Knee Pain When Straightening Your Leg

Your knees are complex joints that bear a lot of your body weight and power your legs for a wide range of activities like walking, running and jumping. It’s important to take care of your knees so you can live out your normal daily life and enjoy physical activities. However, despite your best efforts, injuries and conditions can affect your knees, which can limit their use.

Some conditions cause pain that only affects your knees when trying to straighten them but not bending them. Common conditions that cause this kind of pain include:

1. Torn meniscus

The meniscus is a small, flat piece of cartilage that rests between the thighbones and shinbones on each side of your knees. There are two menisci in each knee. They exist to absorb shock in the knees and keep the bones from grinding against one another.

A traumatic injury that causes the knee to violently twist can cause a meniscus to tear. A torn meniscus might fold on itself, which can keep you from fully straightening your leg and cause knee pain when you try to do so.

2. Runner’s knee

Runner’s knee is the common term for pain around the kneecap. This is a condition in which the tendon that connects your kneecap to your shinbone becomes inflamed from repetitive motions. This can make it painful around the kneecap when you try and fully straighten your leg.

Pain around the kneecap is often referred to as runner’s knee since runners frequently bend their knees and absorb a lot of shock from pavement and hard ground, but it is a condition that can affect anyone. 

3. Strained muscles

Overexertion of the knee can cause one or more of the muscles in your thigh or shin to become stretched or torn. Some strains cause pain that affects your knee whether it’s bent or straight, but some strains might only cause pain when you try to fully straighten your knee. 

Contact Advent Physical Therapy today to talk about knee pain treatment

Are you experiencing pain when trying to straighten your knee? Our physical therapists at Advent Physical Therapy specialize in treatments that help you recover from this pain. Contact us today for more information about treating your knee pain or to schedule an initial appointment. 

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee) (for Teens)

What Is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFP syndrome) is pain in and around the kneecap (patella). PFP syndrome is also called “runner’s knee.”

Rest and exercises that stretch and strengthen the hips and legs can help PFP syndrome get better.

What Causes PFP Syndrome?

Patellofemoral (pronounced: peh-tel-oh-FEM-er-ul) pain syndrome is an overuse disorder. These happen when someone does the same movements that stress the knee over and over again.

In PFP syndrome, repeated bending and straightening the knee stresses the kneecap. It’s most common in athletes.

Some people with PFP syndrome have a kneecap that is out of line with the thighbone (femur). The kneecap can get out of line, or wiggle as it moves along the thighbone, because of muscle weakness, trauma, or another problem. If this happens, the kneecap doesn’t glide smoothly over the thighbone when the knee bends and straightens. The kneecap gets injured and this causes the pain of PFP syndrome.

Who Gets PFP Syndrome?

Patellofemoral pain syndrome usually happens in people who do sports that involve a lot of knee bending and straightening, such as running, biking, and skiing. It also can happen to people, particularly young women, who do not do a lot of sports.

PFP syndrome is more common in women and happens most often to teens and young adults.

Tight or weak leg muscles or flat feet can make someone more likely to get PFP syndrome.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of PFP Syndrome?

Patellofemoral pain syndrome causes pain under and around the knee. The pain often gets worse with walking, kneeling, squatting, going up or down stairs, or running. It may also hurt after sitting with a bent knee for a long time, such as in a long car ride or in a movie theater.

Some people with PFP syndrome feel a “popping” or creaking after getting up from sitting or when going up or down stairs.

How Is PFP Syndrome Diagnosed?

To diagnose patellofemoral pain syndrome, health care providers:

• ask about physical activities
• do an exam

Usually no testing is needed. Sometimes the health care provider orders an X-ray or other imaging study to check for other knee problems.

How Is PFP Syndrome Treated?

Someone with patellofemoral pain syndrome needs to limit or completely avoid activities that cause pain. Sometimes a change in training is all that’s needed. For example, someone who usually runs hills to train can try running on a flat, soft surface instead. 

A person who has severe pain or pain that interferes with activity (for example, if it causes a limp) needs to rest the knee until the pain is better.

For pain:

• Put ice or a cold pack on the knee every 1–2 hours for 15 minutes at a time. Put a thin towel between the ice and your skin to protect it from the cold.
• You can take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, or store brand) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, or store brand). Follow the directions that come with the medicine for how much to take and how often. Do not take this medicine for longer than about 2–3 weeks.

An important part of the treatment for PFP syndrome is improving the strength and flexibility of the legs, hips, and core muscles. Health care providers usually recommend going to a physical therapist to make an exercise plan that will help. The plan may include stretching, squats, planks, lunges, and other exercises that improve strength and flexibility of the legs and hips.

The health care provider might also recommend:

• a knee brace
• taping of the knee
• special shoe inserts

It doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes surgery is needed for PFP syndrome.

Can Someone With PFP Syndrome Play Sports?

Most people with PFP syndrome need to cut back or stop sports for some time. Follow the health care provider’s instructions on when it’s safe for you to go back to sports. This usually is when:

• Hip, leg, and core strength is near normal.
• Flexibility, especially in the hamstring muscle, has improved.
• There’s no pain with everyday activities, such as walking and going up/down stairs.
• Any pain with activity is very mild and goes away within a few minutes of starting the activity.

Looking Ahead

It can take months to years for the symptoms from PFP syndrome to get better. Following an exercise plan given by the health care provider or physical therapist can help the knee heal.

To lower the stress on their knees after healing, athletes should:

• Warm up and stretch before running or other sports.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Wear supportive running shoes and replace them often.
• Run on soft, flat surfaces (such as grass, dirt, or a synthetic track with a softer surface).
• Increase the intensity of workouts slowly.
• Use shoe inserts or a knee brace, if the health care provider recommends it.

Why Does My Knee Hurt When Bending?

Knees take a beating all the time, but even more so when they bend. In fact, knees take a force of up to 4 times your body weight every time you move.

The knee is the largest and most complex joint in the human body. With many components such as bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, bursae, and other soft tissues, it is very vulnerable to a variety of injuries. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, there were about 10.4 million doctor visits in 2010 alone for common knee injuries (fractures, dislocations, sprains, and ligament tears), so it’s no surprise that Americans are experiencing knee pain – especially when bending.

Top Causes of Knee Pain when Bending

Runner’s Knee

Runner’s knee is a painful condition that develops as a result of repeated bending of the knee joint. However, it can also occur because of poor alignment, a direct blow to the knee, or due to flat feet or weak thigh muscles. Pain from runners knee is usually just below or to the sides of the kneecap in the front. Symptoms include swelling around and behind the kneecap, knee pain when bending, possible crepitus, or cracking and popping noises in the knees when walking. Runner’s knee pain usually begins gradually and increases in severity as symptoms worsen.

Bursitis

Each of your knees has fluid filled sacs called bursa, which cushion and protect the structures of the knees. Bursitis occurs when the bursa become inflamed when kneeling, squatting, or in the presence of excess friction in the joint. Repetitive or prolonged kneeling or falling onto the knee can also cause inflammation of the prepatellar bursa below the kneecap on the front of the knee. Excess fluid in the knee joint that seeps back into the bursa can cause swelling and pain on the back of the knee. Although bursitis is not the most severe condition, it can cause significant discomfort.

Sprains or Injuries to Ligaments

A sprain on one of the four ligaments that help stabilize the knee can also cause pain while bending. If one of the ligaments tears or stretches too much, the pain can cause minor to severe pain. Most often the result of sports injuries, the incredibly painful and debilitating symptoms of damage to knee ligaments are most likely to be experienced by athletes.

Tears caused by repeated extension of the knee joint, impacts on hard surfaces, or abrupt shifting and twisting against the “hinge” of the knee can produce a variety of injuries in ligaments, including the ACL, PCL ,LCL, or MCL. Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, and even immobility. Symptoms usually come on immediately or shortly after an injury.

Meniscus Tear

The meniscus is a thick layer of cartilage lining the knee joint to protect and cushion it. If it tears, it can no longer cushion the knee, and it can get inflamed and limit movement. If your knee pain happens mostly while squatting or using the stairs, it could be a tear in your meniscus.

Arthritis or Osteoarthritis

Inflamed joints from arthritis can also cause pain while bending. If the pain comes after sitting for a long time, or in the morning, it could be caused by arthritis. Gentle movement can help to ease arthritis pain. Symptoms of arthritis develop over time and are not constant.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint inflammation and arthritis, experienced by over 30 million people annually, according to the CDC. Known as the “wear and tear” form of arthritis, it develops as a result of the continual wear on the cartilage in the knee joint. While it’s most often experienced by adults over 65, factors like genetics, obesity, diet, and existing injuries can cause symptoms of osteoarthritis to show up in adults as young as 25. Symptoms include stiffness, swelling, tenderness, and weakness.

