Why Does My Right Knee Hurt?
Among the many cases of knee pain I've worked with over the years of my practice, right knee pain has been a more common one. There are some clear and recurring themes, so I thought it was worth dedicating a separate post to this topic.
Right knee pain isn’t always ‘overuse’ pain
What’s fascinating is that most right knee pain is not caused by excessive weight-bearing on the right leg. In that sense, it's not an overuse injury. In fact, the opposite is often true. The right leg frequently becomes the non-dominant leg when it comes to supporting the body’s weight.
The connection between ‘Right-Handedness’ and right knee pain
The way we habitually use our dominant side often shapes the alignment and movement of our entire body. Specifically, with right-handedness, there can be habitual ways of using the right hand (and, as a result, the whole right side) that are reflected in a C-curve of the spine and a collapse of the right ankle and foot.
If you can picture it, the right knee gets caught in the middle — between the flat-footedness of the right foot and a pelvis that is stacking over the left leg and not easily swaying to the right.
Disclaimer: The patterns described here are based on what I’ve observed in the people who have come to my practice over the years. This may not reflect your specific pattern. Every body moves differently, and these details are best explored together in a one-on-one consultation.
How does this affect the right knee in walking?
Walking is like passing a baton in a relay race. One leg holds you up while the other steps forward. But if your pelvis doesn’t move well to both sides — especially to the right — then your right leg can’t give you strong, supported contact with the ground. That means the left leg can’t step forward with ease.
This twist from uneven movement can create unusual pressure in certain parts of the knee. Over time, that pressure can lead to pain or patella tracking issues or even a meniscus tear (the meniscus is a cushion inside your knee). The right knee becomes an “impact joint,” taking on strain from an overall movement pattern that it can’t correct on its own.
Why strength exercises don’t always help
Many people try to fix knee pain by doing exercises to strengthen their thighs or knees. While that can be helpful in some cases, if your whole body is out of balance, these exercises may not solve the real issue. The problem might lie in how your body moves as a whole — not just the knee itself.
So what can help instead?
As a Feldenkrais Practitioner, I work with people by:
Expanding the range of movement in the pelvis, so it can shift more easily from side to side;
Addressing ankle habits to integrate with the above;
Helping the spine and shoulders to get the message — so everything works together more smoothly.
This gentle, whole-body approach takes pressure off the knee and gives it space to heal.
Curious about your right knee pain?
If you’re wondering whether this might apply to you — or you’re looking for a new way to approach persistent right knee pain — feel free to leave me a message. I’d be happy to connect and explore what’s going on in your unique situation.