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Common Sources of Knee Pain

Common Sources of Knee Pain

Knee pain has many sources, but all of them can be treated here at LSTC!

  • Osteoarthritis: wearing of the joint surfaces (cartilage) between the tibiofemoral joint; wearing is most often on the inside (medial) portion of the joint 
    • Mechanism of Injury: 
      • Wear and Tear
        • Lack of muscular support
      • Reduced motor control
    • Symptoms:
      • Pain worse with prolonged positioning (e.g. sitting for a long period of time)
      • Pain worse in the morning: typically resolves within 5-10 minutes of movement
  • Chondromalacia Patella: osteoarthritis behind the kneecap
    • Mechanism of Injury:
      • Wear and tear
      • Lack of muscular support
      • Reduced motor control
    • Symptoms:
      • Pain worse with stair navigation, squatting, transfers 
  • Meniscus Pathology: The meniscus is a cartilaginous disk (like a rubber pad) located between the tibiofemoral joint.  It is designed to absorb shock and stabilize the knee.
    • Mechanism of injury:
      • Usually occurs with weight bearing knee flexion and twisting (sports involving cutting, pivoting)
    • Symptoms:
      • Complaints of “catching” or “locking”
      • Pain with squatting and/or kneeling
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: a diagnosis of exclusion for anterior knee pain (pain in the front of your knee or around your kneecap).
    • Mechanism of Injury:
      • Gradual onset associated with quad weakness, hip weakness, muscular tightness, and poor foot posturing
    • Symptoms:
      • Pain with prolonged sitting
      • Pain with stairs
      • Pain with squatting
      • Pain with knee extension (straightening)
      • Pain with kneeling
  • Ligamentous Injuries: the knee has 4 primary passive restraints to excess movement, the ACL (restrains against excess knee extension), the MCL (restrains against excess medial force), the LCL (restrains against excess lateral force), and the PCL (restrains against excess knee flexion)
    • Mechanism of injury: vary based on the ligaments in question.
      • Often associated with sporting activity and an acute event
    • Symptoms: vary depending on the severity of injury
      • Bruising 
      • Swelling
      • Difficulty walking
      • Difficulty bearing weight
      • Pain with knee flexion and/or extension
      • Pain with twisting/turning motions

Why Physical Therapy, Why NOW?! 

  • No pain, no gain is not “a thing”
  • Find out the cause of Your pain
  • People don’t often fit into a single “bubble” of what is causing pain
  • Personalized Care
  • Increased Strength
  • Increased Mobility
  • Reduced/Absent Pain
  • Improved Body-Awareness
  • Education regarding your condition and how to manage it

A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) will evaluate your individual body structure and function, determine which of these factors AND more could be contributing to your pain experience.  While the pain or limitations you feel are at your knee, the evaluating doctor can determine where and what is causing your pain (even if it’s coming from another region, like your foot).  If the condition proves to require further medical testing, the evaluating therapist will be able to determine that and direct you accordingly.
Whenever pain is a factor, muscle groups stop working efficiently and people avoid pain provoking activities.  The result is weakness, reduced mobility, and more pain.  Waiting to get your knee evaluated only extends the time it takes to get you back to living the life you want, participating in activities you enjoy, and being able to comfortably sit, walk, run, etc.  Time is the only thing that you can’t get back.  Spend some time with our team of therapists and athletic trainers, so that you can spend more time focusing on the things and people that matter most!

Call Loudoun Sports Therapy Center  TODAY at 703-450-4300!

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References
Bowen Hefley Orthopedics, Dr. William F. Hefley, MD, 2 Feb. 2018, www.drbillhefley.com/what-can-cause-knee-pain-without-injury/. 
“Knee Joint.” Mobility Health, Mobility Health, mobility-health.com/pages/human-anatomy. 

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