Poor Alignment

When the body is properly aligned, the bones are stacked above each other and effectively distribute weight and force down the length of the body. When your posture is compromised or your gait is compensating for muscular tightness, weakness, or injury, a large amount of stress is created on the components of the knee joint. Having poor posture during any activity, including sitting, standing, walking, or bending, can result in pain and further injury to the knee.

Types of Knee Pain When Bending

Pain in the Knee, with “Locking” in the Joint

Inside the knee joint, there are two “C” shaped pieces of cartilage called menisci, which keep the surfaces of the upper leg bone and lower leg bones from grinding against each other. Injuries to this cartilage usually result from a trauma, like landing a jump or twisting your knee. You may also notice problems with range of motion, walking, or even a “locking” sensation in the joint. Resting the knee and managing inflammation will help heal minor tears, while physical therapy can help strengthen and stabilize it.

Pain Behind the Kneecap

Patella-Femoral Syndrome is a term that describes joint pain between the kneecap and upper leg bone. Under the kneecap is a smooth cartilage lining that creates a gliding surface between the bones, and if it softens or wears away it can result in pain and inflammation. According to Neuromuscular Specialist and co-founder of the Performance Institute in New York City, major contributing factors to this knee pain are poor alignment when landing, as well as imbalanced quadricep muscles, which can pull the kneecap side to side. Strengthening the quads and stretches to lengthen hamstrings and calfs will help reduce the risk of injury.

Pain and Tenderness on the outside of the Knee

The Iliotibial Band is a thick band of tissue that extends from the outside of the hip down to the outside of the knee. Repetitive flexion and extension of the knee, combined with lack of flexibility in the tissues can cause Iliotibial Band (ITB) Syndrome, which can put tension on the outside of the knee and result in knee pain while bending or moving. According to the Mayo Clinic, ITB Syndrome is an overuse injury. However, weak hip muscles and ITB tightness can add to the problem. Learning foam-rolling techniques can help stretch the ITB, and strengthening and stabilizing the lateral hip muscles will reduce the strain.

Pain with a Pop

The MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) and ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) are important, stabilizing ligaments in the knee that keep the joint from moving side to side. They can easily be injured as a result of trauma, such as twisting, turning, stopping quickly, or if the knee is pushed side-to-side. Pain can be felt with a “popping” sensation. Learning correct positioning and alignment can help prevent this type of injury. Healing an ACL or MCL injury usually requires treatment with physical therapy, and may include bracing to support and stabilize the knee during recovery.

How Can I Treat My Knee Pain?

Treatments at home, such as rest, ice, using bandages or bracing, and elevation can often help. If your doctor gives permission, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications and stretching or strengthening exercises can also often aid in relieving the pain. If your symptoms worsen or do not improve, make sure to seek medical attention.

Are you experiencing knee pain while bending down? At Flexogenix®, our board-certified physicians are dedicated to non-surgical solutions for knee and joint pain. Contact us today for a no-cost consultation and let us give you a personalized plan to relieve your pain and get you back to the active lifestyle that you deserve.

Learn More About Your Knee Pain

Iliotibial Band Syndrome: A Common Source of Knee Pain

RAZIB KHAUND, M.D., Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island

SHARON H. FLYNN, M.D., Oregon Medical Group/Hospital Service, Eugene, Oregon

Am Fam Physician. 2005 Apr 15;71(8):1545-1550.

Iliotibial band syndrome is a common knee injury. The most common symptom is lateral knee pain caused by inflammation of the distal portion of the iliotibial band. The iliotibial band is a thick band of fascia that crosses the hip joint and extends distally to insert on the patella, tibia, and biceps femoris tendon. In some athletes, repetitive flexion and extension of the knee causes the distal iliotibial band to become irritated and inflamed resulting in diffuse lateral knee pain. Iliotibial band syndrome can cause significant morbidity and lead to cessation of exercise. Although iliotibial band syndrome is easily diagnosed clinically, it can be extremely challenging to treat. Treatment requires active patient participation and compliance with activity modification. Most patients respond to conservative treatment involving stretching of the iliotibial band, strengthening of the gluteus medius, and altering training regimens. Corticosteroid injections should be considered if visible swelling or pain with ambulation persists for more than three days after initiating treatment. A small percentage of patients are refractory to conservative treatment and may require surgical release of the iliotibial band.

Iliotibial band syndrome is a common knee injury that usually presents as lateral knee pain caused by inflammation of the distal portion of the iliotibial band; occasionally, however, the iliotibial band becomes inflamed at its proximal origin and causes referred hip pain. The iliotibial band is a thick band of fascia that is formed proximally by the confluence of fascia from hip flexors, extensors, and abductors. The band originates at the lateral iliac crest and extends distally to the patella, tibia, and biceps femoris tendon (Figure 1).1

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Strength of Recommendations

Strength of Recommendations

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FIGURE 1.

The iliotibial band is a thick band of fascia that extends along the lateral thigh from the iliac crest to the knee.

FIGURE 1.

The iliotibial band is a thick band of fascia that extends along the lateral thigh from the iliac crest to the knee.

Iliotibial band syndrome occurs frequently in runners or cyclists, and is caused by a combination of overuse and biomechanical factors. The syndrome can cause significant morbidity; however, most patients respond to a conservative treatment approach that involves stretching and altering training regimens.

Etiology

Iliotibial band syndrome is caused by excessive friction of the distal iliotibial band as it slides over the lateral femoral epicondyle during repetitive flexion and extension of the knee resulting in friction and potential irritation. In patients with iliotibial band syndrome, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that the distal iliotibial band becomes thickened and that the potential space deep to the iliotibial band over the femoral epicondyle becomes inflamed and filled with fluid.2

Despite a clear pathophysiology, it is unclear why this syndrome does not affect all athletes. Few studies3–7 have shown any direct relationship between biomechanical factors and the development of iliotibial band syndrome. Excessive pronation causing tibial internal rotation and increased stress in the iliotibial band was believed to be a factor in the development of iliotibial band syndrome; however, the literature does not support this theory.

Some observational studies4,6 have identified potential risk factors for the development of iliotibial band syndrome, including the following: preexisting iliotibial band tightness; high weekly mileage; time spent walking or running on a track; interval training; and muscular weakness of knee extensors, knee flexors, and hip abductors. Hip abductor weakness seems to contribute to the development of iliotibial band syndrome. Strengthening of the hip abductors has led to symptom improvement.6

Clinical Presentation

The primary initial complaint in patients with iliotibial band syndrome is diffuse pain over the lateral aspect of the knee. These patients frequently are unable to indicate one specific area of tenderness, but tend to use the palm of the hand to indicate pain over the entire lateral aspect of the knee. With time and continued activity, the initial lateral achiness progresses into a more painful, sharp, and localized discomfort over the lateral femoral epicondyle and/or the lateral tibial tubercle. Typically, the pain begins after the completion of a run or several minutes into a run; however, as the iliotibial band becomes increasingly irritated, the symptoms typically begin earlier in an exercise session and can even occur when the person is at rest. Patients often note that the pain is aggravated while running down hills, lengthening their stride, or sitting for long periods of time with the knee in the flexed position. 7  The differential diagnosis for lateral knee pain is listed in Table 1.

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TABLE 1

Differential Diagnosis of Lateral Knee Pain

TABLE 1

Differential Diagnosis of Lateral Knee Pain

Physical Examination

Patients with iliotibial band syndrome often demonstrate tenderness on palpation of the lateral knee approximately 2 cm above the joint line. Tenderness frequently is worse when the patient is in a standing position and the knee is flexed to 30 degrees. At this angle, the iliotibial band slides over the femoral condyle and is at maximal stress, thus reproducing the patient’s symptoms.1,6 Swelling may be noted at the distal iliotibial band and thorough palpation of the affected limb may reveal multiple trigger points in the vastus lateralis, gluteus medius, and biceps femoris. Palpation of these trigger points may cause referred pain to the lateral aspect of the affected knee. Strength of the lower extremity should be assessed with particular emphasis on examining the knee extensors, knee flexors, and hip abductors. Weakness in these muscle groups has been associated with the development of iliotibial band syndrome.4,6,7

The Ober’s test can be used to assess tightness of the iliotibial band (Figure 2). With the patient lying on the side with the unaffected side down and the unaffected hip and knee at a 90-degree angle, the examiner stabilizes the pelvis, then abducts and extends the affected leg until it is aligned with the rest of the patient’s body. The affected leg is lowered into adduction. If the iliotibial band is normal in length and unaffected, the leg will adduct and the patient will not experience pain. If the iliotibial band is tight, the leg will remain in the abducted position and the patient may have lateral knee pain.1,6,8 A tight iliotibial band contributes to the excess friction placed on the iliotibial band as it slides over the femoral condyle during flexion and extension of the knee.

