The knee is one of the most important joints in the body. It connects the lower leg to the thigh and provides stability for walking, running and jumping. When you have knee pain, it affects how you walk, run, and move in general. A knee injury makes it very difficult or impossible to have normal functional movement and can significantly disrupt your life, causing you to stop sports or give up your favorite hobbies.

For anyone with knee pain, you know the #1 goal is to relieve pain, but also help heal the knee properly, so you can prevent knee pain, avoid future knee problems, and decrease your risk of rheumatoid arthritis in the knee later in life.

The knee is the largest joint in the body and it consists of three bones, two large leg bones called the femur and tibia and one small bone called the patella. The knee joint is a hinge type of joint which means that it bends back and forth like a hinge. The kneecap (patella) is located between these two bones to help them move smoothly over each other.

Causes of Knee Pain

It is important to know the causes, so you can get knee pain relief, quickly and safely. There are many different types of injuries that can cause knee pain including ligament tears, cartilage damage, muscle strain or tendonitis.

When we injure the ligaments in our knee joint, it can be caused by a number of reasons such as twisting or turning too hard, jumping off something too high or landing awkwardly from a jump. Knee injuries can range from mild to severe depending on how bad the damage is to our ligaments, cartilage or meniscus.

Knee pain is a common condition that affects people of all ages. It can be triggered by any number of different things, including the following:

Injuries to the Knee

Injuries, such as a sprain or fracture (this can include anterior cruciate ligament injuries, as well as MCL tears), may require orthopedic surgery and a fairly long period of physical rehabilitation (strengthening exercises, etc.) to fully heal the meniscus tear and repair knee joints.

When we get a knee injury, it can be caused by a number of reasons such as twisting or turning too hard, jumping off something too high or landing awkwardly from a jump. Knee injuries can range from mild to severe depending on how bad the damage is to our ligaments, cartilage or meniscus.

Typical Causes of a Knee Injury:

  • a sudden twist or turn of the body
  • a fall
  • knee twisting while bent over
  • running on uneven ground or stairs
  • jumping too high or too far, landing awkwardly, or bending the knees too much upon landing

If you do not have a knee or kneecap torn ligament that requires surgery, then rehabilitation should be your first and most important option. You will need to follow a great knee rehab program (either with excellent Physical Therapy) or a top-notch at home knee program like Malin Method to eliminate severe pain or a sore knee, strengthen the knee joint naturally and make it more stable to protect against future knee problems.

The better the knee rehab program, the faster and better you will heal, so you want to make sure you due your research into finding the best program for you.

Osteoarthritis

This includes the wearing down of cartilage in the knee joint. The most common type of injury that causes knee pain is arthritis which occurs when the cartilage wears away due to overuse or injury. This can cause knee pain, stiffness and other knee problems.

Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome

Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome is a condition that can be caused by a number of different factors and causes knee pain on either side of the kneecap from inflammation or arthritis. The most common cause is when the patella (kneecap) rubs against the femur (thigh bone). This can happen due to abnormal tracking of the kneecap, or because of an injury to the knee.

Some people may experience pain while they’re walking, sitting, or doing other activities. They may also have swelling and stiffness in their knee joint.

Treatment for Knee Pain

If you have any kind of knee pain, the first thing you should do is get checked out by a doctor. They may take x-rays or an MRI to uncover the cause of your knee problem. From there, they will most likely either suggest surgery and/or physical rehabilitation for your knee.

Whether you need orthopedic surgery or not, you will definitely need rehab at some point (right away or after your surgery), and you want to make sure that you get the best rehab possible. It should include not only exercises, but also a wide range of stretches and other healing modalities that will help you fully recover from your injury and completely stop knee pain.

In addition, you want to make sure that your knees become strong and stable to avoid the higher risks of future injury and rheumatoid arthritis, which can trigger knee problems down the line. No matter what you do, don’t just try to “live” with the pain. The sooner you take control and start the healing process, the better!