Knee pain sufferers are being let down by lack of treatment choice, Bupa has said.
According to Bupa research, 81% of the one in four Britons who have had knee pain in the last year are currently still in pain.
A third of those still in pain have suffered for more than five years, while 42% of those who have suffered in the last year opted not to see a GP; in 30% of cases the reason given was the belief that ‘nothing can be done' about their condition.
Of those who did go to see a GP, only 1 in 3 agreed they were offered a good choice of treatments.
Dr Tom Crisp, musculoskeletal clinical director at Bupa, said: "It's clear that a lack of awareness of all the options open to patients is preventing many from seeking and receiving the treatment they need. There are now many different ways to treat knee pain and most people will be able to find a solution that works for them.
"If patients are better informed about their treatment options, they will have a much more constructive conversation with their GP and will ultimately have better outcomes."
Bupa has created an online Knee Clinic for members and non-members to offer information and advice about treatment options and general preventative tips.
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan, who was forced to retire from the sport following a succession of knee injuries, backed the launch of the Bupa Knee Clinic.
He said it was important people understood their options of treatment for knee pain.
The Bupa survey also revealed knee pain affected people of all ages; 1 in 5 of those between the ages of 25 and 34 reported suffering knee pain in the last year.
Among those, day-to-day activities such as walking (18%) or going up or down stairs (17%) were identified as more common causes of knee pain than a specific sporting activity such as running (11%) or football (8%).
Crisp added: "There is a misconception that knee problems only affect the old or the very sporty. In fact, knee pain symptoms can be triggered by a whole range of daily activities. Because of this, if left untreated, knee pain can have a huge impact on people's lives."