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FIGURE 2

Ober’s test. The patient lies down with the unaffected side down and the unaffected hip and knee at a 90-degree angle. If the iliotibial band is tight, the patient will have difficulty adducting the leg beyond the midline and may experience pain at the lateral knee (arrows).

FIGURE 2

Ober’s test. The patient lies down with the unaffected side down and the unaffected hip and knee at a 90-degree angle. If the iliotibial band is tight, the patient will have difficulty adducting the leg beyond the midline and may experience pain at the lateral knee (arrows).

A clinical diagnosis is based on the history and physical examination. If the diagnosis is in doubt or other joint pathology is suspected, MRI can aid in the diagnosis and provide additional information about patients considered for surgery. In patients with iliotibial band syndrome, MRI shows a thickened iliotibial band over the lateral femoral epicondyle and often detects a fluid collection deep to the iliotibial band in the same region.2

Treatment

Treatment requires activity modification, massage, and stretching and strengthening of the affected limb. The goal is to minimize the friction of the iliotibial band as it slides over the femoral condyle. The patient may be referred to a physical therapist who is trained in treating iliotibial band syndrome. Most runners with low mileage respond to a regimen of anti-inflammatory medicines and stretching; however, competitive or high-mileage runners may need a more comprehensive treatment program.

The initial goal of treatment should be to alleviate inflammation by using ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Patient education and activity modification are crucial to successful treatment. Any activity that requires repeated knee flexion and extension is prohibited. During treatment, the patient may swim to maintain cardiovascular fitness. If visible swelling or pain with ambulation persists for more than three days after initiating treatment, a local corticosteroid injection should be considered6 (Figure 3).

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FIGURE 3

Corticosteroid injection for iliotibial band syndrome. Gerdy’s tubercle and the femoral condyle are marked as landmarks. With the patient in a supine or side-lying position, the needle is inserted at the point of maximum tenderness over the femoral condyle.

FIGURE 3

Corticosteroid injection for iliotibial band syndrome. Gerdy’s tubercle and the femoral condyle are marked as landmarks. With the patient in a supine or side-lying position, the needle is inserted at the point of maximum tenderness over the femoral condyle.

As the acute inflammation diminishes, the patient should begin a stretching regimen that focuses on the iliotibial band as well as the hip flexors and plantar flexors. The common iliotibial band stretches (Figure 4) have been evaluated for their effectiveness in stretching the band. The stretch shown in Figure 4C was consistently the most effective in increasing the length of the iliotibial band in a study9 of elite distance runners. Although this study9 demonstrates the effectiveness of stretching the iliotibial band, participants in the study did not have iliotibial band syndrome and studies have not demonstrated that stretching hastens recovery from the syndrome.

FIGURE 4

Stretches of the right iliotibial band

Once the patient can perform stretching without pain, a strengthening program should be initiated. Strength training should be an integral part of any runner’s regimen; however, for patients with iliotibial band syndrome particular emphasis needs to be placed on the gluteus medius muscle. 6 A strengthening exercise geared toward the gluteus medius is shown in Figure 5.

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FIGURE 5

Exercise for strengthening of the right gluteus medius muscle in a weight-bearing position. (A) The patient stands on a platform and lowers the left leg toward the ground slowly. (B) Through contraction of the right gluteus medius, the patient then elevates the leg, returning the pelvis to a level position.

FIGURE 5

Exercise for strengthening of the right gluteus medius muscle in a weight-bearing position. (A) The patient stands on a platform and lowers the left leg toward the ground slowly. (B) Through contraction of the right gluteus medius, the patient then elevates the leg, returning the pelvis to a level position.

Running should be resumed only after the patient is able to perform all of the strength exercises without pain. The return to running should be gradual, starting at an easy pace on a level surface. If the patient is able to tolerate this type of running without pain, mileage can be increased slowly. For the first week, patients should run only every other day, starting with easy sprints on a level surface. Most patients improve within three to six weeks if they are compliant with their stretching and activity limitations.1

For patients who do not respond to conservative treatment, surgery should be considered. The most common approach is to release the posterior 2 cm of the iliotibial band where it passes over the lateral epicondyle of the femur. In a retrospective study10 of 45 patients who underwent surgical release of their iliotibial band, 84 percent of the patients reported that their surgery results were good to excellent.

Why Do My Knees Hurt When Bending?

Knee pain has many origins unrelated to an underlying disease. Injuries due to trauma, overuse or overexertion are common causes of knee pain. Many Americans experience knee pain when bending specifically, which can be troublesome when we don’t know the exact reason behind it.

Experts estimate that for every pound we weigh, our knees can be subject to four to six times that pressure when we bend them and/or place them in a weight bearing position. Therefore, bending, climbing stairs and squatting can make certain areas of the knee ache with pain.

Causes of Knee Pain

Knee pain when bending may be the result of any number of causes, including arthritis, overuse or sports injuries. All of these can result in knee pain when bending or activating the knee joint. Some knee discomfort may have a clear and obvious cause. For example, if you fell on your knee during an athletic exercise, it is safe to assume that is why your knee hurts. Other causes of knee pain, such as arthritis or a degenerative condition, will require a clinical evaluation and expert diagnosis.

Traumatic Injuries

Traumatic injuries are causes of knee pain that you will likely notice right away. Directly following the injury, or perhaps up to 24 hours later, the knee will begin to swell as pain and inflammation set in. Traumatic injuries typically occur during sports, falls, work-related accidents or car accidents. Direct impact and twisting are common mechanisms of injury.

Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries develop slowly over time as the knee goes through consistent use and overexertion. This type of injury will result in pain that comes and goes with varying intensity. Typically, performing the activity that is responsible for the overuse will cause the pain to flare up again.

Arthritis

Arthritis in the knee is a degenerative or inflammatory condition that will worsen with time unless properly treated. Arthritic joints may be most painful and stiff immediately after waking up or being sedentary and vary in intensity when walking or performing daily activities. Body weight, weather conditions, and other factors may also play a role.

Treating Knee Pain When Bending

Conditions that result in knee pain when bending may be initially treated at home with rest/ice/compression/elevation and self-care. However, more severe injuries or arthritis will require a comprehensive evaluation with one of The Orthopaedic Institute’s specialty physicians. Request your appointment online today or call (352) 309-1437 to begin your comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan. We are here to help get rid of your knee pain, and get you back to having fun and enjoying your activities again!

Dr. Duke is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in adult reconstructive surgery, total and partial knee resurfacing, anterior lateral approach total hip replacement, knee arthroscopy and sports medicine.

Dr. Duke became an orthopedic surgeon because he was mentored by a wonderful hometown orthopedic surgeon who allowed him to observe surgery. As he went through his medical school rotations, Dr. Duke was drawn to orthopedics and felt that it was the best specialty for him to utilize his talents in caring for patients.

What sets Dr. Duke apart is how he listens and communicates. He treats all of his patients like family. Dr. Duke has practiced medicine in the same location for 28 years and has performed over 10,000 total joint replacements. He and his caring staff want the absolute best for their patients.

Knee Pain While Flexing Quadricep

Knee Pain While Flexing Quadricep

The knee is an essential part of the body. It is the largest weight-bearing joint in the body and it absorbs the forces exerted during walking, running, and jumping. The quadriceps muscles are responsible for moving the knee and the hip. They also prevent the knee from buckling during activities like walking, running, jumping, and squatting. When the quadriceps muscles are in contraction, it increase the strain on the muscles, tendons and ligaments around the knee, causing pain. Common injuries include: patella tendonitis, chondromalacia patella, patellofemoral syndrome, and muscle strain.

Patella Tendonitis

Patellar tendonitis is tissue damage and inflammation of the patella tendon causing inner knee pain. The quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh connects to the knee cap which attaches to the tibia via the patella tendon. The quadriceps muscle is used to straighten and hinge the knee during activities such as running, jumping, and kicking. When the quadriceps are contracted, force is put on the patella tendon and too much force can damage the tendon. Strain from repetitive activities causes the damage to the tendon. It commonly occurs in people who partake in sports with frequent jumping such as basketball.

