Neurology and Orthopaedic Specialist Clinic

What is define by a Knee Pain?

The knee is the joint between the bones of the upper and lower leg. Therefore it allows the leg to bend and provides stability to support the weight of the body. The knee supports motions such as walking, running, crouching, jumping, and turning.

Several parts help the knee to do its job, including:

• bones
• cartilage
• muscles
• ligaments
• tendons

Any of these parts are susceptible to disease and injury, which can lead to severe knee pain.

What are some symptoms of a Knee Pain?

Causes of knee pain can be due to injuries, mechanical problems, types of arthritis and other problems.

A knee injury can affect any of the ligaments, tendons or fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that surround your knee joint as well as the bones, cartilage and ligaments that form the joint itself.

Some of the more common knee injuries include:

• ACL injury (Read more). An ACL injury is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) — one of four ligaments that connect your shinbone to your thighbone. This injury is particularly common in people who play basketball, soccer or other sports that require sudden changes in direction.
• Knee fracture (Read more). The bones of the knee, including the kneecap (patella), can be broken during motor vehicle collisions or falls. People whose bones have been weakened by osteoporosis can sometimes sustain a knee fracture simply by stepping wrong.
• Torn meniscus (Read more). The meniscus is formed of tough, rubbery cartilage and acts as a shock absorber between your shinbone and thighbone. It can also be torn if you suddenly twist your knee while bearing weight on it. It can sometimes cause pain behind the knee, especially if the tear is in the posterior part of the meniscus.
• Knee bursitis (Read more). Some knee injuries cause inflammation in the bursae, the small sacs of fluid that cushion the outside of your knee joint so that tendons and ligaments glide smoothly over the joint.
• Patellar tendonitis (Read more). Tendinitis is irritation and inflammation of one or more tendons — the thick, fibrous tissues that attach muscles to bones. Runners, skiers, cyclists, and those involved in jumping sports and activities may develop inflammation in the patellar tendon, which connects the quadriceps muscle on the front of the thigh to the shinbone.

• Osteoarthritis (Read more). This is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in the knee joint. It commonly affects older adults. This kind of knee pain causes stiffness, and reduced mobility.

• Anterior knee pain. This refers to discomfort or pain in the front of the knee. This is often a result of overuse, inflammation, improper alignment, or muscle imbalances.

• Rheumatoid arthritis. An autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the joints, including the knees. It leads to inflammation, pain, swelling, and joint deformity.

• Patellofemoral pain syndrome. This condition is characterized by pain around or behind the kneecap (patella). It commonly occurs due to overuse, muscle imbalances, or problems with the alignment of the patella.

• IT (iliotibial) band syndrome. The IT band is a thick band of tissue that runs along the outside of the thigh, connecting the hip to the knee. Overuse or tightness of the IT band can cause pain on the outer side of the knee.

• Gout (Read more). A form of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. Gout can cause sudden and severe inner knee pain, often accompanied by redness, swelling, and warmth in the affected area.