The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in our body. The knee joint is prone to injury that can cause pain. Especially often the knees are injured when running. Let's take a look at the main causes and treatments for knee pain.
Knee pain symptoms
Symptoms of knee pain depend on the cause and severity. Knee pain is a common problem.
Knee pain can occur suddenly with too much stress and injury.
Instability or weakness can often occur in the knees - up to the feeling that the legs are about to give way.
Depending on the cause of the pain, other symptoms may be observed: stiffness of movement, clicking in the knee, jamming of the knee joint in one position, inability to straighten the leg.
How does knee pain affect us?
Knee pain occurs more often in the elderly, overweight (due to increased stress on the joints) and during sports. Knee joints are actively involved in locomotion, so knee pain greatly affects our lives. With knee pain, we cannot play sports, it is difficult for us to walk and climb stairs.
The knee joint is made up of three bones, tendons that attach muscles to bones, and ligaments that stabilize and connect bones. In the cavity of the knee joint there are two C-shaped cartilages - menisci. Their main role is to cushion the joint. The fluid-filled bursa allows the joint to move smoothly.
80% of the people surveyed experienced knee pain.
Why knee pain occurs
Knee pain is often due to injuries (sprains and tendons, dislocations, tears of ligaments or menisci), as well as osteoarthritis, tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons), and bursitis (accumulation of fluid in the bursae).
Sports injuries
Knee injuries are common among athletes. They often have a ruptured knee ligament with sudden knee pain. Excessive stress on the knee joint, such as when running, walking, jumping and cycling, can cause so-called "runner's knee" (iliotibial tract friction syndrome). It usually manifests itself as pain in the kneecap region and occurs due to overuse, injury, leg bone disease, or muscle weakness.
Other reasons
Knee injuries can develop gradually with osteoarthritis. If, as a result of problems with the hip or ankle joints, a person's gait is disturbed, then this, in turn, can cause asymmetry in the load on the knee joints, which, in turn, is fraught with injuries. Knee injuries, even minor ones, increase the likelihood of similar injuries in the future.
Determine the cause of the pain
Pain in the side of the knee can be caused by damage to the ligaments and a tear in the meniscus (the cartilaginous layer that stabilizes the joint). Pain in the front of the knee is usually due to inflammation of the joint capsule and cartilage problems. Osteoarthritis can cause pain in the back of the knee.
Treatment
How knee pain is diagnosed and treated depends on the cause of the pain. To determine it, you must consult a doctor. The doctor will examine your knee, check its movement, swelling, bruising, and localized fever. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy and a knee brace to relieve pain, refer you for additional examinations (X-rays, MRI, ultrasound, or CT), show you exercises to strengthen your knee and prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and treat its cause. In addition, after consulting a doctor, at home, you can provide the injured knee with protection and peace, apply ice, apply a compression bandage and keep the knee in an elevated position. Over-the-counter pain relievers for internal and external use can help relieve short-term moderate pain and reduce inflammation.
What is Runner Knee Syndrome?
Knee injuries are common among athletes involved in athletics, particularly running.
Runner's knee syndrome includes the following symptoms:
- Pain behind or around the patella (patella).
- Pain when bending the knee.
- The pain gets worse when walking downhill or going down stairs.
- Swelling in the knee area.
- A clicking or crunching sound may be felt in the knee.
Treatments include resting and taking anti-inflammatory drugs
Exercises to relieve knee pain
Knee pain is common: out of 100 people who complained of pain, 80 reported knee pain. Three simple exercises will help make the muscles that support your knee stronger and more flexible. Doing these exercises regularly will help prevent or relieve knee pain.