Chondromalacia Patella

Chondromalacia patella is the softening of the cartilage under the patella, or kneecap. The degeneration of the cartilage is due to the misalignment of the patella as it slides over the femur. The quadriceps muscles pull the patella in a straight line over the femur. When the alignment is off-kilter, it allows for the patella to grind against the femur, causing inflammation and pain. The pain is normally felt in the front of the knee. Chondromalacia patella is one of the most common causes for chronic knee pain. This condition is most common among females, people who are knee-knocked, runners who are flat-footed, and people who are predisposed to an unusually shaped patella.

Patellofemoral Syndrome

Patellofemoral syndrome is a broad term to encompass pain in the front of the knee and around the patella. Many times, it is called “runner’s knee” or “jumper’s knee” because it is common in athletes who participate in sports that require running and/or jumping. It is especially common in young adults and females, but it can occur in non-athletes, as well. Patellofemoral syndrome occurs when nerves feel pain occurring in the soft tissues and bones around the patella. In some cases of patellofemoral syndrome, chondromalacia patella is occurring, causing the pain.

Muscle Strain

The quadriceps muscles are made up of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius and the rectus femoris. A strain in any one of these is called a tear. If the tear becomes more severe, it is known as a muscle rupture. Tears commonly occur during activities such as running, jumping, and kicking when a sufficient warm-up wasn’t conducted. The most common of the quadriceps muscles to form a tear is the rectus femoris because it is the only muscle to cross both the hip and knee joints. When pain is felt around the knee, there is most likely a tear at musculotendinous junction which is just above the knee where the muscle becomes a tendon.

Conservative treatments can help relieve knee pain while flexing quadriceps and a treatment plan should be put together before surgery is considered. Many people immediately jump to surgery when they have a knee injury, but conservative treatments can work just as well to reduce inflammation and pain with a shorter recovery time.

Home Treatments

At home the first step is always PRICE: protect, rest, ice, compress, and elevate. Reduce the stress and strain to the knee. Over the counter nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as recommended by your doctor can help reduce pain and inflammation. Ice helps block the knee pain and reduce inflammation.

Medical Treatments

NSAIDs are often prescribed for the initial acute injury stages. In severe cases that involve multiple joint regions, muscle relaxers or oral steroids can be given. Trigger point injections, botox, or steroid injections can be treatment options, as well. Pain management is not usually required unless stronger medications or joint injections are involved in treatment.

MRI and X-rays will not usually be ordered to evaluate mild to moderate muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries. Severe cases may utilize advanced imaging to rule out bone fractures, edema, nerve entrapments, tendon or muscle ruptures. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) testing may be utilized in cases that also involve muscle, sensory or reflex loss.

Conservative Treatments

Therapeutic treatments for addressing soft tissue injuries involve massage therapy, manual therapy, trigger point therapy, Graston Technique, or Active Release Technique. These treatments increase blood flow, decrease muscle spasms, enhance flexibility, speed healing, and promote proper tissue repair.

Iliotibial band Syndrome is common in runners who develop the injury because of weakness and poor stabilization of the leg and hip muscles. Specific knee exercises are given to increase strength and endurance. Proprioception exercises help teach the muscles how to work together again to stabilize the knee during walking or running.

When these treatments are incorporated into a treatment plan, patients heal faster and are less likely to have long-term pain, soft tissue fibrosis, or scar tissue in the injured muscle. These soft tissue treatments are incorporated with therapeutic exercise and flexibility programs.

Improve Movements to Eliminate Hip Pain

The back, hip, and lower extremity work as a comprehensive unit allowing for many of the repetitive tasks you complete at home, work, and during recreational activities. Injuries to one area of the musculature often indicates that additional damage has been incurred by adjacent muscles.

Many therapeutic exercises can help restore proper strength and endurance to the leg muscles. Isometric exercises are often the initial treatment exercises, followed by single plane rubber band exercises for the hip, knee, and ankle: flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, circumduction, inversion, and eversion. Dynamic exercises involving stability foam, rubber discs, exercise ball, and BOSU balls can be performed on the floor. The more unstable the surface, the more effort and stabilization is required of all the lower extremity muscles.

Vibration plates enhance neuromuscular learning throughout the ankle, knee, foot, hip, and back muscles. Additional strength exercises can be found on the hip, knee, and foot strengthening pages. More information for injuries and treatments for knee pain and foot pain.

Our Chandler Chiropractic & Physical Therapy clinic treats patients with a variety of muscle, tendon, joint, and ligament injuries. The clinic provides treatment for runners, tri-athletes, and weekend warriors in addition to common headache, neck, and back patients traditionally seen in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy clinics. We work with all ages and abilities of the residents in Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler AZ.

Causes of Knee Flexion Pain

The knee takes significant stress when walking, running or playing sports.

Knee pain is a common reason that people visit their doctors. The knee is the largest weight-bearing joint in the body and takes significant stress when an individual walks, runs, or plays sports. The knee has obvious actions, including flexion and extension or bending and straightening. But the knee also can slide and pivot slightly. Pain with bending the knee is a sign of injury or damage within the joint.

Arthritis

Several types of arthritis can affect the knee. Doctors at Mayo Clinic believe that osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting large joints, such as the knee. Other types that can potentially affect the knee include septic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout, also a form of arthritis. Individuals with arthritis experience varying degrees of pain when standing or walking, swelling, stiffness and loss of flexibility, including difficulty and pain with flexion. (Reference 1)

Patellar Tendinitis

Tendinitis is an irritation or inflammation of one or more tendons that support a joint. Often it is a result of overtraining or over use. According to Mayo Clinic, athletes are more prone to patellar tendinitis. The tendon connects the quadriceps muscle in the front of the thigh to the lower leg bone. Runners, skiers and cyclists depend upon this action to support their athletic performance, making them more at risk for over use. Sufferers experience pain with flexion, with or without weight bearing. (Reference 1)

Patellarfemoral Pain Syndrome

Individuals with this condition have pain under or around the kneecap. The pain is worse with flexion or after sitting for a long period of time. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that individuals who are experiencing this overuse injury take a break from their activities, ice the knee several times per day and evaluate the type of footwear they use. Exercises can also help to strengthen the muscles around the kneecap and relieve the pain. (Reference 2)

Bursitis

This is an inflammation of the small sac of fluid that cushions the outside of the knee joint. According to Mayo Clinic, bursitis causes considerable pain with flexion while weight bearing, such as going up or down stairs. Individuals with bursitis may also experience redness, swelling, warmth or fever. (Reference 1)

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Adolescents who play sports that require twisting, running or jumping are prone to pain.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is an inflammation of the bone, cartilage and tendon at the top of the shinbone. According to Kids Health, only one knee is usually affected and adolescents who are active are more prone to the condition. It usually strikes during a growth spurt and more often to adolescents who play sports that involve twisting, running or jumping. The pain can be mild to severe and constant. It gets worse with exercise and flexion. (Reference 3)

Baker’s Cyst

This cyst is an accumulation of fluid that forms behind the knee. It can be caused by herniation of knee joint capsule or the tearing of the meniscal cartilage of the knee. The U.S. National Library of Medicine recommends that a ruptured Baker’s cyst is quickly differentiated from a blood clot that can cause the same pain with flexion of the knee. A blood clot can represent imminent danger and requires immediate medical attention. (Reference 4)

90,000 Treatment of knee pain when walking

Do you have persistent or recurrent knee pain? Does the pain increase over time, creates discomfort when moving and even at rest? You do not need to endure the pain syndrome, and, moreover, drown it out with medications. Only contacting a specialist and undergoing a treatment program will help solve the problem and ensure the prevention of pain in the future.

The Freedom of Movement Medical Center will prescribe adequate treatment for knee pain in patients of any age category.You will definitely be helped to relieve acute pain and restore physical activity.

TOP-5 causes of knee pain when walking, bending, extending

1. Damage to the knee cartilage.
2. Inflammation of the periarticular bags.
3. Tendon deformity.
4. Damaged ligaments.
5. Arthritis and others

Very often the knee hurts when injured, a person is in the same position for a long time (for example, when sedentary work).Also, knees can hurt with Osgood-Schlatter disease, arthrosis of the knee joint, pathology of the patellar cartilage. When the knee hurts when flexing, the patient may have sciatica (inflammation of the sciatic nerve) or damage to the meniscus.

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Symptoms accompanying knee pain

• tingling sensation;
• the patient feels cold in the knee area or, conversely, a burning sensation;
• numbness of the knee and the entire limb;
• weakness;

90,013 difficulties with movement;

• redness of the skin in the knee area;
• temperature rise;
• Swelling in the knee joint.

Effective pathology treatment

If the pain is severe, patients are prescribed a course of medication to relieve pain. Physiotherapeutic techniques can also relieve pain. For comfort of movement, the orthopedist may recommend the treatment of special shoe insoles. Also, therapeutic massage and exercise therapy exercises under the supervision of a rehabilitation therapist have a positive effect.

