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. Especially often your knees hurt when you run. Let’s look at the main causes and treatments for knee pain.
Symptoms of knee pain
The symptoms of knee pain depend on the cause and severity. Knee pain is a common problem.
Knee pain can happen suddenly with a lot of stress and injury.
Instability or weakness can often occur in the knees - up to the feeling that the legs will release.
Depending on the cause of the pain, other symptoms may be noticed: stiffness of movement, clicking in the knee, blockage of the knee joint in one position, inability to direct the leg.
How does knee pain affect us?
Knee pain occurs most often in the elderly, overweight (due to increased stress on the joints) and during sports. Knee joints are actively involved in movement, so knee pain greatly affects our lives. With knee pain, we can not play sports, it is difficult for us to walk and climb stairs.
The knee joint is made up of three bones, the tendons that connect the muscles to the bones and the ligaments that stabilize and connect the bones. In the cavity of the knee joint there are two C-shaped cartilage - meniscus. Their main role is to cushion the knot. The fluid-filled bursa allows the joint to move normally.
80% of people surveyed experienced knee pain.
Why knee pain occurs
Knee pain is often caused by injuries (sprains and tendons, dislocations, tears of the ligaments or meniscus), as well as osteoarthritis, tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons) and bursitis (accumulation of fluid in the bursa).
Sports injuries
Knee injuries are common among athletes. They often have a torn knee ligament with sudden knee pain. Excessive stress on the knee joint, such as when running, walking, jumping and cycling, can cause the so-called "runner's knee" (iliotibial tract friction syndrome). It usually manifests as pain in the knee cap region and is caused by overuse, injury, leg bone disease or muscle weakness.
Other reasons
Knee injuries can develop gradually with osteoarthritis. If, as a result of problems with the hip or ankle joints, a person's gait is disturbed, then this in turn can cause asymmetry in the load on the knee joints, which, in turn, is fraught withinjuries. 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 a tear in the meniscus (cartilage layer that stabilizes the joint). Pain in the front of the knee is usually due to bursitis and cartilage problems. Osteoarthritis can cause pain in the back of the knee.
treatment
How knee pain is diagnosed and treated depends on the cause of the pain. To determine it, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will examine your knee, check for movement, swelling, bruising, and localized fever. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy and a knee brace to relieve pain, refer you for additional tests (X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or CT), show you exercises to strengthen your knee joint, and prescribe anti-knee medication. -non-steroidal inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. and address its cause. In addition, after consulting a doctor, at home, you can provide the injured knee with protection and peace, apply ice, apply a compression bandage, and hold the knee in an elevated position. Over-the-counter shock absorbers for indoor and outdoor use can help relieve moderate to short-term pain and reduce inflammation.
What is Runner's Knee Syndrome?
Knee injuries are common among athletes involved in athletics, especially running.
Runner's knee syndrome includes the following symptoms:
- Pain behind or around the patella (patella).
- Pain when bending the knee.
- The pain worsens when you walk downhill or down stairs.
- Swelling in the knee area.
- A clicking or tapping sound can be felt in the knee.
Treatments include resting and taking anti-inflammatory medications
Exercises to relieve knee pain
Knee pain is common: out of 100 people who complained of pain, 80 reported knee pain. Three simple exercises will help you make the muscles that support your knee stronger and more flexible. Doing these exercises regularly will help prevent or relieve knee pain.