There are many injuries and reasons for knee pain.
Many include treatment, rehabilitation programs and exercises. We also have information on knee surgery, strapping & taping as well as a huge number of strengthening exercises.
For common knee pain, I tend to treat them on the spot by releasing the areas affecting the knee and causing pain or discomfort.
The knee joint is found in the middle of the leg and connects the Femur (thigh bone) and Tibia (shin bone). The Patella, or kneecap sits to the front of these bones. The Femur and Tibia are connected by the four main ligaments at the knee, the Anterior and Posterior Cruciate Ligaments (found deep within the knee joint) and the Medial (MCL) and Lateral (LCL) Collateral Ligaments (on either side of the joint).
The knee joint also contains two forms of cartilage. There is articular cartilage which protects the ends of both bones and the back of the patella allowing for smooth movement and the cartilage meniscus which are two semi circular discs providing cushioning and support for the bones.
ACUTE VS CHRONIC
Knee injuries can be acute or chronic
Chronic pain tends to come on gradully with no specific time of onset. These injuries are usually either overuse or degenerative caused by wear and tear over time.
Patella Pain Syndrome
Excess movement of the knee cap causing pain and inflammation.
Symptoms include pain or aching under or around the knee cap, often the result of over use or poor knee biomechanics.
Housemaids Knee
Also known as prepatella bursitis, an inflammatory condition of the bursa often caused by pressure or kneeling.
A bursa is a small sac of fluid which lubricates a joint between the bone and the tendon.
Jumpers Knee
Also called patella tendonitis, causing pain in the tendon below the knee cap.
This is an overuse knee injury causing inflammation or degeneration of the patella tendon or ligament which connects the knee cap to the shin bone.
Medial ligament sprain
A tear or rupture of the MCL on the inner knee joint is usually caused by an impact to the outside of the knee.
More severe injuries may involve damage to the cartilage meniscus causing pain on the inside of the knee joint.
Medial meniscus injury
A tear of the inner ring of cartilage within the knee joint. The cartilage menisus provide support and cushioning to the knee joint.
There are a number of different types of tear which may require surgery.
Knee plica
Inflammation of a synovial fold found along the inside border of the knee cap is one of the less common knee injuries.
The knee joint is surrounded by a capsule which contains synovial fluid. This fluid acts as a lubricant.