilitation progress with objective data. We are also one of Melbourne's highest-rated sports physio clinics for a reason.
About EvolutioSelf-management
What you do between appointments shapes how quickly you recover. These principles apply across most knee conditions.
Who you will see
No rotating roster. No re-explaining your history. The physio who does your knee assessment is the one who treats you through to the end. Choose who you would like to work with and book directly.
Nine years experience. Complex knee injuries, chronic patellofemoral pain, knee OA, biomechanics and orthotics. Particularly strong at identifying the hip and foot contributors that have been missed in previous assessments. The practitioner you want when the knee has been treated repeatedly without lasting success.
Book with Bayden
Dual Masters in Physiotherapy and Clinical Exercise Physiology from USyd. Particularly strong with ACL rehabilitation, post-surgical knee recovery, strength sport knee injuries and CrossFit athletes. Previously rehab leader for the Western Bulldogs AFLW team. Saturday mornings only, book ahead.
Book with Phill
Warm, attentive and particularly thorough at identifying why knee pain has developed rather than just where it hurts. Excellent with running knee injuries including IT band syndrome and patellofemoral pain, and with patients who have been given inconsistent diagnoses elsewhere. Strong with shoulder injuries too.
Book with Kelsi
Ironman 70.3 triathlete and Ciclo Melbourne bike fitter. The specialist for cycling knee pain, patellofemoral issues in cyclists, and knee conditions where bike position is a contributing factor. Also brings expertise in 3D printed orthotics and broader sports injury rehabilitation.
Book with ShirouzNot sure which physio is right for your knee?
Every practitioner has a different area of strength. Browse the full team first.
Meet the whole teamGetting here
We are at 11/3 Bromham Place, Richmond VIC 3121. Five minutes from South Yarra and Toorak by car, two train stops from Flinders Street, and accessible via the Capital City Trail cycling path for patients riding in. Secure bike storage at the clinic.
Clinic Hours
Pricing 2026
Common questions
Call 03 9100 3798 or WhatsApp +61 430 436 531 if you would like to talk first.
Recovery depends on the specific diagnosis. Acute ligament sprains and mild patellofemoral pain often improve substantially within 4 to 8 weeks. IT band syndrome typically takes 6 to 10 weeks of progressive rehabilitation. Patellar tendinopathy requires 8 to 12 weeks of structured loading. Post-surgical ACL recovery takes 9 to 12 months done correctly. Knee OA is managed long-term rather than cured. Your physiotherapist will give you a realistic specific timeline at your initial assessment.
In many cases, yes. Physiotherapy is the recommended first-line treatment for patellofemoral pain, IT band syndrome and patellar tendinopathy. For meniscus tears, research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has shown that physiotherapy produces comparable outcomes to surgery for many degenerative presentations. For knee OA, Cochrane reviews consistently support exercise as the most effective treatment. For ACL tears, non-surgical management with physiotherapy alone is appropriate for selected patients. We will discuss your specific situation and whether surgery is genuinely warranted at your assessment.
Pain specifically worse when going down stairs is a classic presentation of patellofemoral pain syndrome, where the kneecap does not track correctly over the femur during loaded knee flexion. It can also indicate fat pad irritation, early knee osteoarthritis or, less commonly, a chondral (cartilage) lesion. The precise pattern of where the pain is, what else aggravates it and your activity history will point to the most likely cause. An assessment will differentiate between these conditions clearly.
ACL rehabilitation following reconstruction takes 9 to 12 months when done properly. We use VALD objective strength testing at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months to assess your progress with data rather than subjective milestones. Return to sport is not recommended until strength symmetry between limbs reaches the appropriate thresholds. Returning early significantly increases re-tear risk. Read our complete ACL recovery guide.
Not necessarily long-term. In the acute phase, reducing running volume temporarily is usually necessary. The goal from day one is modifying your training to stay active while rehabilitation addresses the underlying cause, which is almost always a combination of hip weakness, training load errors and running mechanics. Most runners are back to full training within 8 to 12 weeks with appropriate management. Complete cessation of running for extended periods is rarely the right approach. Read our running injury guide.
No referral is needed for standard appointments. Book directly online in under 60 seconds, call 03 9100 3798, or WhatsApp us. A GP referral is only required for Medicare EPC rebates or WorkCover claims.
Senior Physiotherapists (Bayden and Phill, 8 to 10 years experience): Initial Consultation $235 for 45 minutes, Follow-Up $140 for 30 minutes. Standard Physiotherapists (Kelsi and Shirouz): Initial Consultation $185 for 45 minutes, Follow-Up $130 for 30 minutes. A $85 deposit is taken at booking. HICAPS processes private health insurance rebates on the spot. See our full pricing and insurance guide.
Yes, and this is extremely common. Knee dysfunction frequently produces compensatory patterns that stress the hip and lower back, and vice versa. We treat the full kinetic chain from your initial assessment. Our hip physiotherapy page and lower back guide are useful companion resources.
Ready to book
A 45-minute assessment gives you a specific diagnosis, a clear reason why your knee hurts, and a plan. Online booking takes under 60 seconds. No referral needed.
