Knee Pain – Common Causes and Treatment Methods

Knee Pain – Common Causes and Treatment Methods Knee pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints and it can affect people of all ages. The knee joint is one of the complex joints in the body and as it takes the full weight of your body, it is particularly vulnerable to damage and pain. The pain may be the result of a sudden or overuse injury such as torn cartilage or ruptured ligaments. Medical conditions such as arthritis, gout and infections can also cause the condition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that nearly half of all people will experience symptoms of knee osteoarthritis at some point in their life.

Knee pain is not always a knee problem. It can originate in the foot, hip and even the spine. It may begin as mild discomfort and then slowly worsen. The type, location and severity of pain may vary depending on the specific cause of the problem. Symptoms include 

Weakness or instability

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Swelling and stiffness

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Redness and warmth to the touch

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Popping or crunching noises

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Inability to fully straighten the knee

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Difficulty in bending the knee

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Difficulty in walking

Top Causes Knee pain can be caused by injuries, mechanical problems, medical conditions and other problems. A knee injury can affect any of the ligaments, tendons or fluid-filled sacs

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(bursae) that surround your knee joint as well as the bones, cartilage and ligaments that form the joint itself. The causes associated with the condition can be broadly classified into three categories – Acute Injuries 

ACL injury

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Torn meniscus

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Knee bursitis

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Patellar tendinitis

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Bone chips

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Broken bone

Mechanical Problems 

Iliotibial band syndrome

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Dislocated kneecap

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Hip or foot pain

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Loose body

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Bleeding in the knee joint

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Medial plica syndrome

Medical conditions 

Septic arthritis

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Gout

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Osgood- schlatter degenerative joint disease

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Rheumatoid arthritis

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Osteoarthritis

Managing Knee Pain Depending on the type of pain and severity of symptoms, multi-specialty healthcare centers use a combination of techniques to reduce knee pain without surgery. 

Physical Therapy – This method involves specialized exercise programs that help to strengthen joints, improve flexibility and increase range of motion. The types of exercises include strengthening, stretching and range-of-motion exercises.

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Ice and Heat Application –Ice pack helps to reduce muscle spasm and joint inflammation, where as heat application provides relaxation to muscles.

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TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) – Low-voltage electric simulation is administered to the affected part that interacts with the sensory nervous system to manage aches.

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Chiropractic Adjustment – Chiropractic adjustments of the hips, spine, and knee joint can help restore the mobility of the joints and bring them back into the proper alignment. These techniques help address joint stress, reduce inflammation, and promote the healing of the joint and surrounding soft tissue. A combination of chiropractic and exercise can prove very effective in relieving knee pain.

Slight to moderate pain in the knees can be harmless and usually resolve on its own.

However, if the pain persists, don’t delay seeing your doctor.

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