Knee Pain

What is Knee Pain?

Knee pain is a very common condition that mostly results from overuse, injury or medical conditions such as Arthritis.

The knee is the largest joint in the body and so, if it is affected, it can be very uncomfortable and cause immobility

Causes of Knee Pain :

The knee is often damaged due to wear and tear. However there are other causes, for the over 50’s Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of pain in the knees and for younger people overuse and injury is more common. A lot of runners experience knee problems due to the impact on the joint. Runners must make sure they wear suitable running footwear that softens the impact on the joints.

Less common causes are infections such as septic bursitis.

There a different types of knee injuries:

• Bruises
• Broken bones – you can fracture the knee cap, the upper tibia or the lower femur
• Torn ligaments – the most painful and common ligament tear is the cruciate ligament.
• Cartilage tear
• Sprains
• Dislocation

 There are different medical conditions that can cause Knee pain:

• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Baker’s cyst
• Chondromalacia patella
• Gout
• Osgood-schlater disease
• Tendonitis

 Over-pronation can also lead to knee pain as the bones in the legs are forced to misalign, leading the lower leg to twist inwards and pull the knee outward.

Symptoms of Knee Pain :

There are different types of knee pain:

• IIiotibial Band Syndrome – pain on the outside of the knee. This is an inflammatory condition that causes pain on the outside of the knee and is usually caused by overuse or sports injuries.

• Runners Knee – pain behind or around the knee cap. This is caused by a softening of the cartilage around the knee that then makes it hard to move it. The pain occurs when the kneecap rubs against the lower end of the thigh bone instead of gliding smoothly over it as designed. This repetitive motion grinds down the cartilage underneath the kneecap. This condition most commonly occurs in people involved in heavy impacting sports like skiing or running.

Relief and Prevention of Knee Pain :

Knee pain in general requires rest to allow the damaged cartilage, muscle, ligament or tendon to recover. Ice compressions can also be used to reduce swelling.

In addition, doctors will recommend:

• To use low-impact exercise like swimming to strengthen the muscles.
• Stretch slowly to strengthen the hamstrings and quadriceps
• Try a knee brace to add additional support
• Wear stable shoes with additional arch supports and moulded soles to ensure your feet are supported correctly.
• Pain relief can also be taken, but you should make sure that you consult a GP if unsure.