This is important! For the period of treatment and recovery, the patient should limit the loads that lead to pain.

If you or your loved ones suffer from knee pain when flexing, extending, walking, seek advice from the experts at the Freedom of Movement Medical Center. Registration by phone: +7 (495) 212-08-81. Take action!

Why joints crunch | Knees crunch when bending

Many people are frightened by an unpleasant sound, similar to a crunch, which is heard when bending the joints of the arms and legs. Is this a real threat to health or is it considered a normal physiological process?

Why do joints crunch?

Sometimes the joints of the knees, legs and fingers crunch in the complete absence of any pathologies in the body.All joints are formed by the articular surfaces of the bones and are enclosed in a special shell filled with articular fluid, which reduces friction and allows the bones to slide normally. In addition, the joints have additional elements that act as natural shock absorbers during movement. All articular components are interconnected by the ligamentous apparatus.

Under various physical loads, stretching, displacement and vibration of the components of the joint occur. At these moments we hear an unpleasant noise, which in medicine is called crepitus.Thus, if your knees crackle, this is not always a sign of some kind of disorder in the body.

No need to wonder why joints crunch during increased physical exertion. Moreover, when it comes to a child or adolescent body. Some parts of the body can grow faster than others, and temporary imbalances can form in the structure of the joints. This is most often the reason for the crunching of knees or fingers when bending in a teenager.

What if it’s a disease?

When, in parallel with the crunch, you observe yourself:

• painful sensations in the joints of the arms and legs,
• swelling and redness of body parts,
• limitation of mobility,
• impaired coordination and numbness of the limbs,

we can talk about the presence and development of any disease.

Risk factors

There is a high likelihood of progressive crunching and joint pain in those people who:

• are overweight,
• Wear orthopedically incorrect shoes and high heels,
• take any medications for a long time,
• have hormonal disorders and metabolic diseases,
• are experiencing intense physical activity or, on the contrary, lead a sedentary lifestyle,
• have flat feet.

How to get rid of the crunch?

Only an experienced practicing surgeon or rheumatologist can make an accurate diagnosis and eliminate the cause of an unpleasant sound. Competent complex therapy will relieve unpleasant symptoms when the patient feels pain and hears the crunching of the joints of the hands or feet. Will help to cope with the problem and such simple recommendations as:

• moderate physical activity,
• Weight management and a healthy diet,
• comfortable orthopedic shoes.

A complete medical examination will eliminate the risk of developing a chronic disease and give the patient confidence that the crunch in the joints for him is within the normal physiological characteristics of the body.

90,000 “Why there is pain in the knee when flexing or extending” – Yandex.Q

The knee joints are rather complex in functionality, but anatomically weak. They constantly have to withstand heavy loads, therefore they are prone to injury and destruction.

Knee pain during flexion and extension is the most common reason for consulting a traumatologist.

In fact, there are many reasons why you may experience increased discomfort in the knee joint when flexing and extending.

It can be a mechanical injury to the knee, a pathological change in the structure of the knee joint. In this case, the true cause of the pathology can be determined only through medical diagnostics.

Causes of knee pain

Knee pain can be caused by diseases such as:

• deforming arthrosis; traumatic or diathetic bursitis;
• ankylosing spondylitis;
• rheumatoid, gouty, or septic arthritis;

• systemic lupus erythematosus

  ;

• osteomyelitis;
• lymphoblastic leukemia.

It is also a common symptom of bone metastases.This list of diseases is far from complete. Therefore, to establish the true reasons, a comprehensive medical examination is necessary.

1. Night-onset pain is more common in gout.
2. It is generally accepted that pain worsening during the day, accompanied by a clicking sound in the joint, is a symptom of arthrosis.
3. And knee pain on extension most often indicates bursitis.

Sometimes such phenomena develop as a result of injury and are relatively easy to heal, with timely referral to a specialist.However, more often they are a consequence of diseases proceeding in a latent form, they require careful diagnosis and adequate medical and surgical treatment.

Osgood-Schlatter disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease is an inflammation of the tendons, bones and cartilage in the lower leg. Most often, children involved in active sports suffer from this inflammation. Experts note that usually one knee is susceptible to ailment. There is a sharp pain in the knee when bending – this is running, walking up the stairs and squatting.

Arthritis and arthrosis arthritis

This is a disease associated with inflammation of the joints, or rather the joint tissue. This can happen due to heavy loads, or transferred infectious diseases.

Pain appears at night or in the morning, may occur after prolonged exposure to the cold. Treatment is prescribed by a doctor after an examination. It aims to relieve inflammation and swelling. Arthrosis destroys the joint. The knee may hurt after being motionless for a long time.

Knee bursitis

The disease manifests itself in the form of inflammation of the bursa (intra-articular bag of the joint).

The periarticular tissues swell strongly, turn red, feel warmer than those around them, when pressed on them, soreness is noted. When moving the joint, stiffness is noted. A general increase in body temperature, muscle weakness is possible.

To make a diagnosis, a visual examination by a doctor is enough; a puncture of the fluid inside the articular bag may be necessary to determine the nature of the disease.

Patellar tendonitis

Tendonitis is an acute inflammatory disease of collagen fibers of the tendon and their degeneration. More often, the disease develops at the place of attachment of the tendon to the bone or in the zone of transition of the muscle to the tendon, there are cases of a widespread inflammatory process of the entire tendon.

The disease develops at different ages. Tendinitis of the large joints of the extremities (upper and lower) is more common.

Koenig’s disease

Koenig’s disease is a type of osteochondropathy that most often affects young men between the ages of fifteen and thirty (sometimes older and younger patients are found).

This condition is characterized by a limited area of ​​necrosis of the area of ​​the inner femoral condyle (articular cartilage + adjacent bone tissue). With this disease, the affected area of ​​cartilage covering the bone begins to gradually flake off and, over time, may even completely separate from the bone.

Baker’s cyst

Baker’s cyst is a soft tumor-like formation that is highly elastic.It develops in the popliteal fossa – on the back of the knee joint.

If you look at a photo of such a disease, it becomes clear that when the leg is bent, the formation decreases in size, and in some cases completely disappears.

Meniscus cyst

Meniscus cyst is a cavity filled with a liquid of thick mucoid consistency and located at the edge or in the very thickness of the meniscus.

It is formed, in most cases, due to the constant load on the knee joint, therefore, athletes and people who are engaged in hard physical labor are at risk for this disease.According to statistics, a meniscus cyst is diagnosed in the interval from 14 to 40 years, that is, in people of working age.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (literally: porous bone) is a progressive decrease in bone density, leading to a decrease in bone strength. This disease simultaneously affects all bones of the skeleton, which leads to the risk of fractures in the simplest life situations, with the most ordinary stress.

Treating knee flexion and extension pain

After a comprehensive diagnosis, a trauma specialist diagnoses and prescribes comprehensive treatment for knee pain during flexion or extension.Primarily used

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

drugs, folk remedies can be added to this. If the pain is unbearable, then, most likely, the administration of NSAIDs directly into the joint will be prescribed. This achieves the relief of painful manifestations for a long time and the patient’s ability to work is preserved.

Chondroprotectors (restorers of the mechanical integrity and elasticity of cartilage) and artificial substitutes for synovial fluid (which plays the role of a lubricant) are also introduced into the articular cavity.

Material provided

simptomy-lechenie.net

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint – treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint in Moscow, Clinical Hospital on Yauza

11/01/2021

The article was checked by a traumatologist – orthopedist Baleskov E.A. is for general informational purposes only and does not replace specialist advice.
Consultation of a physician is required for recommendations on diagnosis and treatment.

Orthopedic traumatologists of the Clinical Hospital on Yauza carry out expert diagnostics (radiation, laboratory), conservative therapy (medication, intra-articular injections, PRP therapy, cellular technologies of regenerative medicine, etc.) and high-tech surgical treatment of gonarthrosis (arthrosis of the knee joint) , endoprosthetics, corrective osteotomy.

• Gonarthrosis is observed in every tenth person over 55 years old, every fourth of these patients, it leads to disability.
• Up to 80% of patients with arthrosis of the knee joints report a decrease in the quality of life.
• The duration of functioning of a modern knee joint endoprosthesis 10 years after the operation is 99%, after 15 years – 95%, after 20 years – 90%.

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Why does arthrosis of the knee joint occur?

