Fear of knees (genuphobia)

Genuphobia is a fear of knees. For some it is a dislike of seeing or touching knees, while for others it is a fear of kneeling or of a knee being hurt. Summer clothes, sport or kneeling in church can all become harder than they need to be.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Latin genu, meaning knee. It is a list term with almost no clinical writing behind it. Sometimes the fear grows after a knee injury, or after seeing one, which links it to wider worries about injury and pain.

What it feels like

• Avoiding looking at bare knees, or keeping your own covered
• Strong discomfort at the thought of kneeling down
• Wincing or tensing when a knee is touched or bumped

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is fear of knees linked to a past injury?

It can be. Some people develop the fear after hurting a knee or seeing someone else injured, while others cannot point to any cause. If you have real knee pain or other symptoms, it is worth getting them checked by a GP.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices