Various Afflictions Affecting the Knee Joints
Knee pain is a common complaint among athletes, active individuals, and even those with sedentary lifestyles. This article aims to shed light on various knee conditions and their typical locations, helping you understand the potential causes behind your knee discomfort.
Pain Above the Knee
Pain in this area often signifies issues with the quadriceps tendon or the suprapatellar bursa, a fluid-filled sac located above the kneecap.
Pain Below the Knee
Pain just below the kneecap can indicate patellar tendonitis, a condition caused by inflamed tendons, or Osgood-Schlatter disease in adolescents, where the tendon attachment on the tibia becomes inflamed.
Pain Behind the Knee
Pain in this region is commonly caused by a Baker cyst (popliteal cyst), a fluid-filled swelling resulting from underlying issues like arthritis or meniscus tears. The area can also experience tightness or discomfort when bending or straightening the knee.
Outer (Lateral) Knee Pain
This type of pain may be due to iliotibial band syndrome, lateral meniscus tears, or injuries affecting the lateral collateral ligament.
Inner (Medial) Knee Pain
Medial meniscus tears, medial collateral ligament injuries, or pes anserine bursitis (inflammation of the bursa on the inner side of the knee below the joint) could be the culprits for inner knee pain.
Pain at the Kneecap (Front of the Knee)
Pain in this area can indicate patellar tracking disorder, patellar tendonitis, or chondromalacia patella, a condition where cartilage under the kneecap breaks down, causing inflammation. This area is also prone to prepatellar bursitis in individuals engaging in frequent kneeling.
Other Conditions
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries cause pain and swelling on the insides of the knees in people who play sports. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in the knees can occur in infants and adolescents, causing pain and swelling after playing sports or experiencing a knee injury. Hamstring injuries are tears or strains in the muscles at the back of the thigh, common in athletes and other active individuals.
Quadriceps tendinopathy (QF) causes pain above a person's kneecap and often worsens with activity. It affects physically active individuals. A dislocated patella (kneecap) can cause pain and swelling toward the middle of the front of the kneecap, and the knee may give way. Medial plica syndrome causes pain below the kneecap due to inflammation of the plica, the folds in the tissue surrounding the knee joint.
Quadriceps tendon rupture (QTR) is a cause of knee pain that often affects middle-aged people who play sports. It causes a tearing or popping sensation above the kneecap. Prepatellar bursitis (PB) occurs when a person's bursae become inflamed, causing pain in front of the kneecap, particularly in those who spend a lot of time kneeling.
Meniscus tears can occur in the back of the knee, causing pain in multiple locations due to twisting motions while squatting or bending the leg. Arthritis may also cause inner knee pain. Medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprains cause swelling and pain on the insides of the knees, often due to skiing accidents.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The location of knee pain provides clues about the affected structures—tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bursae, or joint surfaces—and helps guide diagnosis and treatment. Tendonitis and bursitis manifest with localized tenderness and swelling. Meniscus tears often cause pain accompanied by locking or instability. Arthritis-related pain can be more diffuse but often worsens with activity or in the morning with stiffness. Ligament injuries cause sharp pain, swelling, and instability after trauma.
Understanding the potential causes of knee pain can help you seek appropriate medical attention and begin the path to recovery. Always consult with a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Depression, a common mental health condition, can lead to decreased physical activity, potentially exacerbating knee pain in individuals with medical-conditions such as arthritis.
- A type of arthritis known as gout can cause inflammation and pain in the big toe, but it can also affect other joints like the knees, ankles, and feet.
- Dermatitis, a condition that causes skin irritation and inflammation, when it affects the skin around the knee, may contribute to overall knee discomfort and health-and-wellness concerns.
- Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, can lead to fatigue, weight loss, and joint pain, including that in the knees.
- Psoriatic arthritis, a type of arthritis associated with psoriasis, can cause swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints, including the knees and fingers.
- Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition, is often managed with medication, but it can also cause fatigue and joint pain, among other symptoms.
- AQ, or Antammamide, is a potential predictive biomarker for colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease that can affect the knees due to joint pain and overall fatigue.
- Crohn's disease, another inflammatory bowel disease, can cause fatigue, joint pain, and even an increased risk of breast cancer, among other complications.
- Diabetes, a metabolic disease, can lead to nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) that affects the feet and legs, including the knees, causing pain and numbness.
- Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, can cause falls and accidents, leading to knee pain, especially in older individuals.
- Atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition, when it affects the skin around the knee, can worsen existing knee pain, as the inflamed skin may put additional pressure on the joint during movement.
