Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooBaker's Cyst
Knee
What It Is
A Baker's cyst (also called a popliteal cyst, and sometimes a popliteal bursitis) is a fluid-filled swelling at the back of the knee (NHS, 2025).
It forms when fluid from the knee joint collects in a small sac at the back of the knee. When the knee joint makes extra fluid, often because of arthritis or a knee injury, the fluid can be pushed into this sac through a small opening that works like a one-way valve, so the sac fills up and the fluid cannot easily flow back into the joint (Frush and Noyes, 2015).
Baker's Cyst Anatomy
Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.
Treatment
Self-Care & Treatment
How to Treat a Baker's Cyst
Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner
Tips
- Rest your knee, and rest your legs frequently throughout the day to avoid additional strain on the knee (NHS, 2025).
- While resting, you can apply a wrapped ice pack to the back of your knee, as described above.
- Raise your leg when sitting, for example by resting it on a pillow (NHS, 2025).
- Avoid excess aerobics, jogging or weightlifting that makes your symptoms worse. Exercise can help, but you don't want to overdo it and cause undue strain to the area.
- It may go away on its own without additional treatment, particularly in children, but this can take months or even years (NHS, 2025).
Treatment
My Approach
A Baker's cyst usually reflects a problem inside the knee, such as arthritis or a cartilage injury, so your medical team leads on treating the cause. My role is to keep your knee moving and your leg strong alongside that care, without irritating the swelling. If you've had knee surgery, I need your surgeon's okay before any hands-on treatment.
I start by assessing how your knee moves, the strength of your thigh, calf and hip, and how you walk.
Easing the Knee
- Hands-on work for the thigh, calf and hip, keeping firm pressure off the back of the knee
- Work on the other leg and low back if you've been limping
- Gentle lymphatic drainage above the knee, and elevating the leg, for general swelling
- Warm or cool applications in the clinic, and I'll show you how to use ice safely at home
Keeping It Moving and Strong
What to Expect
Typical Course
What I Focus On
Please read
When to See a Doctor First
When to Get Help
Get urgent medical advice (the same day) if you have (NHS, 2025)
- Pain or swelling in your leg that suddenly gets worse
- Swelling, bruising and warm skin on your leg
- Red or darkened skin on your leg
- Swelling in your leg that gets harder or softer
These could be signs that the cyst has burst, or of a blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT).
Call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital if you have pain and swelling in your leg together with breathlessness or chest pain. These could be signs of a blood clot that has travelled to your lungs (pulmonary embolism), which can be life-threatening (NHS, 2025).
Sources
References
- NHS (2025) Baker's cyst. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bakers-cyst/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
- MedlinePlus (2026) Baker cyst. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001222.htm (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
- Frush, T.J. and Noyes, F.R. (2015) 'Baker's cyst: diagnostic and surgical considerations', Sports Health, 7(4), pp. 359–365. doi: 10.1177/1941738113520130