The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in our body. The knee joint is prone to injury, which can cause pain. Especially often the knees are injured when running. Let's look at the main causes and treatments for knee pain.
Symptoms of knee pain
The symptoms of knee pain depend on the cause and severity. Knee pain is a common problem.
Knee pain can come on 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 movements, clicking in the knee, congestion 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. The knee joints are actively involved in the movement, so knee pain has a great impact on our lives. We can't play sports with knee pain, it is difficult for us to walk and climb stairs.
The knee joint is made up of three bones, tendons that attach muscles to the bones, and ligaments that stabilize and connect the 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 respondents had knee pain.
Why knee pain occurs
Knee pain is often caused by injuries (sprains and tendons, sprains, ruptures of ligaments or menisci), as well as osteoarthritis, tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons) and bursitis (accumulation of fluid in the bursa).
Sports injuries
Knee injuries are common among athletes. They often have a ruptured knee ligament with sudden knee pain. Excessive strain on the knee joint, such as when running, walking, jumping and cycling, can cause the so-called "runner's knee" (friction syndrome of the iliotibial tract). It usually manifests as pain in the knee and is caused by excessiveuse, 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 impaired, this in turn can cause an 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 on the side of the knee can be caused by damage to the ligaments and rupture of the meniscus (the cartilage layer that stabilizes the joint). Pain in the front of the knee is usually due to inflammation of the bursa 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 should consult a doctor. The doctor will examine your knee, check for movement, swelling, bruising and localized fever. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy and a knee brace to relieve pain, refer you for additional tests (X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or CT), show you exercises to strengthen your knee joint, and prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. pain and heals his cause. In addition, after consulting a doctor, at home, you can provide protection and calm to the injured knee, apply ice, apply a compression bandage and keep the knee in a raised position. Over-the-counter pain relievers for internal and external use can help relieve short-term moderate pain and reduce inflammation.
What is running knee syndrome?
Knee injuries are common among athletes involved in athletics, especially running.
Runner's knee syndrome includes the following symptoms:
- Pain behind or around the patella (patella).
- Pain when bending the knee.
- The pain worsens when walking down or down stairs.
- Swelling in the knee area.
- A click or crunch may be felt in the knee.
Treatments include rest and taking anti-inflammatory drugs
Exercises to relieve knee pain
Knee pain is common: out of 100 people who complain of pain, 80 report knee pain. Three simple exercises will help you make the muscles that support your knee stronger and more flexible. Doing these exercises regularly will help prevent or alleviate knee pain.