Knee pain is one of the most common reasons that people visit physiotherapists. And no wonder, just thinking about all the walking, climbing, running, twisting, and turning that the average person does over the course of a week can be painful for knee sufferers.
Treating knee pain
Treating knee pain starts with being able to identify the cause of the pain. That is sometimes easier said than done. Knees are incredibly complicated pieces of biological engineering. There are bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons, cartilage, bursae, and more all working together to hinge open and closed and even rotate left and right. Knees are remarkable, but as is always the case, more moving parts means more things can potentially go wrong.
Symptoms of knee pain
The most obvious symptom of knee pain is, well, knee pain. Pain, unfortunately can be a misleading diagnostic tool. It is very subjective and physiotherapists must rely on the patient’s own interpretation and description of the pain.
However knee pain is also commonly accompanied by a range of other symptoms which might include:
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Redness
- Weakness
- Warmth to the touch
- Popping or cracking noises
- Limited range of motion
If you are suffering from knee pan and it is causing any of the above symptoms then you should visit your physiotherapist.
Causes of knee pain
Just as there are many components of the knee joint, so too are there many potential causes of knee pain. Sports are one of the most common causes of knee injuries, but the fact of the matter is that knee injuries can happen to almost anyone. Some common causes of knee pain include:
Ligament damage
The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) connects your shinbone to your thigh bone, and is commonly sprained, or torn by athletes, making it one of the most famous (or should we say infamous) ligaments in the knee. Less well known are the PCL, MCL, LCL, and coronary ligament.
Fractures
Fractures of the kneecap, thighbone, or shin bone can all cause knee pain. Many small fractures can go relatively unnoticed until they start to cause real pain.
Torn meniscus
The meniscus is a layer of cartilage between your shinbone and thigh bone, it can be torn or worn down over time.
These are just a few of the most common causes of knee pain. Some other causes include:
- Knee bursitis: inflammation of the fluid bursae (fluid sacks in the knee)
- Tendonitis: Excessive use can lead to inflammation of the patella tendon (which stretches over your kneecap).
- Loose bodies: pieces of bone or cartilage floating in the knee joint
- Dislocated kneecap
- Leg, hip, or foot pain: may cause you to walk differently, placing extra pressure on your knee.
- Arthritis
Treating and preventing knee pain
Once a doctor has diagnosed your knee pain they may determine a course of action ranging from simple R&R, all the way up to surgery. In almost every case your doctor will likely recommend physiotherapy as part of your treatment.
A personalized physiotherapy regime will help you rebuild strength, balance, range of motion, and reduce your knee pain.
Social 1: Suffering from knee pain? Physiotherapy could help.
Social 3: You’ve heard of a torn ACL. But what about the PCL, MCL or LCL? Causes of knee pain you kneed to know.