Knee Pain

Many people experience knee pain at some point during their lifetime. There are a number of factors that can cause knee pain, including injuries, medical conditions, infections, arthritis, and gout. Most often, knee pain is caused by general wear and tear that comes with walking, bending, standing, and lifting. An athlete who plays sports that require fast pivoting or jumping are prone to knee pain and problems. No matter how knee pain is caused by injury or aging, it can be annoying and even debilitating at times.

Self-care measures are effective for many types of mild knee pain. Knee braces and physical therapy also help relieve knee pain. Surgery, on the other hand, may be a permanent solution. In this article we will walk you through notable information involving knee pain. Continue reading to learn:

• The Anatomy of the Knee
• Common Causes of Knee Pain
• Common Knee Injuries
• Arthritis and Knee Pain Management
• Knee Pain Exercises
• Dr Frank Cannon and Florida Surgery Consultants

The Anatomy of the Knee

The knee is a delicate joint that bears an enormous amount of stress from daily activities like lifting and kneeling, and from high-impact exercise like jogging and aerobics. The knee is formed by the Tibia (shin bone), the Femur (thigh bone), and the Patella (kneecap).

Cartilage protects the knee by absorbing shock on each bone end.The knee consists of two long leg bones that are attached by muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Two groups of muscles function together at the knee, the quadriceps muscles (located on the front of the thighs) that straighten the legs, and the hamstring muscles (located on the back of the thighs) that bend the knee.

Tendons are tough bands of tissue that attach muscles to bones. A ligament connects one bone to the next as an elastic band of tissue. Some ligaments on the knee provide stability and protection of the joints, while other ligaments limit forward and backward movement of the tibia (shin bone).

Common Causes of Knee Pain

Knee injuries can involve any of the ligaments, tendons, or fluid-filled sacs (bursae) surrounding your joint in addition to the bones, cartilage and ligaments that make up your knee. Here are some of the most common knee injuries:

• ACL injury. An ACL injury is a torn anterior cruciate ligament — a ligament that connects the shinbone to the thigh bone on your leg. People who play sports that require quick changes of direction such as basketball, soccer, and football are prone to ACL injuries.

• Fractures. In motor vehicle accidents or falls, the bones of the knee, including the patella, can be broken. People with osteoporosis will sometimes fracture a knee simply by stepping a wrong way.

• Torn Meniscus. A meniscus is a tough cartilage-like structure between your shinbone and thigh bone that acts as a shock absorber. If you forcefully twist your knee while bearing weight on it, it can be torn.

• Knee Bursitis. Sometimes knee injuries lead to inflammation of your bursae, which are sacs of fluid that cushion your knee joint so that tendons and ligaments can glide smoothly over it.

• Patellar Tendinitis. Tendonitis is an inflammation and irritation of the thick, fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones. Injuries to the patellar tendon, which connects the quadriceps muscle on the front of the thigh to the shinbone, may occur in runners, skiers, cyclists, and those involved in jumping sports.

What are the Symptoms?

When you have a meniscus tear you generally know when you have one. There will be acute pain immediately after and sometimes there can be a pop in the knee. After the meniscus has been injured it will start to become inflamed. The swelling takes a few hours to develop but it will start to become difficult to move. Patients will not be able to fully extend their knee or move more than 15 degrees with their knee.

• Popping sensation
• Swelling
• Pain when twisting or moving knee
• Knee is giving way
• Limping
• Knee locking up

Arthritis and Knee Pain Management

Numerous professional associations have guidelines for reducing arthritis pain. All guidelines suggest that patients’ pain management plans should be flexible, include non-medicinal options, and be customized to their needs. Guidelines suggest the following for managing arthritis symptoms:

• Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen.
• Physical activity/exercise.
• Physical therapy.
• Weight loss, if overweight or obese.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy— Patients learn how to modify physical, behavioral, and emotional triggers of pain and stress.

Knee Pain Exercises

A variety of different issues can cause pain in the inside or medial part of the knee. We mentioned earlier that Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of these symptoms, as well as the tearing or fraying of the shock-absorbing meniscus. Whatever the cause, there are a few exercises that you can try to alleviate your knee pain.You should always consult a physician if you are experiencing pain; however, the strengthening exercises listed below can provide some support to the injured region and may provide some relief.

• Straight Leg Raise. Exercises such as straight leg raises (SLRs) are a perfect way to start targeting the quadriceps muscles. By using this technique, this knee-supporting muscle is activated without placing any excess pressure on the joint itself. There are a number of conditions or injuries that can be helped by this exercise. They include osteoarthritis,meniscal lesions, or MCL injuries. Here’s How:

1. Keep your unaffected knee bent as you lie on your back.
2. Tighten your thigh muscles on the affected side.
3. Slowly lift the injured leg off the floor, about 12 inches, keeping the muscle contracted.
4. After holding the leg at the top of the motion for one to two seconds, slowly lower it down again.
5. Try to complete 3 repetition sets of 10.

• Single-Leg Balance. Proprioceptive exercises and single-leg balance exercises are a great way to build leg stabilizing muscles. A medial osteoarthritis patient, someone with a medial meniscus tear, a patellar subluxation, or someone with an MCL strain can benefit from this technique. Here’s how:

1. Standing up straight, squeeze your thigh muscle to straighten your knee in order to reduce the pain.
2. Lift your other leg and keep your balance without leaning or using your arms if possible.
3. Try to hold this position up to 30 seconds before putting the involved leg back down on the ground.
4. Repeat the pose between 5 and 10 times.

• Seated Knee Extension. Seated knee extension is another great way to use only a resistance band or ankle weight to strengthen the quadriceps muscle. These exercises include strengthening and reducing symptoms of medial OA, medial meniscal tears, medial collateral ligament sprains, and pes anserine bursitis. Here’s how:

1. Sit on an edge of a chair with your legs extended toward the ground.
2. Attach a resistance band to your ankle and tie to the leg of the chair.
3. Alternatively, you can tie a light weight around your ankle. Gently extend your injured knee while seated without removing your thigh from the chair.
4. You must hold the position for one or two seconds before slowly bending the affected leg towards the ground again.
5. Complete 3 sets of 10 reps.