25 May 2026
Knee Pain After a Fall — Should You See a Physio, GP, or Go to ED?
Knee injuries are common after falls, sport, and awkward landings — but knowing whether to head to ED, your GP, or a physio depends on a few key clues.
Read moreCondition guide
Knee Pain — Do You Need a Physio, GP, or Something More Urgent?
The right answer depends on your specific symptoms. Triagr will tell you in 2 minutes — free.
Triage my knee pain now →
Free · No account required · Built by a registered physiotherapist
Why it's not always obvious
Knee pain affects people of all ages and can result from a single incident, repetitive activity, or gradual wear. The right next step depends on factors that are not always obvious — how quickly swelling appeared, whether you can bear weight, and exactly how the problem started all matter significantly.
Some knee presentations need to be seen urgently. Others can go straight to a physiotherapist. And some need a GP assessment before hands-on treatment begins. The difference between these is not always the severity of the pain.
Getting it right early makes a meaningful difference to how quickly your knee recovers.
The right next step depends on a few key questions about your specific situation.
If it started suddenly
How your knee pain started makes a significant difference to what you should do next. Sudden onset after an injury or incident often needs a different approach to pain that has come on gradually.
If it has been going on for a while
How long you have had knee pain matters. A problem that has been there for weeks or months is managed differently to something that started recently — and the right next step depends on more than just how long it has been.
If your symptoms are severe
The severity of your knee pain is one factor — but severity alone does not determine where you should go. Some severe presentations are best seen by a physiotherapist directly. Others need a different first step. The combination of your symptoms is what matters.
How Triagr works out the right answer for you
Triagr asks you a series of plain-language questions about your knee pain — how it started, how long it has been going on, how severe it is, and a few other key details. Based on your specific answers, it gives you a clear recommendation: emergency department, GP, physiotherapist, or self-manage at home. It takes 2 minutes and it's completely free.
Start your free triage →Built by a registered physiotherapist
Plain language — no medical jargon
General health information only — not clinical advice
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You Don't Need a GP Referral to See a Physio in Australia
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