Knee pain can make simple things feel hard, getting down to the floor with your kids, sitting cross-legged, taking the stairs, or enjoying a run. The good news is that most knee pain has a clear reason behind it.
When we identify what your nervous system is protecting and reset the fault, the knee can move freely and you can feel good again.
Your knee is rarely the true starting point. Protective patterns can come from the foot and ankle, hip, pelvis, or even from how your eyes and balance systems are working. If a receptor is feeding the wrong information to your brain, your body protects the joint. That is why hands-on treatment can feel good for a day or two, then the same ache returns when you load the joint again.
At Breakthrough Pain & Performance, we test how your system is working in real time. We look at joint position sense, tendon and ligament receptors, cutaneous inputs, balance, gait with head turns, and how the knee behaves under light load. When we find the drivers, we reset them, re-test the exact motion that hurt, and only then add the few drills you need to build capacity.
We take a detailed history and listen to how knee pain is affecting daily life and training. Then we screen the systems that often drive knee problems: foot and ankle control, hip mechanics, gait, balance, and relevant receptors.
Using P-DTR and functional neurology methods, we normalise the specific receptors that keep your knee on high alert, then re-test the movement that previously hurt. Most people feel meaningful change in session.
You will leave with 1–3 short drills that take seconds to do. These build capacity without long lists of exercises. When needed, we plan a short progression for strength around the knee once the protection is gone.
“I could not run without sharp pain in my knee. After two sessions I was back to easy miles and could train again with confidence.”
– Rachel Halbert, Newcastle
“I had tried lots of therapy. This was the first time anyone explained what was actually driving my knee pain and changed it in the session.”
Osh Roberts, Morpeth.
Typical knee rehab strengthens what you can already use. We restore the control that lets strength work hold. By changing the information your nervous system relies on, protection eases and movement improves. That is why clients often report that simple strength work suddenly feels effective after treatment. Many mention being “a million times better” on the other side and back to activities they enjoy.
Everything from long-standing runners’ knees and patellofemoral irritation to stiffness after sitting, trouble kneeling, or pain that appears only with stairs or squats.
Not usually. We start with a functional assessment to identify the drivers. If we see red flags, we will refer you to your GP or for imaging.
It depends on history and how many systems are involved. Many feel change within 1–3 sessions. Complex cases take longer with steady progress.
You will get a small number of targeted drills that take seconds. When protection is gone, we may add simple strength progressions so you can keep results.
Yes, we work within your comfort and with your surgeon’s or GP’s guidance when relevant. If anything is outside scope, we will let you know and refer.
If you want clarity on why your knee hurts and a plan to get you moving without worry, book a Free Taster Session. We will show you how the assessment works, explain the drivers we find, and outline the best next step. You will leave knowing what to do and why.
