Common Causes of Knee Pain

Understanding the cause of knee pain is the first step toward lasting relief. Knee pain can result from:

• Injuries – ligament tears (ACL, MCL), meniscus injuries, dislocations
• Arthritis – osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis
• Overuse – repetitive strain, tendinitis, bursitis
• Biomechanical issues – poor alignment, muscle imbalances, weak core
• Risk factors – obesity, age, previous injuries, high-impact activities
• Torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a very common knee injury and is often the result of playing contact sports and overstretching or tearing the ligaments. It can cause pain and swelling and the inability to put weight on the leg.
• Patellar Tendonitis is an injury caused by overuse and can be a significant problem in athletes or runners. Often nicknamed “jumpers” knee it is irritated by repetitive movements which eventually cause pain and tension from the knee to the shinbone.
• Meniscus Injuries are frequently caused by tears to the cartilage meaning people struggle to get up and move around, walk or even sleep. Meniscus injuries cause pain, swelling and stiffness to the knee and often happen during activities that put pressure on or rotate the knee.
• Patellofemoral Syndrome or runner’s knee is a result of problems between the knee cap and the femur. The imbalance of the patellar causes pain and a scratching and grinding feeling within the knee

Why You Should Seek Treatment Early

Ignoring knee pain often leads to worsening symptoms and long-term joint damage. Early intervention with physical therapy for knee pain can:

• Prevent further injury
• Reduce inflammation and pain
• Improve joint mobility
• Strengthen supporting muscles
• Delay or avoid surgery

How a physiotherapist can help

Assessment – We will ask you in detail about the symptoms and assess the biomechanics of how you move. We will test the function of the structures which may be affected by the pain eg. the ligaments, tendons, muscles, joints.

Diagnosis – We will then diagnose the cause of the knee pain, this may include identification of a number of factors which have contributed to the pain starting.

Treatment – We will then formulate a treatment plan and discuss this with you. Treatments will first be targeted at reducing pain and then rehabilitation to maximise functioning of the affected area. Treatments may include:

• Manual Therapy
• Rehabilitative exercise
• Acupuncture
• Electrotherapy

Tips if you have knee pain:

• Take pain relief – paracetamol or ibuprofen – if the pain is impacting your everyday activity and/or sleep.
• Use a heat or ice pack – for 5-10mins for pain relief. Ensure the pack is wrapped up to avoid damaging the skin.
• Reduce activities which are provoking the pain
• Get an assessment from a professional – there are many different causes of knee pain, so it is important to get the correct diagnosis, in order to know what treatments will help the most.