Common Causes of Knee Pain

There are many possible reasons why a person may experience knee pain. In some cases, it results from an injury such as ruptured ligaments or torn cartilage. In others, it may be a symptom of a medical condition such as arthritis, gout, or infections. Nevertheless, knee pain can affect people of all ages and hinder the quality of everyday life.

In this article, we’ll be going over some of the most common causes of knee pain. Plus, we’ll be exploring the best pain relief solutions.

Knee pain as a result of injury

The most common causes of knee pain are injury or repetitive strain. A knee injury can affect the ligaments, tendons, and fluid-filled sacs surrounding the knee. Additionally, it can affect the bones, ligaments, and cartilage that help form the joint. The most common knee-related injuries include ACL injury (common in people who play sports requiring sudden direction changes), fractures, and a torn meniscus, which most often happens when the knee is suddenly twisted while bearing weight.

Mechanical problems

Another cause of knee pain is related to mechanical problems. For instance, sometimes injury can result in a piece of bone or cartilage breaking off and floating into the joint space. Think of it kind of like a pencil being caught in a door. Other mechanical problems resulting in knee pain include a dislocated knee cap, iliotibial band syndrome, and hip or foot pain.

Underlying issues

In some cases, knee pain is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. In that instance, the cause of pain is usually unknown by the person experiencing it and requires further medical attention. A more in-depth examination may result in a diagnosis for a type of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout, to name a few. In very rare situations, knee pain can be attributed to more severe problems such as cancer.

Knee pain categories

The location and intensity of the knee pain also often indicate the severity of the issue. There are currently three main categories of knee pain.

Acute pain

Acute pain refers to the pain that occurs from one day to one week after an injury or trauma. This type of pain tends to be the most severe, so it is vital that the person seeks medical attention if needed and pauses any strenuous activities. That way, the injury can be properly examined and can heal faster. However, for most people, resting and using ice packs will suffice.

Sub-acute pain

This type of pain refers to any pain lasting up to six weeks after the initial injury. Those who suffer from this type of knee pain benefit from physical therapy. A professional therapist can keep track of their healing process and even speed it up.

Chronic pain

Chronic pain refers to any pain that lasts for longer than three months. When this happens, it can mean that there might be an underlying medical condition or degenerative disease causing it. Therefore, it’s recommended that people seek medical care as soon as possible to sort out the cause of the pain.

Treatment

Those who suffer from an acute knee injury should follow the RICE method—rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This method should be enough to reduce the pain within a few hours, or in some cases, a few days.

If the pain persists, it’s vital to seek help from a professional medical service. A physical therapist can evaluate an individual’s pain and help provide a personalized treatment plan depending on the severity of the issue.

If you are looking for occupational or physical therapy, vestibular rehab, wheelchair training, learning to walk, unweighting aquatic therapy, or other services in the Phoenix area, please call Touchstone Rehabilitation at 602-277-1073.