Knee & Hip Rehabilitation Program

What Is a Knee & Hip Rehabilitation Program?

A knee and hip rehabilitation program is a planned course of assessment, exercise, education and progress review. Its purpose is to help a person improve the physical abilities needed for everyday movement while managing symptoms appropriately.

Knee or hip pain can make ordinary activities such as walking, using stairs, getting out of a chair and exercising increasingly difficult. Some people reduce their activity because they are concerned that movement will worsen the joint, while others continue exercising without knowing which activities or levels of resistance are appropriate for their condition.

Rehabilitation often begins with a clinical assessment and may include physiotherapy for joint pain, progressive exercise and education about managing joint symptoms. The appropriate pathway will depend on whether the problem relates to osteoarthritis, a previous injury, persistent pain, reduced mobility, surgery or another condition.

A knee and hip rehabilitation program provides a structured approach to rebuilding strength, movement and confidence. Rather than applying the same routine to everyone, rehabilitation should consider the likely cause of the symptoms, the person's current physical capacity and the activities they want to return to.

This page explains what knee and hip rehabilitation involves, who may benefit and how exercise can be adapted to different symptoms and goals. It also outlines when further medical or orthopaedic assessment may be appropriate. It is an educational guide rather than a description of one fixed treatment package.

Rehabilitation is different from simply receiving a list of exercises. The starting point, type of exercise and rate of progression should be selected according to the individual's condition. Someone with early knee osteoarthritis and difficulty using stairs may require a different program from a person recovering from hip surgery or returning to sport after a knee injury.

A program may address several areas, including:

• knee and hip strength;
• joint mobility and flexibility;
• balance and lower-limb control;
• walking and stair tolerance;
• confidence placing weight through the affected leg;
• capacity for work, recreation or sport;
• management of activity-related symptoms; and
• development of a sustainable home exercise routine.

The exercises themselves may look relatively simple, particularly at the beginning. Their value comes from selecting an appropriate starting level, performing them consistently and progressing them as strength and tolerance improve.

Rehabilitation may be used as part of non-surgical treatment, while a diagnosis is being managed, before an operation or during recovery after surgery. These pathways are not interchangeable. Rehabilitation following an operation must account for the procedure performed, tissue healing and any instructions provided by the surgeon.

Who May Benefit From Knee & Hip Rehabilitation?

A rehabilitation program may be considered when knee or hip symptoms are affecting mobility, activity or independence. Suitability is not determined by age alone, and an X-ray or scan does not provide all the information required to develop an exercise plan.

People who may benefit include those experiencing:

• persistent knee or hip pain;
• joint stiffness or reduced movement;
• weakness following pain, injury or inactivity;
• difficulty walking or using stairs;
• reduced balance or confidence in the affected leg;
• limitations with work, household activities or exercise;
• knee or hip osteoarthritis;
• ongoing symptoms after a previous injury;
• reduced physical capacity while considering surgery;
• the need to prepare physically for an operation; or
• the need for staged rehabilitation after surgery.

An assessment is important because knee and hip pain can have several causes. Symptoms may arise from the joint, muscles, tendons, bursae, surrounding soft tissues or another area such as the lower back. A rehabilitation program should be based on the likely source of the symptoms rather than their location alone.

Some people also have more than one factor contributing to their difficulty. For example, a person with knee osteoarthritis may also have reduced hip strength, poor balance and lower general fitness after avoiding activity for several months. Rehabilitation may need to address the whole lower limb rather than concentrating only on the painful joint.

Common Conditions Managed Through Rehabilitation

Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis can be associated with pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced tolerance for activities that load the joint. Common difficulties include walking longer distances, climbing stairs, standing from a low chair, kneeling and completing household or work-related tasks.

A knee rehabilitation program may include quadriceps strengthening, hip strengthening, balance exercises and gradual exposure to activities that have become difficult. Exercise cannot reverse structural changes within the joint, but it may help improve strength, movement and day-to-day function.

