Concierge MSK physiotherapy · London
Specialist knee physiotherapy in London, from OA to ACL to post-TKR.
HCPC-registered CSP physios and MACP-registered advanced practitioners — running NICE NG226 programmes for knee OA, BASK-style ACL rehab, and the post-op pathways your surgeon actually expects.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Specialist MSK physios, not generalists
HCPC-registered CSP physiotherapists, with MACP-registered advanced practitioners for complex knees and sports physios linked directly to BASK surgeons.
- 02
Exercise first, per NICE NG226
For knee OA the evidence sits with a tailored, progressive strengthening and aerobic programme — not passive add-ons. That is what we deliver.
- 03
One physio, from prehab to return-to-sport
Whether it is ACL reconstruction, a TKR, or a runner’s knee — the same clinician sees you from first session to discharge.
Indicative pricing
What private knee physiotherapy costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our vetted MSK network. Send the details and we come back with a firm figure and a realistic course length.
In short
A private knee physio session in our network: £60–£140, with structured blocks from £720.
| Programme | Indicative range | Typical duration | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial assessment (60 min) | £90–£140 | 60 min | Same visit |
| Follow-up session (30–45 min) | £60–£100 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| ACL post-op rehab block (12 sessions) | £720–£1,200 | 3–4 months | Ongoing |
| Knee OA programme (LEAP-style, 12 weeks) | £720–£1,200 | 12 weeks | Ongoing |
| Post-TKR rehab block (12 sessions) | £720–£1,200 | 3 months | Ongoing |
| Return-to-sport testing (hop, strength, Y-bal) | £150–£220 | 60 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by physio seniority, and by whether specialised testing (isokinetic dynamometry, hop and Y-balance) is included. Most major insurers cover MSK physio — we confirm authorisation before the first session.
The problem
The right physio, on the right protocol, for the right knee.
Too much knee rehab in the UK is generic — a printed sheet of quad sets and a hot pack. Our network runs the actual pathway your surgeon or the NICE guideline expects.
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Not sure if it is OA or something else?
A proper MSK assessment tells you what it is, what the imaging really means, and whether it is a surgical or a rehab problem.
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ACL reconstruction coming up?
Three to six weeks of structured prehab improves post-op strength and function — we build it into the timeline with your surgeon.
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Post-op and the NHS block ran out?
We pick up from where the NHS left off — TKR, UKA, ACL, meniscus, cartilage — and take you through to full return to activity.
The journey
From enquiry to discharge — what happens, in order.
One physio from first message to return-to-sport testing. Assessment, programme, follow-up and formal reassessment against objective criteria.
Phase 1 · Before your first session
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · In-clinic
Assessment and programme
Phase 3 · After
Reassessment and discharge
- 01
Before
You tell us about the knee
A short, confidential form. What hurts, how long, what set it off, what surgery (if any) is planned or done.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right physio for the pathway — OA, ACL prehab or post-op, patellofemoral, meniscus, TKR, tendinopathy — and an indicative course length.
- 03
Before
We arrange the assessment
Usually within a week. Bring shorts, any imaging and op notes if you have them. Insurance authorisation confirmed beforehand.
- 04
In-clinic
The first assessment
45–60 minutes. Gait, ROM, strength (hand-held dynamometer), single-leg squat and hop, ligament and meniscus tests, baseline KOOS/IKDC/OKS.
- 05
In-clinic
Your programme, on paper
A written, progressive plan — exercises, dose, weekly targets — plus pain-science education and pacing advice for the days between sessions.
- 06
In-clinic
Follow-up sessions
Acute phase 2–3× a week for 2–4 weeks, then weekly. Load is progressed to objective criteria, not the calendar.
- 07
After
Reassessment and discharge
Formal review at 3, 6 and 12 months with the same outcome scores. Return-to-sport clearance uses hop symmetry (LSI >90%), strength and ACL-RSI.
Typical acute phase: 2–3 sessions/week for 2–4 weeks. Formal review: 3, 6 and 12 months.
When it helps
The knees we treat every week.
The pathways we see most often — plus the red flags that mean an emergency department, not a physio appointment.
