Two Burnaby Locations
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Direct billing available
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ICBC + WorkSafeBC
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Integrated rehab + training
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Online booking available
Burnaby Physiotherapy
Knee Pain Physiotherapy in Burnaby
Knee pain can make training, stairs, lunges, squats, and even daily movement feel uncertain. At Driftwood Athletics, we look beyond the painful spot itself to understand why the knee is being overloaded, then build a plan to reduce irritation, restore confidence, and help you return to the activities that matter.
What this is ?
Knee pain is a broad symptom, not a single diagnosis. It can come from the kneecap region, tendons, ligaments, meniscus, joint irritation, or from the way the rest of the body is loading the knee during walking, running, squatting, or sport. In active adults, it often shows up when strength, mobility, impact tolerance, or training volume stop matching the demands being placed on the system.
A common mistake is to think the knee is always the whole story. In reality, the knee often reflects how the hip, ankle, foot, trunk, and training load are interacting. That is why a high-quality assessment should not only ask where it hurts, but why that structure became irritated and what the body is currently able to tolerate.
Common causes
Common patterns include patellofemoral pain, patellar or quadriceps tendon irritation, meniscal irritation, irritation after an old ligament injury, reduced tolerance to squatting or running volume, stiffness after inactivity, and load-related flare-ups in active people. Some people also have knee pain that is strongly influenced by hip weakness, poor single-leg control, ankle stiffness, or sudden increases in sport or gym volume.
Symptoms and when to get assessed
It is worth getting assessed if your pain has lasted more than a week, keeps returning, or is affecting stairs, squats, running, training, or confidence in movement. Swelling, locking, giving way, inability to bear weight, or a major traumatic event raise the urgency and deserve faster assessment.
How we assess it
A strong knee evaluation looks at symptom history, training background, aggravating movements, range of motion, swelling, squat mechanics, step-down control, tendon tolerance, balance, single-leg capacity, and the influence of the hip and ankle on the knee. The goal is not just to label pain, but to identify the main limiting factors and build a plan you can follow with confidence.
How treatment works
Good treatment depends on the specific pattern, but usually includes targeted strengthening, progressive reloading, load management, movement retraining, and education about which discomfort levels are acceptable during rehab. Some knees calm down with a brief reduction in aggravating loads, while others improve most when the right loading program is introduced rather than avoided entirely.
Recovery & return to activity
Long-term improvement usually comes from building more capacity, not just chasing temporary symptom relief. That means progressing strength, control, and impact tolerance in a way that fits the person’s sport, schedule, and goals. A runner may need a different progression than someone returning to CrossFit or field sport, and the plan should reflect that.
Why Choose Driftwood Athletics
Driftwood combines physiotherapy, active rehab, and a real training environment, which is useful for people who want to move from “it hurts less” to “I trust my knee again.” That integrated environment helps bridge the gap between treatment and real life or sport.
Should I stop exercising if I have knee pain?
Not always. Many people do better with the right modifications and progression rather than full rest.
Do I need imaging first?
Not always. Many knee problems can be assessed well through history and physical examination.
Can old knee pain still improve?
Yes. Persistent knee pain often responds when the right capacity-building plan is finally matched to the problem.
Can I keep training while doing rehab?
Often yes, with the right modifications and progression.