Common Causes of Knee Pain
The Knee is a complex joint with a lot of muscle attachments, there is also the matter of the cartilage and ligaments around the knee joint. However, I’m not going to talk about the anatomy of the knee and how it works.
A lot of the knee pain I see at the clinic is around the front of the kneecap (patella) or under the kneecap, it is generally referred to in physio speak as anterior knee pain and can be caused by several factors which I will cover below.
When the area around the knee is swollen, red in colour or warm to the touch, there may be more serious issues and it would be best to seek professional advice (APC) can provide this.
The most common issue which causes a pain in the patella area is caused by the muscle at the front of the leg (quadricep) being tight. The pressure of this tight muscle pushing on the patella and pulling on the area it attaches to will cause pain. This can be easy to manage and a regime of stretches and soft tissue massage by a trained therapist with help resolve this. You may need some time off running to help your recovery.
The next most common issue we see at the clinic is call Chondromalacia patellae (also known as ‘runner’s knee’). It’s a condition where the cartilage on the under surface of the patella deteriorates and softens. This condition is common amongst younger sports people, it can also occur in older adults who may have increased wear to the cartilage. This is best managed by removing the pressure on the cartilage. This is best done by carrying out the following steps:
- REST! Most runners don’t like this word but sometimes it’s the best option.
- Stretch your quadriceps
This will help with the symptoms of this condition but to manage the cause is a more complex issue and it’s best to call and see us.
Bursitis (house maids knee) this is common with runners, or people doing a repetitive movement. Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa in the front of the patella. It occurs when the bursa becomes irritated and sore, which causes it to swell and put pressure on the knee. The treatment of his is that word again. REST but we are going to advice ICE as well. If you can tolerate an ice pack wrapped in a cloth for 15-20 minutes this should be done regularly throughout the day. Again, this helps with the symptoms of this condition – but to manage the cause is a more complex issue and it’s best to call and see us.
Most runners and sporty people have heard of the ITB or Iliotibial band. It causes pain at the knee when it becomes tight. This pain can be on the inside or outside of the knee. The ITB is in your leg to help stabilise your knee, so needs to be somewhat tight, but the issues start when it becomes over tight. Treatments can include dry needling, soft tissue massage, stretches.
Less common Knee issues we do see, but with some testing during an assessment, can hopefully be eliminated quite quickly.
- Ligament damage, this will cause your knee to feel unstable and can cause pain when going up and down stairs or hills.
- Cartilage damage (or in physio speak Meniscal) symptoms include locking of your knee, pain when your leg is straight or when you are twisting and turning.
- Tendonitis is inflammation of the patellar. This is an injury to the tendon that connects the patella to the shinbone. You will generally experience pain when your knee is bent.
This is a snapshot of the common issues clients bring to the clinic and a straightforward example of some treatment to help with the symptoms. Most runners also need a level of strength and conditioning to prevent their condition returning post treatment. These exercises need to be specific to the individual.
If you are having Knee pain please come and see one of the physiotherapists at APC to ensure you get the correct advice and treatment for your condition.
Article written by Pete Down, lead physio at APC.
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