Knee

Knee pain and discomfort can affect your everyday life, but you don’t have to suffer in silence – there are a wide range of treatments available.

The knee joint is particularly vulnerable to damage and pain as it takes the full weight for your body, and any extra force when you run or jump, can damage it over time. Problems can come with age or trauma, and sudden pain can be the result of overusing it. If you have any aches, pains or swelling in your knee joints for longer than you’d expect, it is advised to see your GP.

What are the causes of knee pain?

Sprains and strains are the most common form of knee pain. It can also be caused by an acute injury such as a torn ligament or broken bone. Medical conditions can affect your knee as well such as arthritis or infections. Other causes of knee pains are anterior knee pain, cartilage damage, tendonitis, menisci, bleeding into the joint, gout, Osgood-Schlatter disease or bursitis.

How can knee pain be treated?

Treatments for knee pain depend on the underlying cause. Many cases of knee pain will go away in time and can be managed with rest and over-the-counter painkillers. However, if the pain is ongoing you should see your GP who may refer you for treatment or surgery.

The most common knee surgery is arthroscopy, which is a minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint in which an examination is performed using an arthroscope, an endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision.

Resources:

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) sports injury

Gardening after a knee replacement

Iliotibial band syndrome (ITB syndrome)

Joint pain

Knee cartilage (meniscal) injuries

Knee ligament injuries

Kneecap pain

Osteoarthritis of the knee

Patella tendon pain

Videos

Watch a selection of knee physiotherapy exercises on YouTube below, or download Pocket Physio for free, and get access to a library of hand, hip, foot and knee exercises on your smartphone or tablet.