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Knee osteoarthritis
Tailored strengthening and aerobic programme per NICE NG226, with weight-loss support and walking-aid teaching where indicated.
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Patellofemoral pain (runner’s knee)
Hip abductor and quadriceps loading, taping, gait and running retraining — plus a foot and ITB screen.
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ACL — prehab and post-op
3–6 weeks of quadriceps and neuromuscular prehab improves outcomes; post-op we run the 9–12 month BASK-style protocol.
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Meniscus — repair or meniscectomy
Restricted weight-bearing 4–6 weeks after a repair; rapid, criteria-based progression after meniscectomy.
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MCL / LCL / PLC ligament injuries
Hinged bracing and progressive rehab for MCL; specific post-op protocols for LCL and posterolateral corner repairs.
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Post-TKR and post-UKA rehab
Early ROM, strengthening and gait retraining — aiming for 90–120° flexion by 3 months, with faster progression after UKA.
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Tendinopathy and Osgood-Schlatter
Heavy slow resistance and decline squats for patellar tendinopathy; eccentric loading and activity modification for adolescents.
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Red flags: hot, locked or unstable knee
A hot swollen knee with fever, a truly locked knee, or sudden giving-way after trauma is not a physio booking — same-day A&E.
Pathways
One name, several very different protocols.
Knee physio is not a single treatment. Here is what the main pathways in our network actually involve — and which fits which knee.
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Knee OA — NICE NG226 programme
Individually tailored progressive resistance plus 150 minutes/week of aerobic work, with pain-science education and pacing.
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ACL prehab (pre-op)
3–6 weeks of quadriceps activation, hip stability, neuromuscular training and hamstring balance before reconstruction.
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ACL post-op rehab (9–12 months)
BASK/UEFA-style criteria-based progression, with return-to-sport tested on hop symmetry, strength, Y-balance and ACL-RSI.
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Patellofemoral / runner’s knee
Hip abductor and closed-chain quadriceps loading, McConnell or KT taping, gait and running retraining.
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Meniscus post-op rehab
Restricted weight-bearing and progression after repair; rapid criteria-based rehab after meniscectomy.
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Post-TKR / post-UKA rehab
Early ROM, strength and gait work — realistic 3–6 month functional recovery after TKR, faster after UKA.
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Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
Heavy slow resistance and decline-squat progressive loading, with load management alongside sport.
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Post-microfracture / MACI protocol
Protected weight-bearing 6–8 weeks with prolonged CPM, then progressive loading over 6 months to protect the chondral repair.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of MSK physios, we picked them.
Specialist knee-preservation and sports physios across central, north, west and south London — linked directly to BASK knee surgeons for the post-op pathways.
Selection criteria
How we choose every physio in our knee network.
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HCPC-registered CSP physiotherapists — no unregistered practitioners
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MACP-registered advanced MSK physios for complex knees
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Sports physios linked to BASK knee surgeons for post-op pathways
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Objective testing (dynamometry, hop, Y-balance) — not opinion-based discharge
Safety and what to expect
The honest expectations, per pathway.
Physio is safe, low-risk and evidence-based. The things worth planning are load progression, realistic timelines and knowing which symptoms are red flags.
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Exercise, not passive add-ons
For knee OA the strongest evidence is a tailored, progressive strengthening and aerobic programme. TENS, manual therapy and thermal work are adjuncts, not the treatment.
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ACL prehab is worth the wait
Delaying ACL reconstruction by 3–6 weeks of good prehab improves post-op quadriceps strength and functional outcomes.
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Return-to-sport is criteria, not time
You return to pivot sport when hop symmetry is >90%, strength is symmetrical, and ACL-RSI psychological readiness is met — not just because 9 months have passed.
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Post-TKR expectations, honestly
Most people reach 90–120° flexion by 3 months and functional recovery by 3–6 months. Progress is not linear and swelling can persist for a year.
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Weight loss helps if BMI is over 27
For symptomatic knee OA a LEAP-style programme combining exercise with structured weight-loss support outperforms exercise alone.
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Chondral repairs need protection
After microfracture or MACI, load must be introduced slowly over 6 months to allow the repair tissue to mature. Rushing back undoes the surgery.
