Assessment
A detailed history, then a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a plan agreed with you, not handed to you.
What We Treat
Knee Pain & Injuries Treatment in London
Most knee pain is load-related and rarely means stopping for good, from kneecap pain and patellar tendinopathy to meniscal and ligament injuries including the ACL, and early osteoarthritis. Our founder David Thomas brings a professional-football and post-surgical background, and our team rebuilds the strength, control and confidence behind the knee, not just the symptoms.
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- Self-referral; no GP letter needed.
Overview
Understanding knee pain & injuries
Knee pain is one of the most common reasons active adults seek physiotherapy, and the cause genuinely matters. We treat every knee through one lens, the injury bucket: a joint has only so much capacity, and pain arrives when the demand you put through it tips over the top. Getting the diagnosis right is what turns a frustrating injury into a clear plan, and knee problems tend to fall into a few groups:
- Patellofemoral pain and patellar tendinopathy: pain around, behind or below the kneecap. These are load-related and respond well to graded strengthening.
- Meniscal and ligament injuries: including the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). These often follow a twist, pivot or awkward landing.
- Knee osteoarthritis: common with age. NICE NG226 recommends exercise and strengthening as core care rather than early surgery.
We start with an accurate diagnosis and an honest picture of what the knee can currently tolerate, then a progressive plan rebuilds quadriceps and hip strength, single-leg control and load capacity, building the bucket bigger rather than just settling symptoms.
For post-surgical and ACL rehabilitation we work to criteria-based milestones, in line with the BJSM 2016 Bern consensus on return to sport: restored strength, limb symmetry and sport-specific function, rather than discharging on how the knee feels. Coming back before those milestones are met is a well-recognised cause of re-injury, and ACL re-rupture risk is highest in athletes who return early. We work around your training and explain every stage.
Excellent
From 6 five-star Google reviews
Source: Google
David helped me when I started to have a strong tibia pain only 5 weeks before the marathon. I genuinely thought at some point that I wasn’t going to be able to do it and I did my PB!
After suffering with terrible back pain, Gus has helped me make huge improvements. Very professional and happy to explain the processes and treatments. Many thanks
Couldn’t recommend this physio team enough! They helped me recover from a knee injury 3 weeks before the London Marathon which I thought was going to prevent me from running it! Everyone was really friendly, supportive and genuinely cared about helping me reach my goal. Special thanks to Charlie, Gus, Brad and Stef!
I came to Dave with an ongoing injury that I’ve been struggling with for months! He helped sort it out straight away, also giving me some exercises to help target the area to get back to full strength. I’m now back to running pain-free already and training properly — I’ll definitely be recommending Kaizen Physiotherapy to my clients!
Gus worked miracles to get me running a marathon after being injured 6 weeks out. He worked out the issue really quickly and provided a clear and actionable plan to deal with it. The sports massages were the best I’ve ever had too — thanks Peggy! Can’t recommend Gus and Peggy enough.
I had such a positive experience working with Brad at Kaizen. He supported me through a meniscus tear and got me all the way back to running a half marathon and HYROX training. Everything was structured, progressive, and easy to follow, and I always felt like I was in safe hands.
Physiotherapy for knee pain can help to:
Work out which knee problem you have
Kneecap pain, patellar tendinopathy, meniscal and ligament injuries and early osteoarthritis all need different plans. We start with an accurate diagnosis and an honest picture of what your knee can currently tolerate, so the rehabilitation targets the right thing.
Settle kneecap pain and tendinopathy
Patellofemoral pain and patellar tendinopathy are load-related, so they respond to graded strengthening rather than rest. We find the volume your knee tolerates today, then build it back up in steps until stairs, squatting and running stop provoking it.
Rehabilitate meniscus and ligament injuries
Twists, pivots and awkward landings strain the ACL, MCL and menisci. Whether your knee is managed with or without surgery, we rebuild strength and stability to criteria-based milestones, working alongside your consultant where an operation is involved.
Treat osteoarthritis with exercise first
NICE NG226 puts exercise and strengthening at the centre of knee osteoarthritis care, ahead of early surgery. A progressive plan reduces pain, improves function and keeps you active, with honest guidance if a surgical opinion ever becomes the right step.
Rebuild strength and single-leg control
Quadriceps, hip and gluteal weakness shifts load onto the kneecap and drives many knee problems. We rebuild that strength alongside single-leg control and landing quality, the qualities that protect the joint when you return to sport and stairs alike.
Return you to sport on criteria
For ACL and post-surgical knees we follow the BJSM Bern consensus: restored strength, limb symmetry and sport-specific function before full return. Re-injury risk is highest in athletes who come back early, so the milestones are earned rather than assumed.
Why it happens
What causes knee pain & injuries?
