The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in our body. The knee joint is prone to injuries that can cause pain. In particular, the knee is injured while running. Let’s examine the main causes and treatments for knee pain.
Symptoms of knee pain
Symptoms of knee pain depend on their cause and severity. Knee pain is a common problem.
Knee pain can occur suddenly with too much stress and injury.
Instability or weakness can often occur in the knee - up to the feeling that the legs will soon let go.
Depending on the cause of the pain, other symptoms may be observed: stiffness of movement, kneeling, jamming of the knee joint in one position, inability to straighten the leg.
How does knee pain affect us?
Knee pain is more common in the elderly, overweight (due to increased joint stress) and during exercise. Knee joints are actively involved in movement, so knee pain greatly affects our lives. With knee pain we can’t play sports, we can have a hard time walking and climbing stairs.
The knee joint consists of three bones, tendons that connect muscles to the bones, and ligaments that stabilize and connect the bones. There are two C-shaped cartilage menisci in the cavity of the knee joint. Their main role is to dampen the joint. The fluid-filled bursa allows the joint to move smoothly.
80% of the people interviewed experienced knee pain.
Why does knee pain occur
Knee pain is often caused by injuries (sprains and tendons, displacements, tears in the ligaments or meniscus), as well as osteoarthritis, tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons), and bursitis (accumulation of fluid in the bursae).
Sports injuries
Knee injuries are common among athletes. They often have a torn knee ligament with sudden knee pain. Excessive strain on the knee joint, such as when running, walking, jumping, and cycling, can cause what is called a "running knee" (iliotibial tract friction syndrome). It usually occurs as pain in the patella region and is caused by overuse, injury, foot disease, or muscle weakness.
Other reasons
Knee injuries can develop gradually in osteoarthritis. If a person's gait is disturbed due to problems with the hip or ankle joint, this in turn can cause asymmetry in the load on the knee joints, which in turn causes injuries. Knee injuries, even minor ones, increase the likelihood of similar injuries in the future.
Determine the cause of the pain
Pain on the side of the knee can be caused by damage to the ligaments and rupture of the meniscus (the layer of cartilage that stabilizes the joint). Knee pain is usually caused by bursa inflammation and cartilage problems. Osteoarthritis can cause pain in the back of the knee.
Treatment
Diagnosing and treating knee pain depends on the cause of the pain. A doctor should be consulted to determine this. The doctor will examine your knee for movement, swelling, bruising, and localized fever. Your doctor may recommend physiotherapy and knee pads to relieve pain, prescribe additional tests (X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or CT), exercises to strengthen your knee joint and prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. and treat the cause. In addition, after consulting a doctor, you can provide protection and rest to the injured knee at home, apply ice, apply a compression bandage, and keep your knees in an elevated position. Over-the-counter painkillers for internal and external use can help relieve short-term moderate pain and reduce inflammation.
What is Running Knee Syndrome?
Knee injuries are common in athletics, especially running.
Runner knee syndrome includes the following symptoms:
- Pain behind or around the patella (patella).
- Pain when bending the knee.
- The pain gets worse when you walk downhill or go down stairs.
- Swelling in the knee area.
- A clicking or crunching sound can be felt in the knee.
Treatments include rest and taking anti-inflammatory drugs
Exercises to relieve knee pain
Knee pain is common: 80 out of 100 people who complained of pain reported knee pain. Three simple exercises will help make the muscles that support your knees stronger and more flexible. Performing these exercises regularly will help prevent or alleviate knee pain.