Revised 09/21/2020
Any injury can be debilitating, but a knee injury can keep you on the sidelines for a long time.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to prevent this type of injury and discomfort from spiraling out of control. To do that, you need to know the reasons for knee pain.
Today, you’ll learn about some of the most common causes for knee pain and what you can do to reduce pain.
To take restorative and preventative action, you need to know what’s causing your knee pain. Reasons for knee pain can include these five conditions:
Within your knee is a piece of cartilage called the meniscus. One of the most common injuries to the knee is a meniscus tear.
Symptoms of a tear include:
Smaller tears can mend on their own with plenty of rest and the application of ice and an elastic bandage. However, if you’ve sustained a severe tear, you might require surgery. Contact your doctor for proper treatment and diagnosis.
Athletes most at risk of this type of injury are those who play or engage in:
Your knees contain ligaments that connect your thigh bone to the bones in your lower leg. A common ligament injury amongst athletes is an ACL tea or sprain. An anterior cruciate ligament tear is an injury that has plagued many athletes, particularly football and basketball players.
Signs of a ligament injury:
To heal the injury, you should see a medical professional and follow their professional advice and designated treatments.
Of all the reasons for knee pain, arthritis might be the most common amongst the general population, simply because there are so many types of arthritis that can affect the knee. These include:
Symptoms of arthritis are:
To treat your knee pain, you need to consult with a doctor to determine what type of arthritis you have. Only then will you and your doctor be able to take steps to reduce or eliminate your pain – like taking prescribed pain or anti-inflammatory medications, working with a physical therapist, undergoing surgery, or through proper support and compression of the knee.
Trauma sustained during an accident or while engaging in your sport can result in fractured knee bones. Symptoms of a fracture:
To treat a fracture, you’ll need to wear a cast to allow the bone to heal properly. Eventually, you’ll graduate to a knee brace or compression sleeve to support your knee while walking.
Cyclists, runners, skiers, and athletes involved in jumping sports can develop tendinitis (inflammation or irritation of the tendons).
Tendons attach your muscles and bones. One of the most common reasons for knee pain is inflammation of the patellar tendon, which connects the quadriceps muscle (front thigh muscle) to your shinbone.
The cause of this injury is overuse. Repeated stress on the tendon can result in tiny tears. If you don’t give your body adequate time to repair itself, the tears can multiply. The result:
It’s been mentioned, but it bears repeating – to combat the common reasons for knee pain, you need to let your body rest. It’s the only way for the tiny tears in muscles, ligaments, and tendons to heal. Along with ice and elevation, rest is an important element of reducing inflammation.
Another way you can treat knee pain is with the right knee pain products. One of our best knee pain solutions is the Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Strap. The strap reduces displacement, reduces the force of the thigh/quadricep muscle on your knee, and reduces the chance of misalignment. All of this can support the knee, reduce discomfort, and prevent further injury.
Other knee pain treatment and support options include:
To ensure you’re as active as possible in your later years, it’s imperative that you take care of your body now. It’s tempting to keep pushing yourself to your limits to see what you can achieve. However, allowing your body to recover, as well as treating discomfort early on and investing in knee pain treatment products, will help you stay active for decades to come.
Worried about sustaining an injury that keeps you down? We can help! Check out our resource guide, where you’ll find videos and guides that will help you stay strong and injury-free.
KNEE SUPPORT PRODUCTS
OTHER RELATED TOPICS:
WILL A KNEE BRACE HELP JUMPER'S KNEE? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT KNEE BRACE FOR RUNNERS
RUNNER’S KNEE: IMMEDIATE RELIEF & LONG-TERM HEALING
KNEE PAIN: SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT RUNNER’S KNEE
PLEASE NOTE: The information on this website and article is for information only and should not be used as a substitute for consulting your doctor. Consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and rehabilitation.