Casebook: chronic knee pain

It is beyond the scope of this article to fully explore the many and varied causes of chronic knee pain, but we hope to have reminded the reader of some of the essential principles involved. The importance of a full history cannot be over-emphasised and particular attention should be paid to issues surrounding the mechanism of injury and the role of a patient's chosen sport in their life. The cases highlight the value of the involvement of a multi-disciplinary team including physiotherapists, podiatrists and dieticians. It is also usual to involve sports psychologists and team coaches/trainers at the higher levels of sport. An appreciation of normal biomechanics is necessary. There are several specialised tests used in the evaluation of knee pain and it is worthwhile spending some time with a physiotherapist or colleague with an interest in musculoskeletal medicine to learn and practice them.