• Most often, knee injuries, especially repeated ones (damage to the meniscus, dislocations, fractures, hematomas, etc.), become the cause of the development of the disease.).
• Frequently repeated microtraumas of the joint act in a similar way during sports training, with constant work “on the legs”.
• Excess body weight creates an increased axial load and destroys the joint.
• A degenerative-dystrophic process in the joint can also occur after inflammatory diseases (arthritis with gout, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis – ankylosing spondylitis).
• Endocrine diseases, changes in hormonal levels (for example, menopause), metabolic disorders aggravate pathological changes in the joint.

Main symptoms of knee DOA

• With gonarthrosis of the 1st degree – in the initial stage of the disease, there is periodic pain in the knee joint after exertion (walking, running, standing for a long time), which disappears after rest. At this stage, there is practically no deformation of the joint, limitation of mobility.
• Gradually the pain increases and intensifies, especially when going up and down stairs, as well as at the beginning of walking after prolonged sitting (starting pain)
• With gonarthrosis, grade 2 pain in the knee becomes constant during exertion, disappears only after a long rest, the patient limps while walking
• When moving, a crunch appears in the joint
• The range of motion in the knee joint is limited (when flexing “all the way” there is a sharp soreness)
• When examining the area of ​​the joint, swelling, deformation can be seen
• With DOA of the knee joint of grade 3, which corresponds to severe gonarthrosis, pain in the joint bothers even at rest, does not allow to fall asleep, the range of motion decreases significantly, patients walk on bent legs, there is a pronounced deformation of the knee joint (O-shaped or X-shaped legs)

Diagnostics

• Interviewing and examination by a traumatologist-orthopedist doctor reveals typical signs of degenerative-dystrophic joint disease (pain on palpation, limitation of mobility, crepitus, deformity, presence of effusion in the joint).
• An X-ray examination of the knee joint is performed (the narrowing of the X-ray joint space, the presence of osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis is determined), if necessary, a computed tomography of the joint.
• Ultrasound examination of the joint can detect thinning of the cartilage in the joint, changes in the ligaments, muscles, soft tissues around the joint, inflammatory effusion in the joint cavity, changes in the menisci.
• The most accurate information is provided by magnetic resonance imaging of the knee joint, which reveals changes in cartilage and bone tissue, ligaments, menisci, synovial membrane, which makes it possible to differentiate post-traumatic arthrosis of the knee joint and arthritis, a tumor process.
• Diagnostic puncture and arthroscopy of the knee joint, as well as laboratory examination of the synovial fluid obtained during the procedure, is widely used in the diagnosis of joint diseases.

Treatment of gonarthrosis

Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint depends on the stage of the disease.

Conservative

In the early stages of DOA, successful complex conservative treatment is possible, aimed at stopping inflammation, restoring cartilage, eliminating pain, restoring joint function in full:

• Therapeutic and protective regime – it is necessary to limit the load on the joint, to ensure rest.
• Conservative drug treatment of gonarthrosis:
  • use of analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors,
  • local use of drugs in the form of ointments, gels,
  • Intra-articular administration of an individually selected combination of medicines, which may include hormonal agents for rapid relief of inflammation, preparations based on hyaluronic acid to replenish synovial fluid, etc.
  • PRP therapy – intra-articular injections of PRP (own platelet-rich plasma)
• Methods of regenerative medicine – intra-articular injections of autologous cells of the stromal-vascular fraction, precursor cells of cartilage tissue, obtained from their own adipose tissue.
• Massage, physiotherapy, manual therapy.
• Mandatory use of medical physical culture with a set of exercises aimed at improving blood circulation in the joint, increasing the range of motion.

Surgical

Arthroscopy of the knee joint

In case of pronounced changes in the joint (advanced osteoarthritis, traumatic defects), orthopedic traumatologists of the Clinical Hospital on Yauza carry out surgical treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint using arthroscopy (operations on the meniscus, cartilage, removal of the “articular mouse”, synovectomy, etc.).

Knee arthroplasty

If other methods of treatment are ineffective, we perform knee arthroplasty using modern prostheses from the world’s best manufacturers.It is a reliable way to relieve the patient of pain and restore mobility and a decent quality of life.

Nowadays there is no point in enduring pain and discomfort due to joint pain. Modern medical technologies can help with arthrosis of the knee joint at almost any stage. See your doctor and take advantage of existing opportunities.

Make an appointment with a doctor

Cost of services

price 532 – Consultation with orthopedic traumatologist

More details You can look at the prices for services in the price list or check the phone number indicated on the website.

Literature:

3. Zorya V.I., Lazishvili G.D., Shpakovsky D.E. Deforming arthrosis of the knee joint // Litter. 2010.

4. Makushin V.D., Chegurov O.K., Kazantsev V.I., Gordievskikh N.I. On the role of intraosseous hypertension in the genesis of pain in gonarthrosis / // Genius of Orthopedics.2000.

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90,000 Articles about Orthopedics – Orteka

If running is your life, even rain and icy wind will not prevent you from giving your best! But it happens that suddenly there is pain in the knee! Listen to your body when exactly does it appear: during or after a run?

Common knee injuries

Runner knee

The underlying factor in the development of this pain syndrome (runner’s knee) is lateral displacement relative to the groove of the femur.As a result, flexion and extension of the knee disrupts its trajectory of movement. This leads to overstretching of the ligamentous structures supporting the patella, increased pressure on the articular surfaces, loss of cartilage elasticity and pain.

Runner knee

The underlying factor in the development of this pain syndrome (runner’s knee) is lateral displacement relative to the groove of the femur.As a result, flexion and extension of the knee disrupts its trajectory of movement. This leads to overstretching of the ligamentous structures supporting the patella, increased pressure on the articular surfaces, loss of cartilage elasticity and pain.

Knee tendonitis

Pain in the front of or below the knee often indicates inflammation of the patellar ligament. Often, tendonitis is provoked by jumping, it is considered an occupational disease of athletes involved in volleyball, tennis, basketball, athletics, football.In sports medicine, there is the term “jumper’s knee”.

Knee tendonitis

Pain in the front of or below the knee often indicates inflammation of the patellar ligament. Often, tendonitis is provoked by jumping, it is considered an occupational disease of athletes involved in volleyball, tennis, basketball, athletics, football. In sports medicine, there is the term “jumper’s knee”.

Crow’s foot bursitis of the knee

Anserine bursitis occurs in runners with pain and inflammation on the inside of the midsection of the knee joint.This is an inflammatory disease of the bursa of the joint tendon of the gracilis, sartorius and semitendinosus muscles.

Crow’s foot bursitis of the knee

Anserine bursitis occurs in runners with pain and inflammation on the inside of the midsection of the knee joint. This is an inflammatory disease of the bursa of the joint tendon of the gracilis, sartorius and semitendinosus muscles.

Back knee pain

Sudden, sharp pain under the knee in the back occurs when the hamstring is injured.Such injuries are often seen in tennis, football and basketball players. Any pulling pain under the knee when bending is a reason to consult a doctor, since the spectrum of diseases with such a symptom is quite wide, and it is rather difficult to understand them yourself.

Back knee pain

Sudden, sharp pain under the knee in the back occurs when the hamstring is injured. Such injuries are often seen in tennis, football and basketball players.Any pulling pain under the knee when bending is a reason to consult a doctor, since the spectrum of diseases with such a symptom is quite wide, and it is rather difficult to understand them yourself.

“To improve your performance and push boundaries, you need a regular training plan at varying intensities. Never forget that recovery is just as important as the workout itself. It is through the recovery process that you will become better.This way you will restore strength to your muscles and prevent injury. ”

Anna and Lisa Hahner, German track and field athletes, marathon runners

Ambulance to knees

If running causes knee pain, two things will help first: rest and cooling. Try to apply ice or a compress to the pain site and surrounding tissues. It is best to wrap the ice in a towel so as not to harm. Do not chill the knee for too long – it is recommended several times a day for no more than 20 minutes.If possible, raise your knee and try to strain it as little as possible. Sports calipers and knee braces can also help as they stabilize the knee and improve joint metabolism. If the pain persists, see your doctor to find out the cause.

Why does my knee hurt when I run?

Apart from sports injuries, knee pain can be caused by many factors. Some of them can be influenced on their own, with others you will need the help of a specialist.
Among the main reasons are:

Terrain. Hilly trails promise varied and challenging running workouts, but they can also challenge your knees. When you run downhill, the load is much higher than on a flat surface. Lateral slope is also bad for the joints.If you have knee problems, you should avoid sloping trails. In the event that part of your route still goes downhill, it is better if you switch from running to walking – this will reduce the load on your knees.