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Load-related overuse of the patellofemoral joint or patellar tendon, when a spike in running, jumping or squatting volume outpaces tissue capacity
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A twisting, pivoting or awkward-landing injury straining a ligament (ACL, MCL) or tearing a meniscus
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Quadriceps, gluteal or hip weakness and poor single-leg control, shifting load onto the kneecap
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Returning to sport too soon after a previous knee injury or surgery, leaving residual strength and control deficits
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Age-related cartilage change (osteoarthritis), often with stiffness and activity-related pain
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Sudden changes in footwear, training surface or terrain, such as hills, court or pitch, without an adaptation period
At your first appointment we work out what is really holding you back, then agree the plan with you before you leave.
Your initial visit runs 45–60 minutes: a detailed history, then a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. We explain what we find in plain English and agree a working diagnosis together.
Treatment starts the same day, and you leave with the first exercises of a plan built around your goal.
Better than yesterday. Kaizen means continuous improvement: small, repeatable gains, built session by session, until you are back to what you love and no longer need us.
- One team across five London clinics: Soho, Liverpool Street, Marylebone, Canary Wharf and Wimbledon Village, plus online appointments.
- Rated 5.0 on Google across 218 reviews.
- Founded in 2022 by David Thomas and Gus Hadonou. You see the same physiotherapist at every visit, so each session builds on the last.
Fees and insurance
Book online through Jane and self-refer, with no GP letter needed. If you are using private health insurance, check your policy first: some insurers ask for a GP referral before your first session.
- Initial assessment and treatment: £155 for a full 45–60 minutes
- Follow-up treatment: £93, with your plan progressed at each visit
- Sports massage: £115 for 60 minutes, £155 for 90 minutes
- Performance MOT & Screening: £300 for a 90-minute screen with force-plate testing and a written report
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Cigna, WPA and Allianz
Your journey
with Kaizen
Everything starts with a proper assessment. We find what is driving the problem, treat it, and build the strength that keeps it fixed, so you finish performing, not just pain-free.
Treatment
Hands-on care to settle symptoms and restore movement: manual therapy, with acupuncture, shockwave or soft-tissue work where they genuinely help. The first home exercises go with you the same day.
Rebuild
Progressive exercise that returns strength, control and load tolerance, from Reformer Pilates to strength and conditioning. Each follow-up reassesses against your baseline, so progress is measured rather than guessed.
Perform
Criteria-based milestones return you to work, sport and training. Discharge happens by mutual agreement once you can manage independently, with a Performance MOT available to catch the next weak link early.
We specialise in:
- Musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy
- Western medical acupuncture (AACP)
- Physiotherapy-led Reformer Pilates
- Specialist hand therapy and splinting
- Shockwave therapy for stubborn tendons
- Strength and conditioning for rehabilitation
- Running and gait analysis
- Performance MOT and movement screening
Treatment approach
How do we treat knee pain & injuries?
Sports Physiotherapy
Sports physiotherapy is the core treatment for most knee pain and injuries: accurate diagnosis, graded strengthening of the quadriceps, hip and trunk, and for post-surgical and ACL cases a criteria-based return-to-play plan rather than discharge on how the knee feels.
See treatment detail →Physiotherapy
General physiotherapy suits load-related kneecap pain and early osteoarthritis, where NICE NG226 places exercise and strengthening at the centre of care, and supports recovery where symptoms overlap with everyday activity rather than sport.
See treatment detail →Strength & Conditioning
Structured strength and conditioning rebuilds the quadriceps, gluteal and posterior-chain capacity that protects the knee, and underpins the later stages of ACL and post-surgical rehab where progressive loading restores limb symmetry and power.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
Do I always need surgery for an ACL tear?
Not always. Some people manage well with a structured rehabilitation programme that rebuilds strength and control, while others, particularly those returning to pivoting sport, opt for reconstruction. The right path depends on your knee's stability, your goals and a specialist opinion. We rehabilitate both surgical and non-surgical ACL knees to criteria-based milestones.
Should I rest my knee or keep moving?
Complete rest is rarely the answer. For load-related kneecap pain, tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, modified activity that loads the knee safely supports recovery better than stopping altogether. After an acute injury we settle the early irritation first, then reintroduce graded loading. Your physiotherapist will tell you what to modify, pause or safely continue.
How do you decide when I can return to sport after a knee injury?
We use criteria-based return-to-play, in line with the BJSM 2016 Bern consensus, rather than a fixed timeline. That means restored quadriceps and hamstring strength, good limb symmetry, single-leg control, and the ability to handle sport-specific demands such as cutting, pivoting and landing without symptoms. Skipping these stages drives re-injury.
When should I seek urgent help for a knee injury?
Seek urgent help if the knee looks deformed, you heard a loud pop with immediate swelling and instability, you cannot bear weight or straighten it, or there is numbness or a cold, pale lower leg: call 999 for these. Contact NHS 111 for severe pain or swelling that does not settle with a few days of self-care.
Related What We Treat
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Kaizen Physiotherapy & Performance • 111 Charing Cross Road, Soho, London WC2H 0DT
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks