Tel: 03 9857 3143
Patellofemoral Pain Treatment in Mont Albert North, Melbourne
It flares on the stairs. It aches after the run. You've been told it's runner's knee. Let's find out what's actually loading it, and fix that.
Patellofemoral pain (also called runner's knee) is one of the most common conditions we see at Health & High Performance. It's also one of the most mismanaged. The diagnosis tells you where the pain is. It doesn't tell you why the joint is being overloaded. And without that answer, you'll keep going through the same cycle.
At Health & High Performance in Mont Albert North, Melbourne, we assess the whole load picture, identify exactly what's driving the problem, and build a rehabilitation program that actually resolves it.
Why Patellofemoral Pain Keeps Coming Back
The patellofemoral joint sits between the kneecap (patella) and the thigh bone (femur). Like any joint, it has a capacity for load. When the load being placed on it consistently exceeds that capacity, the joint becomes irritable and painful.
That overload can come from many directions. A sudden increase in training volume. A return to running without rebuilding the base first. Weakness in the quads, hips, or calf that shifts more load onto the joint than it can comfortably handle. Foot mechanics that alter how force travels up through the lower limb. Often, several of these factors are working together.
Rest settles the irritation. But it doesn't address any of the factors that caused the overload. So when running resumes and load builds again, the joint can't handle it, and the pain comes back.
The goal isn't to avoid the things that provoke it. The goal is to build enough capacity in the right places that those things no longer overload the joint.
Our Approach to Patellofemoral Pain Rehabilitation
Objective Assessment: Finding the Load Drivers
We use the AxIT System to objectively measure quad strength, hip function, limb-to-limb symmetry, and load tolerance through the lower limb. Combined with a full kinetic chain assessment and treadmill video analysis, this gives us a precise picture of what's contributing to your pain.
The same diagnosis can have very different drivers in different people. One runner's PFP is primarily a quad capacity issue. Another's is driven by hip weakness and altered mechanics. A third has ramped training too quickly. Our assessment identifies which factors are relevant to your presentation, so the program we build addresses them specifically.
No generic runner's knee protocol. A plan built around your load picture.
Progressive Loading: Rebuilding Capacity in the Right Places
Your program is designed to progressively build quad strength, hip control, and lower limb load tolerance to the level your running and daily demands require. Each stage has clear criteria for progression. You advance when the data says you're ready, not just when the pain settles.
We don't stop at "feels okay on flat ground." We build all the way to the loads that running actually places on the joint, because that's the standard your patellofemoral joint needs to meet.
Return to Running
Return to running is built into your program from day one. We set the target your training requires, work backward, and map out a clear return-to-running progression with specific volume and intensity milestones. You'll know exactly where you are in the process and what needs to happen before each next step.
No vague timelines. No "let's see how you feel after a few easy runs."
Integrated Team Approach
For patellofemoral pain that has been going on for a long time, or where imaging has identified other structural considerations, we work closely with your GP or sports physician to make sure the full picture is being addressed. In most cases, imaging isn't necessary, but where it is, we'll help you understand what it means and how it shapes the plan.
Who We Help
We work with runners and active people who are done managing their knee pain and want to fix it properly:
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Recreational and competitive runners whose knee pain flares with every training block
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Triathletes and cyclists dealing with patellofemoral pain that limits running volume or intensity
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CrossFit athletes and gym-goers whose knee pain is limiting squatting, lunging, or box work
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Masters athletes returning to running after time off and finding the knee isn't keeping up
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Anyone who has been told to rest, feels better, goes back to training, and ends up back at square one
Why Choose Luke Nelson for Patellofemoral Pain Treatment in Melbourne?
Luke Nelson is a Sports Chiropractor with 20 years of clinical experience, a Masters in Sports Science, and a post-graduate diploma in Sports Chiropractic. As a certified Strength and Conditioning Coach and certified Running Coach, Luke brings a load management and performance lens to patellofemoral rehabilitation that goes well beyond quad sets and straight leg raises.
Luke has worked with Olympic runners, Ironman triathletes, and athletes across a wide range of disciplines. He speaks nationally and internationally on running injuries, including patellofemoral pain. That depth of experience directly shapes the way he approaches every presentation, from a recreational runner training for their first half marathon to a competitive athlete managing knee pain mid-season.
Our clinic in Mont Albert North includes a full on-site rehabilitation facility, including assessment tools, rehab equipment, a treadmill with video motion analysis, and a high-performance gym, so your assessment, programming, and rehabilitation all happen in one place.
Book Your Knee Assessment in Melbourne
If patellofemoral pain keeps derailing your training, or you want to understand what's actually driving it and build a clear plan to resolve it, we can help.
Our clinic is located in Mont Albert North, easily accessible from Balwyn, Box Hill, Kew, Doncaster, Surrey Hills, Hawthorn, and surrounding Melbourne eastern suburbs.
Online consultations are also available for patients across Victoria and Australia.
Ready to stop managing it and start fixing it?