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Patient Questions  /  Knee pain when kneeling

Knee

Why Does My Knee Hurt When I Kneel?

Kneeling puts direct pressure on your kneecap and the tissues in front of it. Common causes of pain are an irritated bursa in front of the kneecap, kneecap pain, knee arthritis, or a sore tendon just below the kneecap. Most of these improve with padding, changing how you kneel and strengthening the muscles around the knee.

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Common causes

  • Prepatellar bursitis, sometimes called “housemaid's knee.” A fluid-filled sac in front of the kneecap gets irritated and puffy, often from frequent kneeling at work or in the garden.
  • Kneecap pain (patellofemoral pain), which often also hurts with stairs, squatting and sitting with bent knees.
  • Knee arthritis, which can make kneeling and bending deeply uncomfortable.
  • Tendon irritation just below the kneecap. In active children and teens, a sore bump below the kneecap may be Osgood-Schlatter, which is common during growth spurts.
  • After a knee replacement, kneeling often feels odd or uncomfortable.

What usually helps

  • Use a thick cushion or knee pads, or kneel on one knee at a time.
  • Use a low stool or gardening seat instead of kneeling for long periods.
  • Use ice for a puffy front-of-knee bursa after activity.
  • Strengthen your thigh and hip muscles so the knee handles bending better.
  • Ease back into kneeling gradually, a little longer each time.

Many people can learn to kneel again after a knee replacement, though it may never feel quite normal. Ask your surgeon before you try.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor promptly if you have:

  • A hot, red, swollen area in front of the knee, especially with fever or after a cut or scrape: get care the same day
  • Swelling that came on quickly after a fall, twist or pop
  • You can't straighten your knee or lift your leg straight up
  • A knee that locks or gives way
  • Calf pain, swelling or warmth, which needs to be checked for a blood clot

How physical therapy at ARI can help

A physical therapist can find out which part of your knee is irritated, show you easier ways to kneel for work or hobbies, and build a strengthening plan so kneeling becomes more comfortable over time.

At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist, and our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Read our full guide: Knee pain and arthritis →

No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

Related questions

Ready to feel better?

Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

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This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed October 2026