Finding a balance. It is perfectly normal to consider your record time as a temporary result and strive to improve it. But be careful! If you demand too much from your body, then at some point it will not be able to keep up.You should also remember that stress at work, the effects of a cold, and other processes can affect your condition. You can prevent overwork by adjusting your training plan to suit your fitness level. Gradually increase the difficulty of your workouts. For healthy athletes, increasing the number of workouts by ten percent each week is the golden rule. Above all, listen to your body and take warning signals seriously! Your muscles, tendons and ligaments will thank you.

Can I run again after meniscus surgery?

Two menisci in the knee joint, internal (medial) and external (lateral) act as shock absorbers for the load on the articular cartilage and provide some stabilization of the knee joint. After a break in running caused by illness or injury, the knee will feel a little unstable because the muscles, tendons, and ligaments have become weaker due to immobilization and lack of training.Start exercising sparingly so you can gradually get back into shape. Just in case, check with the orthopedic specialist who is treating you.

Back to your training: beat knee pain with BAUERFEIND SPORTS!

Why knees hurt and what to do about it

When you need to urgently seek help

As soon as possible contact the emergency room, the surgeon, or even – depending on how you feel – call an ambulance if ^:

• you cannot transfer your body weight to the injured leg: the knee is so unstable;
• There is a noticeable swelling around the knee joint;
• You are unable to fully extend or bend your knee.
• The joint looks deformed;
• The knee is red, swollen and sore, and at the same time you notice an increase in body temperature;
• You just recently hit your knee and now it hurts a lot.

Such symptoms are typical for fractures, dislocations, acute inflammatory diseases. If left untreated, these disorders can lead to the most unpleasant consequences – up to disability or death.

Why knees hurt

Here are some of the most common reasons.

1. Knee Injury

The American Arthritis Foundation names ^{knees as one of the most vulnerable to various injuries of the joints of the human body. Especially often it goes to athletes.A long run, an accidental fall, a sudden jump, a high load under the bar – all of these situations can interfere with the knee joint and lead to one of the following injuries.}

Meniscus Injury

Illustration: TeraVector / Shutterstock

The meniscus is cartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee joint. Its thickness is only 3-4 millimeters. Despite this, the cartilage is quite durable. But still he is vulnerable. For example, if you twist abruptly on a loaded knee, the meniscus may tear.Symptoms of this are knee pain and swelling. However, they coincide with signs of other injuries, therefore, the diagnosis must be entrusted to a specialist.

Ligament injuries

Illustration: KNEEguru / Shutterstock

The most commonly affected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four ligaments that connect the lower leg and thigh within the knee joint. With a sharp turn of the knee, micro-tears can form, or even a full-fledged rupture. Such injuries are common in people playing football, basketball, or other sports that require sudden changes in direction.

Tendon ruptures and inflammations

Tendons are fibrous tissues that attach muscles to bones. With sudden movements or heavy loads, they are also susceptible to stretching, and even tearing. In addition, stress can lead to the development of inflammation – the so-called knee tendonitis.

Bursitis

Certain knee injuries can cause inflammation of the bursae (bursae), small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between the joint and the surrounding ligaments and tendons.Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the burs makes itself felt by swelling, increased skin temperature in the affected area, stiffness and pain.

Syndrome of the iliotibial tract

This is the name of the inflammation of the ligament that runs from the outer part of the pelvis to the hip and knee joints. This element plays an important role in stabilizing the knee. With prolonged, monotonous movements associated with constant flexion and extension of the leg, the ligament can become inflamed. This common injury tends to occur among those who enjoy jogging, cycling, hiking, and powerlifting.

Dislocation of the patella (patella)

This is a situation where the triangular bone covering the front of the knee moves from its normal position — usually toward the outside of the joint. This displacement is noticeable and painful. Do not try to set the bone yourself! This procedure can only be performed by a trauma surgeon.

Bruised

You fell or hit your knee, and now it has a bruise, it is swollen and hurts. This is how a bruise manifests itself.

Fracture

The bones of the knee, including the patella, can be broken by a fall or severe impact.People who suffer from osteoporosis sometimes get fractures just by taking an awkward step.

2. Patellofemoral pain syndrome

This syndrome is also called “runners’ knees”. It is not related to trauma; it has a slightly different mechanism.

Illustration: ilusmedical / Shutterstock

The patella (patella) moves up and down the joint during flexion-extension of the knee. Sometimes irritation can occur between the patella and the joint (femoral means femoral).

If you feel a pulling pain above the patella or in the knee, which intensifies when going up and down, or when sitting with bent legs, it is possible that we are talking about patellofemoral pain syndrome. This disorder is more common 90,512 in women than in men.

3. Your gait has changed

You may have pulled your thigh muscles. Or, for example, you stepped on something sharp and now you are trying to move so as not to disturb the injured place on the foot again.These situations force you to change your gait. And this, in turn, can lead to unnecessary stress on the knee joint. Hence the painful sensations.

4. Overweight

This is another stress factor on the knees that can cause pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles of the legs.

5. You develop one of the types of arthritis

There are over 100 different types of arthritis. The ^{types of arthritis that most commonly affect the knee are:}

• Osteoarthritis.Its cause is the wear and tear of the cartilage tissue in the knee joint.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. It is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the joints of the body. Including the knee.
• Gout. This type of arthritis occurs when uric acid crystals build up in the joints. Although gout is more common in the big toes, it can also occur in the knees.
• Septic arthritis. We are talking about an infection of the joints, which can develop either after a penetrating injury, or when microbes enter the bloodstream from another part of the body.

What to do if your knees hurt

If discomfort bothers you for more than two or three days, you should consult your doctor. For example, for this reason: what you take for a normal bruise may well turn out to be a meniscus injury. Damage to this cartilage increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis and other joint problems in the future.

Start with a therapist. The physician will listen to your complaints, ask about lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, falls.And depending on the presumptive diagnosis, it will refer you to a specialized specialist – rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon, physiotherapist … Some tests may be required: X-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging of the knee, as well as blood and fluid analysis from the knee joint. Further treatment will depend on the results of the examination and tests.

Until you reach a doctor or if you are sure that nothing terrible is happening to you, you can relieve the condition with home methods ^.

1. Rest your knee

Take a break from your normal activities to reduce repetitive stress on the joint. It usually takes a couple of days to recover from minor injuries. If the condition is more serious, the rest period should be longer and there is a reason to discuss this topic with your doctor.

2. Apply cold to the affected knee

For example, an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel, a hot water bottle with ice water, or a cold gauze compress. This will help relieve swelling and pain.Keep the compress for no longer than 20 minutes.

3. Use an elastic bandage

This will help prevent fluid buildup in damaged tissues and make the knee more stable. Make sure that the bandage does not interfere with blood circulation.

4. Lie down with your legs raised

For example, place them on the bolster of a sofa or place a pillow. This will help reduce the swelling.

5. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can reduce the discomfort of pain and swelling.But keep in mind that these medications also have side effects, so they cannot be used all the time.

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TOP-10 drugs for knee pain

With knee pain, each step is difficult, and most of all you want to not move at all. At the same time, the correct movement is the best medicine! It is necessary to figure out what is the cause of discomfort and how diseases of the knee joints manifest themselves.

To find out what caused the discomfort, you need to see a doctor. The specialist will prescribe a comprehensive examination and, based on the results obtained, will develop an individual drug therapy. In advanced cases, surgical intervention is indispensable.

Classification of drugs for knee pain

In acute knee injuries, the first thing to do is to counteract the swelling and reduce the stress on the joint. The cold causes the blood vessels to constrict and the hematoma does not continue to grow.The knee joint can be stabilized with a tight bandage.

The rest of the cases require the use of medication. Medicines are designed to solve a specific problem. The choice of the drug must be entrusted to a specialist who will diagnose and select the most effective remedy.

Table – Medicines: purpose and effectiveness

Causes of knee pain

The knee joint is the largest joint in the body and helps to walk, stand, run and jump.When a person moves, a multiple of his body weight falls on this structure. The knees are an ingenious apparatus of ligaments, bones and shock absorbers. They have an important function in everyday life.

Of course, the pain in the patella is very unpleasant. There are several reasons for the discomfort. Each of them is characterized by certain pathological changes in the body and characteristic symptoms.

The causes of pain are identical in almost all cases: muscle and fascia dysfunctions.In this regard, a strong tension is created, due to which the cartilage is compressed and destroyed. In the form of pain, the body signals that the knee is damaged, and measures must be taken to eliminate pathological changes.

Baker’s cyst (popliteal cyst)

Pain and discomfort in the kneecap may indicate a Baker cyst. It is located in the patella and is a fluid-filled mass.