The amount of discomfort experienced does not always correspond directly with the degree of change shown on an X-ray. Symptoms, physical examination findings, functional limitations and personal goals should all be considered when planning treatment.

Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis commonly causes pain around the groin, upper thigh or buttock. In some cases, hip-related pain may also be felt around the knee. Stiffness can make it difficult to put on shoes and socks, enter or exit a vehicle, walk comfortably or rise from a chair.

A hip rehabilitation program may address hip and lower-limb strength, joint mobility, walking pattern and balance. The exercises selected should reflect the person's current tolerance and the movements they need for everyday life.

Persistent Knee Pain

Not all persistent knee pain is caused by osteoarthritis. Symptoms may relate to the kneecap joint, meniscus, tendons, muscles, previous ligament injuries or changes in activity. A person may also develop weakness and altered movement after avoiding the affected leg for an extended period.

Rehabilitation may help when the knee is safe to exercise but requires a clearer plan for rebuilding capacity. The assessment may examine knee movement, strength, balance, walking, stepping and other tasks associated with the person's symptoms.

Persistent Hip Pain

Hip pain can arise from structures within or around the joint. Tendon-related pain, muscle weakness and symptoms referred from the lower back can sometimes resemble pain caused by the hip joint itself.

For this reason, a general hip strengthening routine may not be suitable for every person. Assessment can help determine which movements are limited, which loads aggravate the symptoms and whether rehabilitation should focus on the hip, the surrounding muscles or another contributing area.

Weakness, Stiffness and Reduced Mobility

Strength and mobility can decline after injury, surgery, illness or a prolonged period of reduced activity. Even when the original symptoms have settled, a person may continue to avoid stairs, longer walks or recreational exercise because the affected leg feels weak or unreliable.

A joint rehabilitation program can provide a gradual pathway from basic exercises to more functional activities. Progress may involve increasing resistance, repetitions, movement range, balance demands or the complexity of a task.

Rehabilitation Before or After Surgery

Rehabilitation may be recommended before a planned knee or hip operation to improve strength, mobility and general physical conditioning. It can also help the patient understand the exercises and mobility tasks that may form part of recovery.

After surgery, rehabilitation should follow an operation-specific plan. The initial priorities may include safe mobility, management of swelling, restoration of movement and gradual rebuilding of strength. The timing and progression of exercises depend on the procedure, the surgeon's guidance and the patient's individual recovery.

What Does Knee & Hip Rehabilitation Usually Involve?

Rehabilitation is usually delivered in stages. The first stage establishes the likely cause of the symptoms, the person's current capacity and the activities they want to improve. The program is then adjusted over time according to progress, symptom response and changing goals.

Although every program is different, knee and hip rehabilitation commonly includes assessment, education, strengthening, mobility work, balance training, functional exercise and a home program.

The physical assessment may consider:

• knee and hip range of movement;
• lower-limb muscle strength;
• balance and movement control;
• walking pattern;
• ability to rise from a chair;
• stepping and stair tolerance;
• capacity to place weight through the affected leg; and
• movements related to work, recreation or sport.

Education About Joint Pain

Education helps people understand why symptoms may change with activity and how exercise can be progressed without ignoring pain. This can be particularly important when fear of movement has led to reduced activity and further loss of strength.

Education may cover:

• the likely cause of the symptoms;
• how the joint responds to load;
• how to monitor discomfort during and after exercise;
• ways to manage temporary symptom flare-ups;
• when to reduce or modify activity;
• how to increase exercise gradually; and
• when further medical review may be required.

The aim is not to encourage people to exercise through severe or worsening pain. Instead, education can help distinguish between an expected response to new activity and symptoms that require the program to be reviewed.

Knee and Hip Strengthening

Strengthening is often central to knee and hip rehabilitation. Pain, injury and reduced activity can weaken the muscles that support the lower limb, making walking, stairs and other daily tasks more demanding.

Exercises may target the quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteal muscles, hip abductors, hip extensors and calf muscles. The exact exercises depend on the condition and the person's ability to complete them safely.