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Adolescent knee pain is different
Osgood-Schlatter and other apophysitis conditions in growing athletes need activity modification and eccentric loading, not injections.
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Injections are a bridge, not a fix
Steroid or hyaluronic-acid injections may buy a window for rehab, but the durable outcome comes from the strengthening work you do inside it.
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Red flags
A hot swollen knee with fever, a truly locked knee, calf pain and swelling after surgery, or sudden new instability after trauma need same-day medical review, not a physio session.
Reading your physio notes
Your rehab notes in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever pathway you are on, the note your physio sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Rehab language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the assessment note or the return-to-sport report before your review, just ask.
- 01 Baseline
Diagnosis, imaging and outcome scores
The working diagnosis, relevant imaging and op notes, and your starting KOOS, IKDC, OKS or KSS scores — the numbers we will measure progress against.
- 02 Assessment
Gait, ROM, strength and special tests
Goniometry, hand-held dynamometry, single-leg squat and hop, Y-balance, and ligament/meniscus tests (Lachman, McMurray, pivot-shift, Thessaly, sweep, patellar tap).
- 03 Plan
Programme, dose and progression rules
The exercises, sets, reps, load and weekly targets — plus the objective criteria that trigger progression to the next phase.
- 04 Review
Reassessment at 3, 6 and 12 months
Read this first: what has changed on the numbers, what return-to-activity or return-to-sport looks like, and when discharge is realistic.
Recognised by major UK insurers
MSK physiotherapy is covered by most major insurers up to an annual limit. Workplace and sports insurance often cover post-op knee rehab in full — we confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about knee physiotherapy.
Quick answers on session numbers, ACL timelines, cost, and how to access physio in the UK — NHS, private or via insurance.
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How many physio sessions will I need for my knee?
It depends on the pathway. Knee OA typically responds to a 12-week programme with weekly sessions. ACL reconstruction is a 9–12 month journey with roughly 20–30 sessions across the phases. A simple runner’s knee often resolves in 6–8 sessions. We tell you the realistic range at the first assessment.
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Do I really need physio for knee osteoarthritis, or is it just wear and tear?
Yes. NICE guideline NG226 (2022) is clear: therapeutic exercise — tailored, progressive strengthening plus aerobic work — is the first-line treatment. It reduces pain, improves function and delays or avoids surgery for many patients. It is not optional add-on.
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When can I run again after ACL reconstruction?
Straight-line running usually starts at around 3–4 months if quadriceps strength and single-leg control targets are met. Return to pivoting sport is 9–12 months, and only when hop symmetry is >90%, strength is symmetrical, and psychological readiness (ACL-RSI) is met.
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How much does private knee physio cost in London?
Roughly £90–£140 for an initial assessment and £60–£100 for follow-ups. A structured 12-session block for ACL post-op, knee OA or post-TKR is typically £720–£1,200. Return-to-sport testing is £150–£220. Most major insurers cover it.
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Can you do the rehab if my knee surgery was done on the NHS?
Yes. We regularly pick up post-op rehab where the NHS pathway is limited to a handful of sessions — TKR, UKA, ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, cartilage procedures — and take you through to full return to activity.
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What is prehab and does it really make a difference before ACL surgery?
Prehab is 3–6 weeks of structured quadriceps, hip and neuromuscular work before ACL reconstruction. Evidence shows delayed reconstruction with good prehab produces better post-op quadriceps strength and functional outcomes than going straight to theatre.
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How is a runner’s knee actually treated?
Patellofemoral pain responds to hip abductor strengthening, quadriceps closed-chain loading (Bulgarian split squats, terminal knee extension), taping if it helps in-session, and gait or running retraining. Foot and ITB assessment sits alongside. Rest alone rarely fixes it.
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How do I access knee physio in the UK — NHS, private or insurance?
NHS access is via GP referral or a first-contact physio (FCP) at your GP practice, typically 6–8 sessions. Private self-pay is £60–£100 a session. Workplace and sports insurance usually cover a defined block — we confirm authorisation before the first appointment.
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