Knee pain self-check

Eleven questions about your knee, including the things that matter in Indian daily life such as stairs, squatting and sitting on the floor. You can also answer for a parent. You will see how much the pain is affecting daily life and what your answers point to.

Written by Dr. V. B. Rajendra Prasad, MPT. Takes about three minutes.

  1. 1.How long have you had this knee pain?

  2. 2.How did it start?

  3. 3.Where is the pain mostly?

  4. 4.Climbing up or down stairs

  5. 5.Squatting, sitting on the floor, or using an Indian-style toilet

  6. 6.Walking

  7. 7.Getting up from a chair

  8. 8.Stiffness in the morning or after sitting

  9. 9.Swelling

  10. 10.Does the knee lock, catch or give way?

  11. 11.Your age (or your parent's, if checking for them)

0 of 11 answered

Answers stay in your browser and are not sent to us. This check gives directions, not a diagnosis or a medical score.

What this check looks at

Knee pain has many causes, and the pattern of symptoms gives useful clues: where it hurts, how it started, whether it swells, stiffens, locks or gives way, and which activities are hard.

Stairs, squatting, floor sitting and Indian-style toilets are included because they are often the first things people in India lose the ability to do, and getting them back is a common goal of treatment.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know what is causing my knee pain?
Where the pain is, how it started, and what makes it worse give useful clues. Pain around the kneecap on stairs and squatting, gradual pain with short morning stiffness after 40, and pain after a twisting injury each point in different directions. A physiotherapist confirms the cause with a proper assessment.
When should I see a doctor for knee pain?
See a doctor first if the knee is hot, red and swollen, especially with fever, if you cannot put weight on it after a fall or injury, or if it is locked and will not straighten at all.
Does knee pain mean I will need a knee replacement?
Usually not. Many people with knee pain, including those with osteoarthritis on X-ray, improve with a strengthening programme. Surgery is considered when pain and disability remain severe despite good non-surgical treatment.
Can knee pain be treated with online physiotherapy?
Yes. Knee pain is treated mainly with strengthening and movement retraining, which a physiotherapist can guide and correct on video, including how you manage stairs and floor sitting at home.
Online physiotherapy for knee pain Knee strengthening exercises More free tools
Dr. Rajendra

Written by Dr. V. B. Rajendra Prasad, MPT. Licensed to practice in the US (NY state) and UK (HCPC).
20 years of clinical experience. About Dr. Rajendra