what you need to know
Why does your knee hurt? Types of knee pain by location and description.
- The most common causes of knee pain are age-related, injury, or repetitive strain on the knee.
- Common knee problems include sprained or sprained ligaments, torn cartilage, tendinitis, and arthritis.
- Diagnosing a knee injury or problem involves a physical exam and usually the use of a diagnostic procedure such as an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, or arthroscopy.
- Depending on the type and severity of the condition, surgical and non-surgical treatment options are available to manage knee pain and problems.
Diagnosis of knee pain diagram
Reviewed by:KPE Medical Review Board
A knee pain diagnostic chart can be a really helpful tool in determining why you have knee pain. There are many different structures in and around the knee that can cause pain.
Knowing what typically causes pain in each area of the knee makes it easier to accurately self-diagnose knee pain.
That's why we designed these two knee pain location charts so you can see what's causing pain in the parts of the knee.
What types of knee pain are there?
There are different types ofknee pain, depending on the cause. The most common type of knee pain is due to overuse or injury, e.g. B. in sports attributed. Other common causes of knee pain include arthritis, gout, and bursitis. Treatment for knee pain depends on the cause. For example, if the pain is due to arthritis, treatment may include medication or surgery.
More than a third of all Americans have experienced pain in a large joint at some point in their lives. It can be sharp, dull, burning, or excruciatingly painful, accompanied by strange noises or silence. When you wake up in pain andstiff kneeHowever, if you feel some relief in the morning, you may have rheumatoid arthritis. The protective cartilage that protects the ends of the leg bones wears away with osteoarthritis. As a result, the bones rubbing against each other can cause pain, swelling, and restricted movement. This type of knee injury is caused by a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament. In fact, gout is the most common arthritis in the big toe. Over time, bending or kneeling can irritate the bursae in your knees, leading to a gradual worsening of symptoms. Injury is a less common cause of abscesses, but it can still occur.
The most common cause of knee pain is a combination of age, injury, or repetitive strain on the knee. Generally,Knee problemThese include ligament sprains and strains, cartilage tears, tendinitis and arthritis.
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G Widespread knee pain
1. Osteoarthritis of the knee
knee osteoarthritisThis is severe arthrosis of the knee joint, which develops over many years as a result of gradual wear and tear.
This is more common in older adults. It is believed that a history of one or more knee injuries could make you more prone to developing osteoarthritis of the knee.
Repetitive loading of the knee or natural anatomical abnormalities can increase the likelihood of knee osteoarthritis.
In addition, being overweight or obese can put extra stress and strain on the knees and increase susceptibility to arthritic changes.
Symptoms:
Deep general pain in the knee often occurs with osteoarthritis of the knee. The knee feels stiff in the morning and when getting up after sitting for a long time.
There may be limited range of motion of the knee and decreased strength. The pain may come and go and remain constant depending on the severity of the arthritic changes.
Walking, standing, squatting, and climbing stairs for long periods is often painful. You may also notice intermittent swelling and warmth around the knee.
2. Inflammatory arthritis
inflammatory arthritisis a general term for a group of disorders that develop from an overactive immune system.
Conditions in this category may includerheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylosis and gout.
In some autoimmune diseases, inflammatory arthritis is a symptom rather than the only diagnosis, such asLupus.
Symptoms:
3. Bursitis in the knee
How do you recognize a meniscus tear?

The McMurray test is often used to determine the source of ainner meniscus. Your doctor will straighten and twist your knee after it's bent. As a result of this process, tension arises. If you have a tear in the anterior knee joint, this movement can cause pain, popping, or throbbing.
Meniscus tears, unlike knee injuries, can be caused by other factors. They are formed as a result of an aging process in which cartilage wears down over time. Simply consult a doctor to determine the cause of your injury. However, there are some warning signs of a possible knee tear. After a knee injury, most people are able to put weight on the knee.affected kneeand run normally. It may take a few days for the pain, swelling, and stiffness to set in as the body adjusts to the new feeling. People sometimes feel uncomfortable hearing their knees crack and snap, but this is inevitable when they have more serious injuries.
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Meniscal tear surgery: the best option for pain relief
For patients with arthritis and an anterior segmental tear of the knees, an anterior segmental tear is often the best option. The surgery usually relieves pain and allows the patient to maintain normal knee function. It is also possible to avoid long-term joint problems with joint surgery. If you are planning surgery, you should exercise as directed by your doctor and move carefully.
Overuse knee injuries
- Overuse injuries occur when repeated or prolonged pressure is applied to the knee.
- Activities like skiing, biking, jogging, or jumping are some examples of causes of overuse knee problems.
- Overuse injuries happen over time.
- Overuse injuries occur when the joints are repeatedly loaded.
- Overuse injuries cause irritation and inflammation in the knee.
