Your knees really do undergo a lot of wear and tear. They carry the weight of your body day in day out and are constantly put under strain. Many of us don’t realise the significant amount of stress that the knees are put under for hours each day, until we experience knee pain and an issue has developed.
Understanding Knee Pain
Sadly knee pain is a very common problem. It’s not surprising that knees can become damaged or worn after consistently providing strength and stability as well as playing a vital role in absorbing shock.
However the knee is also a very complex joint and anatomically there are many reasons why things can easily go wrong and pain can develop. Often knee pain is connected to problems with the connective tissue or related to the muscles around the knee itself.
Causes of Knee Pain
The causes of knee pain are extremely varied however some of the most common causes include:
- Sprained Ligaments: these are the bands of tissue which join bones together.
- Ligament Tears: these can be painful and are common with sporting injuries and ACL tears are devastating for athletes.
- Meniscus Tears: this is the cartilage which creates a cushioning between the bones of the upper and lower leg.
- Tendonitis: this is usually caused by repetitive strain leading to inflammation of the tendon.
- Runner’s Knee: again, this is usually caused by overuse and repetitive strain, usually resulting in pain as the kneecap is resting on the thigh bone.
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome: this band of connective tissue connects from the hip bone to the upper calf. When it becomes very tight, it can rub against the bone at the knee.
- Osteoarthritis: this can be found in many areas of the body however when it occurs in the knee it is usually affecting the cartilage around the knee and is particularly common in older patients.
- Patella (or knee-cap) problems such as maltracking of the patella are common, particularly in females.
Treating Knee Pain
The most important aspect of treating knee pain is to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of the pain. Only after the diagnosis is made, the appropriate treatment will be undertaken.
If you’re currently experiencing knee pain, contact Tony Menz Orthopaedics today to book a consultation.