Researchers have found that Baker’s cyst is often the result of other diseases:

• rheumatism;
• damage to the meniscus;
• cartilage damage.

Most adolescents complain of a feeling of pressure in the patella area. Discomfort and irritation often occur with full extension or flexion of the lower limbs, as well as after an unusually strong load.

Medicines that cause unwanted side effects, such as cortisone, are often prescribed to treat cysts. Inappropriate drug therapy can also worsen the condition of the ligaments and tendons, which can lead to rapid rupture. On the other hand, you cannot do without drugs, because.because the disease progresses rapidly and leads to serious complications.

That is why a doctor should choose a medicine. The specialist will assess the general condition of the patient’s body and the degree of progression of the disease. Based on the medical opinion, the doctor will select the safest and most effective remedy.

Ligament injuries

The posterior cruciate ligament is located in the patella. The tendon attaches internally to the extension of the femur and runs obliquely to the opposite side of the lower leg.The posterior cruciate ligament is the strongest in the knee and is made up of many bundles of fibers.

In accidents (usually road traffic accidents) or during sports activities, the posterior cruciate ligament can be torn or damaged. Football goalkeepers are particularly affected by this injury.

Symptoms do not seem particularly impressive at first. Usually the knee has mild swelling, and the victims experience quite bearable pain. Depending on the severity of the damage, abrasions may be present on the surface of the skin.After a few days, a visible hematoma forms in the patella or on the lower leg. The cruciate ligaments provide the necessary stability for the leg when walking. Therefore, if one of the ligaments (for example, the posterior cruciate) is torn, an unsteady and wobbly gait is observed.

In conventional medicine, a cruciate ligament rupture is treated with either surgery or muscle building physiotherapy. The prevailing opinion is that the cruciate ligament cannot regenerate on its own. With the help of medications, knee pain can be significantly reduced or even completely eliminated.

Arthritis of the knee joint

It ranks first in terms of the number of cases of disability. Pathology affects all elements of the knee joint – synovial membrane, capsule, cartilage. Without proper treatment, arthritis results in a loss of a person’s normal ability to move.

There are various forms of arthritis:

• rheumatoid – a form of pathology, the causes of which are not fully understood;
• post-traumatic – pathology that develops against the background of trauma;
• reactive – a disease that occurs due to tissue infection after poisoning the body;
• gouty – a disease caused by abnormalities in the body’s metabolism.

There is also a distinction between primary arthritis, resulting from trauma directly to the joint, and secondary arthritis, in which the inflammatory process begins in any tissue of the body and enters the knee joint with the flow of lymph or blood.

Gonarthrosis (osteoarthritis)

It leads to an inflammatory process in the body, which is fraught with the destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the knee. It is accompanied by deformity and dysfunction. Mostly the disease develops in elderly women.

A trigger mechanism for the onset of pathology can be associated diseases – arthritis, fractures of the bones of the joints, tumor processes.

Pathology develops gradually, and the main symptom of gonarthrosis can initially be only mild pain that occurs after a state of rest. When moving, the pain goes away, but comes back after a break. With gonarthrosis, osteophytes are usually formed, over which the cartilaginous tissues rub when moving. Due to friction in the knee area, inflammation occurs, the skin turns red and edema forms.

Bursitis

Inflammation of the mucous sac occurs as a result of a knee injury, as well as with constant activity of the joints due to strong physical exertion. The inflammatory process can be the result of an infectious disease. As a result of bursitis, fluid with a dangerous microflora accumulates in the synovial sac. Pains gradually appear in the knee joint, when pressure is applied to the knee area, the person also experiences discomfort, a feeling of stiffness when moving. There is a noticeable swelling around the joint, the size of which can reach 10 cm.

Patients with inflammation of the mucous sac report:

• loss of appetite;
• malaise;
• increased body temperature.

The symptoms of mucosal sac inflammation are very similar to those of other knee conditions, especially arthritis. However, there is one important difference between the two pathologies. With inflammation of the mucous sacs, motor activity and the ability to perform flexion and extension movements remain.

Other causes of knee pain

You should also pay attention to the following possible causes:

• Leg vein thrombosis: as a rather rare cause of knee pain. There is swelling in the patella. Veins are clearly visible and bluish in color.
• Growth pain: Children constantly experience kneecap discomfort during growth spurts. These pains occur in kindergarten and early school age, and usually go away on their own after a while.
• With gout: the uric acid level in the blood rises sharply. Its excess accumulates in the joints, irritating and damaging the internal cartilage. Gout often presents in the knee with very painful swelling and excessive heat.
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome: the victims feel pain in the patella area. The reasons for this are often unclear. Sometimes this is due to an incorrect position of the kneecap, inflammation of the tendons or mucous sacs.

Knee pain can have many different causes. In addition to injuries, these include excessive and improper stress on the joint. But discomfort can also occur if the knee joint is used too infrequently and the muscles associated with it lose tone. In addition, knee pain can be caused by wear and tear, metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infections.

When should you see a doctor?

Obvious causes of knee pain, such as superficial abrasions, minor bruises or deformities of the knee joint, usually do not require medical attention.In this case, self-medication is acceptable. For deeper wounds, a visit to the doctor is imperative. This is necessary, as the joint capsule could be damaged. Then there is a risk that pathogens will have unhindered access to the inside.

If such infections, as well as serious injuries, are not treated promptly, then the function of the joint may be partially or completely lost. See your doctor even if there is a possibility of damage to the menisci, ligaments, or cartilage in your knee.

You should also consult a doctor in the following cases:

• knee pain is very severe;
• severe discomfort persists for several days;
• redness, swelling, and excessive heating of the joint;
• bruising, limited joint mobility;
• increased body temperature.

Rating of drugs for joint pain

It is impossible to find the best medicine for knee pain on your own. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to first find out the true cause of the symptoms and determine the type of pathological disorders in the body.

We offer a rating of the best drugs for knee pain, based on effectiveness, safety and price-performance ratio. a preliminary consultation with a doctor is a guarantee of a speedy recovery and the absence of side reactions and complications.

No. 1 – Nise (Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, India).

NSAIDs of the sulfonanilide class. Helps fight inflammation, has a pronounced antipyretic and analgesic effect. The best pills for knee pain are prescribed for rheumatoid, psoriatic arthritis, inflammation of the ligaments, osteochondrosis. They help to relieve pain syndrome of various origins.

No. 2 – Voltaren (Novartis Pharma, Switzerland).

Developed on the basis of diclofenac. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent effectively eliminates joint pain in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.Gel for external use is available in tubes of 50 and 150 g.

No. 3 – Ketonal (Lek d.d., Slovenia).

Available in capsule, tablet and cream form. NSAIDs have decongestant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Does not adversely affect articular cartilage. It is prescribed as symptomatic therapy in combination with other drugs.

No. 4 – “Artra MSM” (Eagle Nutritionals, USA).

Dietary supplement that is a source of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin.Restores connective tissue and restores the shock-absorbing properties of the articular cartilage, helping to improve joint mobility. Helps relieve discomfort and pain by protecting cartilage from destruction.

No. 5 – Teraflex (Nizhpharm, Russia).

The cream for external use is a tissue repair stimulant and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Available in cream and capsule form. Has a combined effect – relieves pain and slows down degenerative-dystrophic processes in osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis.

No. 6 – Arcoxia (Merck & Co., USA).

The best remedy for knee pain, formulated with etoricoxib. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug improves the condition by relieving pain. It also improves mobility.

# 7 – “Artra” (Unipharm, USA).

The drug is intended for the treatment of the musculoskeletal system. Developed on the basis of glucosamine and chondroitin. Refers to a group of tissue regeneration stimulants.Restores cartilage tissue, preventing destruction processes and promoting the formation of cartilage matrix.

No. 8 – “Dona” (Rottafarm Ltd., Italy).

Developed on the basis of glucosamine. Influences metabolic processes in cartilaginous tissue. It is a stimulant of tissue repair, providing anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect. It is prescribed for spondyloarthrosis, osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis.

# 9 – Movalis (Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany).

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug has antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. It is prescribed for symptomatic treatment of knee pain caused by osteoarthritis and other degenerative diseases.

No. 10 – “Diclofenac” (Synthesis OJSC, Russia).

The best knee pain reliever to top the list. Available in the form of a gel for external use and film-coated tablets.It is a derivative of phenylacetic acid. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. It is prescribed for the treatment of degenerative and inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Conclusions

One-way movements and, as a consequence, too high tension in the muscles and fascia should be singled out as the main cause of knee pain. Medication can be used to relieve discomfort.Drug therapy should be comprehensive. The medication should be selected depending on the cause of the disease.