Overuse knee injuries include:
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The pain came gradually
A gradual onset of knee pain usually indicates an underlying problem that may have been there for some time without you realizing it. Sometimes the knee takes so long to cope with a developing problem, and then for no apparent reason it starts to feel uncomfortable. It can be knee arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, or wear and tear
insideCommon knee diseasesIn this section we discuss common knee problems, their causes, typical knee symptoms and how to treat them.
Knee injuries are commonly caused by:
- A force through the kneee.g. from a fall or a tackle or
- sudden slowdowne.g. stopping suddenly, causing the leg to bend backwards too far
- crampe.g. skiing
These are the most common causes of knee injuries in theribbonsIcartilage.The pain is usually immediate or occurs within 24 to 48 hours and may be accompanied byswellingand bruises
Visit thefrequent knee injuriesfor more information, including symptoms and treatment options for various injuries, to help you make an accurate diagnosis of knee pain.
Brief anatomy of the knee
Explanation of the types of knee pain
The knee is a vulnerable joint that takes a lot of stress from everyday activities like lifting and kneeling, as well as from high-impact activities like jogging and aerobics.
The knee consists of the following parts:
shin.This is the shinbone, or the largest bone in the lower leg.
Femur.This is the femur or thigh bone.
Ball joint. This is the kneecap.
Each end of the bone is covered with a layer of cartilage that absorbs shock and protects the knee. Basically, the knee is two long bones in the leg that are held together by muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
There are 2 muscle groups involved in the knee, including the quadriceps, which straighten the leg, and the hamstrings, which flex the leg at the knee.
Tendons are strong strands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Ligaments are elastic bands of tissue that connect bones to bones. Some knee straps provide stability and protection for the joints, while other straps limit forward and backward movement of the tibia.
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Important points about knee ligament injuries
- The knee ligaments are the short bands of elastic fabric that hold the knee together. There are 4 main ligaments in each knee.
- Knee ligament injuries can be caused by trauma such as a car accident. Or they can be caused by sports injuries.
- The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most commonly injured ligaments.
- Treatment may include medication, muscle strengthening exercises, a knee brace, or surgery.
What else can help?
These knee pain diagnosis charts are a great place to start in figuring out what's wrong with your knee, but what do you do about it? You can find a lot of great information on each of these knee problems and more using the links above.
Alternatively, following multiple requests from our readers, we have recently published our second book,"Beat Knee Pain: Take Back Control".
It tells you everything you need to know to figure out what's wrong with your knee and gives you lots of great advice on getting back to doing what you love. On this page you will find all the information and much more. We know that many people prefer to have their information in book form so that they can navigate it easily, so check it out.
Defeating Knee Pain: Regaining Controlhave aAaverage rating of 4.8/5 and is rwas ranked #2 in orthopedic sales in *.
*#2 Best Seller in Orthopedics on Amazon.com in October 2021
Diagrams for locating knee pain are just the beginning. Now that you have a good idea of what's going on, it's time to fix it so you can get back to doing the things you love.
Last page update: 02/12/21
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C pain in the kneecap
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome:more often. Caused by a problem with the movement of the kneecap.MORE INFORMATION>
- Chondromalazie patellar:Damage to the cartilage on the back of the kneecap. It usually affects healthy people under the age of 40.MORE INFORMATION>
- Arthritis:Wear or degeneration of the bones and cartilage of the knee. People over the age of 60 are usually affected.MORE INFORMATION>
- Maid's knees:Inflammation of the prepatellar bursa, often causing localized swelling in the front of the knee. It can occur at any age, most commonly in people who spend a lot of time on their knees.MORE INFORMATION>
- Two-part kneecap:Where the kneecap bone consists of two parts that were not fused together in childhood.MORE INFORMATION>
How is knee osteoarthritis treated?

Healthcare providers cannot cure knee osteoarthritis. But they do have some tips that can reduce the severity of your symptoms and potentially prevent arthritis from getting worse, including:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Train with low-impact activities instead of high-impact activities. Aim for about 150 minutes of exercise per week.
- Wear cushioning insoles in your shoes.
- Apply heat or ice to the area.
- Wear a knee brace or brace.
- Physiotherapy exercises that help with flexibility, strength and movement.
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What causes osteoarthritis of the knee?
Experts have identified some genes that could cause arthritis, including arthritis of the knee. They predict that more genes still need to be discovered. You could carry an arthritis-related gene without knowing it, and a virus or injury could trigger arthritis of the knee.
Although the cause is unknown, some risk factors increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis. The risk factors for osteoarthritis include in particular:
- Alter.Osteoarthritis is more common in older adults than in younger adults and children.
- bone abnormalities.You are at a higher risk of osteoarthritis if your bones or joints are naturally crooked.
- drops. Gout, also a type of inflammatory arthritis, can lead to osteoarthritis.