A program may begin with supported or lower-load exercises before progressing to movements such as sit-to-stand tasks, step-ups, squats, loaded carries or gym-based resistance exercise. Progression may involve adding resistance, increasing repetitions or making the movement more specific to the person's goals.

Mobility and Range-of-Movement Exercises

Stiffness can make it difficult to bend or straighten the knee, move the hip comfortably or complete daily activities. Mobility exercises may be included where reduced movement is contributing to functional limitations.

The aim is not always to achieve a perfectly symmetrical range of motion. Instead, rehabilitation focuses on developing enough comfortable movement for the tasks the person needs to perform.

Balance and Movement Control

Balance and lower-limb control may decline after pain, injury or surgery. A person may shift weight away from the affected side, rely heavily on handrails or avoid uneven surfaces because the leg feels unreliable.

Balance training may begin with supported standing and progress to single-leg tasks, stepping exercises or movements that challenge control in different directions. These exercises can be adjusted according to age, confidence and current physical ability.

Walking and Functional Rehabilitation

Improved strength does not automatically translate into easier walking, stair use or work activities. Functional rehabilitation applies physical improvements to the tasks a person wants or needs to perform.

This may include:

• walking for gradually longer distances;
• changing walking speed;
• using stairs;
• getting in and out of a chair or vehicle;
• lifting and carrying;
• kneeling or squatting where appropriate;
• work-related movement; or
• preparation for recreational activity or sport.

The program should reflect the demands of the individual's life. A person returning to gardening may require a different progression from someone preparing to return to running or a physically demanding occupation.

Home Exercise and Independent Management

A home exercise plan allows rehabilitation to continue between supervised appointments. It should be realistic, clearly explained and suitable for the space and equipment available.

Consistency is usually more valuable than completing an overly complex routine. The program can be reviewed and simplified if the number of exercises becomes difficult to manage or if symptoms change.

Why Is Exercise Important for Knee and Hip Pain?

Exercise can help improve the strength and capacity of the muscles that support the knee and hip. It may also improve balance, walking tolerance, confidence and the ability to complete everyday activities.

Exercise does not regrow cartilage or reverse every structural change within an arthritic joint. Its purpose is to improve how the person moves and functions despite those changes.

For some people, this can mean walking further, using stairs with greater confidence or returning to activities they had stopped. For others, the goal may be to maintain independence, prepare for surgery or improve physical condition before making decisions about further treatment.

Improvement is rarely immediate. Strength and physical capacity develop through repeated exposure to an appropriate level of exercise. The program must be challenging enough to stimulate change while remaining manageable and safe.

Temporary soreness or a mild increase in familiar symptoms may occur after exercise, particularly when a new activity is introduced. This does not always mean damage has occurred. However, substantial, persistent or rapidly worsening symptoms should be reviewed by the treating clinician.

Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology

Physiotherapy and exercise physiology can both contribute to knee and hip rehabilitation, but they may play different roles within the treatment pathway.

The Role of Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy may be particularly helpful when the diagnosis is uncertain, symptoms require closer clinical monitoring or movement needs to be assessed directly. Physiotherapists can evaluate joint movement, strength, walking, balance and functional limitations before developing an individual treatment plan.

Physiotherapy may also be appropriate:

• after a recent injury;
• before or after surgery;
• when pain is limiting basic movement;
• when symptoms are changing or difficult to interpret;
• when hands-on assessment is required; or
• when rehabilitation needs to be coordinated with a surgeon or GP.

The Role of Exercise Physiology

Exercise physiology may support longer-term strength, conditioning and physical activity. It can be particularly useful once the diagnosis and immediate clinical concerns are clear and the person is ready to progress towards more independent exercise.

An exercise physiologist may help develop a structured training plan, improve general fitness and adapt exercise for other health conditions. This can support people who need more than a short course of rehabilitation or who want help maintaining improvements over time.

Can Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology Be Used Together?

Yes. The two services may be used at different stages or alongside each other. Physiotherapy may initially focus on assessment, symptom management and early rehabilitation, while exercise physiology may help progress strength, conditioning and long-term exercise participation.

