If you are experiencing knee pain, especially when you bend it to walk, kneel, sit, squat, and more, it is likely that you have a condition or injury that needs treatment. There are many causes of knee pain, and it is incredibly difficult to self-diagnose yourself correctly. This is why it is critical to see an orthopedic specialist with a wealth of experience diagnosing and treating knee conditions and injuries.
Painful Knee: Where Does It Hurt?
The exact location of your knee pain is an indicator of the cause. Your doctor will ask you to describe in detail the exact location and type of pain you experience in the knee. This can help the doctor determine the type of condition or injury responsible for your symptoms. Below are some possible causes of knee pain.
Patellar Tendonitis Usually, pain in the front of the knee is caused by a problem with the patellar tendon. Patellar tendonitis is a type of overuse injury. Running, jumping, a sudden increase in the intensity of an activity, muscular tightness, and imbalance can contribute to this injury. With this condition, it can hurt to bend the knee, kneel, and squat.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome Pain on the outside or lateral side of the knee usually indicates a problem with the iliotibial band (the connective tissue that runs from the side of the hip down to the shin bone) or the lateral meniscus (a piece of cartilage that sits between the femur and tibia). Iliotibial band syndrome is common in long-distance runners, as well as cyclists and rock climbers. The repetitive bending of the knee can lead to this condition. Meniscus tears, on the other hand, are caused by sudden twisting movements of the knee, which is common in basketball, football, soccer, and tennis players.
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury Pain on the inside of the knee could indicate an injury to the MCL. The MCL provides stability to the knee. An injury to this ligament usually happens when a direct force is applied to the knee. Other causes of pain on the inside of the knee are meniscus tears and arthritis. Knee arthritis usually causes pain when bending the knee, especially after being in one position for a long time. Symptoms of knee arthritis develop gradually and are not linked to one specific incident, such as an accident, fall, or athletic injury.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury An ACL injury, which is a very common knee injury, causes pain right in the center of the knee. It is often caused by suddenly stopping and changing the direction of the leg, causing the knee to twist and the ACL to get damaged. The pain symptoms of an ACL injury are felt immediately, typically causing great difficulty in walking or climbing stairs. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can feel like your knee is giving out, as well.
Other Causes Pain in the back of the knee could mean different things: a cartilage injury, a ligament injury, a hamstring injury, Baker’s cyst (which forms when synovial fluid accumulates behind the knee due to stress or injury), and arthritis. There are many possible causes of pain in the back of the knee, which is why it should be evaluated by an experienced medical professional.
Knee Pain Treatment in Boynton Beach, FL
If you are experiencing knee pain, the orthopedic specialists at Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches can examine your knee and quickly diagnose the condition or injury responsible for it. Part of the customized treatment plans we offer our patients is top-notch physical therapy to restore knee strength, flexibility, range of motion, and function.
To diagnose and treat your knee pain, make an appointment with one of our orthopedic doctors today. Call (561) 733-5888 or use our online request form. We look forward to serving you in our state-of-the-art facility.