- injuries. Knee injuries can cause knee osteoarthritis.
- Emphasize.Excessive strain on the knees from running, sports or an active job can lead to knee osteoarthritis.
- Weight.The extra weight puts more pressure on your knees.
Pain in the lower part of the knee
Lower knee pain is commonly associated with four conditions:
- Osgood-Schlatter disease: This is a common condition in children where the tendons in the knees pull on the growth plate of the knee during rapid growth spurts.
- Osteochondritis dissecans: This is a rare condition that causes the meniscus in the knee to become loose and, in some cases, to detach from the bone.
- patellar tip syndrome: It is the inflammation of the patellar tendon, also known as "jumper's knee", that often occurs in athletes who jump or run
- Patellofemoral instability: This is a condition, formerly known as traumatic patellar dislocation, in which the patella slips out of the groove that connects it to the underside of the femur.
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How is a jumper's knee formed?
Jumper's knee occurs due to overuse of the hamstrings, particularly in sports that involve frequent jumping, such as volleyball and basketball. When you jump, you put a lot of pressure on different parts of the hamstrings, including the patellar tendons, the anserinus foot tendons, and the popliteal tendons. Repeated overuse leads to small tears in the hamstrings and repeated stressing of the hamstrings, leading to further weakness of the tendons.
In general, the body can initiate the natural healing response to heal small tears in the tendons. However, if you continue to participate in activities and don't rest, your body doesn't have time to repair the tears in the tendons, which proliferate, resulting in bilateral knee tendinopathy. So Jumper's Knee occurs when you overuse your hamstrings during physical activity, ignore the signs of hamstring inflammation, and don't give your body the time it needs to heal.
meniscus tear pain in leg
How to tell if knee pain is a meniscus or ligament injury
If you have a torn meniscus, you may not be able to straighten your leg freely, and you may be better off with a bent knee. Pain along the knee joint and meniscus usually occurs with repetitive movements.
Meniscus tears come in an abundance of color and size. It is possible to split the knee joint in half, tear it in a C-shape around its perimeter, or run a wire through the joint to connect it to the rest of the knee. After surgery, swelling and pain can last up to 24 hours. An MRI is often used to diagnose meniscus injuries. MRIs can be used to determine if the patella is between 70% and 90% torn. When describing your symptoms, be sure to do it correctly. When swelling occurs for the first time after an injury, it can provide important clues as to where and how severe the injury is.
Also read:Why does the side of my knee hurt?
Anterior cruciate ligament injuries
The anterior cruciate ligament is often injured during sporting activities. ACL injuries are more likely to occur in athletes participating in slash-and-twist sports such as soccer, football, and basketball. A quick change of direction or landing incorrectly after a jump can tear the cruciate ligament.
About half of all anterior cruciate ligament injuries occur with damage to other structures in the knee, such as the articular cartilage, meniscus, or other ligaments.
Learn more about ACL violations:
Seven Types of Knee Pain and What They Could Mean
Seven Types of Knee Pain and What They Could Mean
Knee problems are one of the most popular pains people go through. Knee pain can have many causes, from arthritis to a knee injury. In this article, we look at knee pain that comes in seven forms, what they mean, and what you need to do to relieve the pain. Read on to better understand your pain and find a suitable solution. In addition, you can choose alternativeKnee replacement surgeryde Ansh Obécure.
1.knee painwith a creak
Squats don't have to be a cause for concern.
This noise is called crepitus and does not require any specific therapy unless you have other symptoms. However, if you experience pain while doing it, you should see a doctor to have your knee examined.
Rubbing of cartilage on the joint surface or other soft tissues around the knee during joint movement causes crepitation. Knee crepitation is primarily driven by the patellofemoral joint, which connects the kneecap to the thigh bone, or femur. Cartilage, the soft, elastic tissue that covers the ends of bones, normally allows them to move freely in the joint. However, the surface of the cartilage can become less smooth over time. Your hearing clicks are most likely caused by rough cartilage in your knee that is preventing the bones from sliding as freely in the joint as they should.
Solution:
2.knee painwhile running
- patellar tip syndrome
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Solution:
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Can knee injuries be prevented?
To prevent knee injuries:
- Make sure your children wear the recommended protective gear when playing sports.
- Make sure your kids wear supportive athletic shoes that are in good condition.
- During exercise, children should always warm up and cool down.
- Encourage children regularlyweight trainingfor muscle support and stretching or yoga to improve mobility.
- When jumping, children should bend their knees when landing. This relieves the anterior cruciate ligament and prevents injuries.
- If children often snip or twist to one side, encourage them to squat and bend at the knees and hips to reduce the chance of ACL injury.
- For kids who only play one sport, year-round conditioning and training, even if it's less intense than during the competitive season, can help them stay in shape and reduce the risk of injury.