The appropriate pathway depends on the diagnosis, current symptoms, level of supervision required and the person's goals.

When Surgery May Not Be the First Option

Many people with knee or hip pain begin with non-surgical management. Depending on the diagnosis, this may include education, rehabilitation, activity modification, appropriate medication, weight management where relevant, or other treatment recommended by a medical professional.

A structured osteoarthritis exercise program may help some people improve strength and function without immediate surgery. This does not mean surgery will never be required. It means rehabilitation can provide an opportunity to improve physical capacity and assess how symptoms respond to appropriate non-surgical care.

The decision to consider surgery is based on more than an X-ray result. Factors may include pain severity, functional limitation, the effect on quality of life, previous treatment, general health and the person's preferences.

When Should You Seek Orthopaedic Assessment?

An orthopaedic assessment may be appropriate when knee or hip symptoms remain substantial despite suitable rehabilitation and other non-surgical care. It may also be helpful when the diagnosis is unclear or the person wants to understand whether surgery should be considered.

Reasons to seek further assessment may include:

• persistent pain that significantly affects daily life;
• progressive loss of mobility or independence;
• difficulty walking despite appropriate rehabilitation;
• recurrent locking, giving way or instability;
• substantial restriction of joint movement;
• ongoing symptoms after an injury;
• limited improvement despite consistent participation in treatment;
• uncertainty about the diagnosis; or
• a desire to discuss surgical and non-surgical options.

Seeing an orthopaedic surgeon does not automatically mean an operation will be recommended. The consultation may confirm that rehabilitation should continue, identify another treatment option or clarify whether surgery is likely to provide an appropriate benefit.

How MTP Health Supports Knee & Hip Rehabilitation

Successful rehabilitation is about more than completing a list of exercises. It requires an understanding of the condition being treated, appropriate exercise progression and regular review to ensure the program continues to match the person's needs.

At MTP Health, rehabilitation begins with an individual assessment to identify the factors contributing to your symptoms and the activities you want to improve. Rather than following a standard exercise sheet, your rehabilitation is designed around your current strength, movement, function and personal goals.

Where appropriate, rehabilitation may be delivered through MTP Health's Restore Program. The program combines assessment, progressive exercise, education and ongoing review to help people manage knee and hip conditions with a structured and individualised approach.

Depending on your diagnosis and stage of recovery, rehabilitation may involve physiotherapists, exercise physiologists or both. Some people require closer clinical supervision during the early stages, while others progress towards more independent exercise as their confidence and capacity improve.

The program is reviewed regularly so that exercises continue to reflect your progress rather than remaining the same from beginning to end. As strength and movement improve, rehabilitation can become more specific to everyday activities, work, recreation or recovery following surgery.

Related Rehabilitation Programs

Rehabilitation needs can change over time. Depending on your condition, another MTP Health program may also be appropriate during a different stage of your recovery.

Pre-operative Rehabilitation

If you are preparing for a planned knee or hip operation, pre-operative rehabilitation may help improve strength, mobility and physical conditioning before surgery. It also provides an opportunity to learn exercises that may support the early stages of recovery.

Post-operative Rehabilitation

Recovery following surgery requires a structured progression that reflects tissue healing, the type of operation performed and your surgeon's recommendations. Post-operative rehabilitation focuses on safely rebuilding movement, strength and functional capacity after surgery.

Online Knee & Hip Program

Some people may prefer a flexible rehabilitation option that can be completed from home. MTP Health's Online Knee & Hip Program provides guided exercise for suitable participants who do not require the same level of in-person supervision.

Take the Next Step

If knee or hip pain is affecting your mobility, work, exercise or everyday activities, an individual assessment can help identify the most appropriate rehabilitation pathway. Whether your goal is improving strength, preparing for surgery or returning to the activities you enjoy, a structured rehabilitation program provides a clear plan based on your current needs.

To learn more about your rehabilitation options or arrange an assessment, book an appointment with MTP Health.

Frequently Asked Questions