Understanding the Causes of Knee Pain

We recently saw a patient in his 20s who was struggling with knee pain whenever he went for his morning jog. While the pain wasn’t severe, it was bad enough that jogging had lost some appeal. He also wanted to make sure it wasn’t something serious. Fortunately, the Strive Fitness and Therapy team–with its in-depth knowledge of knee pain causes–was able to help him.

We performed a comprehensive assessment, talking to the patient about his health history and symptoms. The pain was located just behind his kneecap, and it only occurred when he put pressure on his knees (in his case, this was mostly while jogging, although he noticed an occasional twinge when he climbed stairs).

We also performed simple movement screens to test his knee strength and flexibility. By the time we had finished, it was clear to us that our patient had developed patellofemoral pain–more commonly known as runner’s knee.

By determining the cause of our patient’s knee pain, we were able to create a truly customized intervention plan to help manage and resolve his symptoms. With this blog, we want to explore some of the more common causes of knee pain. And if you’re dealing with knee discomfort yourself, feel free to schedule your own assessment today at Strive Fitness and Therapy!

Common Causes of Knee Pain

Many injuries and conditions can lead to knee pain. Here are a few of the most common knee causes, along with information about their signs and symptoms:

Tendonitis and Bursitis

• Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons, the tissue that connects your muscles to your bones. Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursae, small, fluid-filled sacs around your knees that helps reduce friction between muscles, ligaments, and bones. In both cases, you may experience pain, swelling, and warmth around the knee.

Meniscus Tears

• The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee joint that acts as a shock absorber. It can tear from a trauma or repetitive micro-traumas, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and a sense of instability in the knee.

Ligament Tears

• Your knee contains four ligaments that connect the upper and lower leg. If one of these ligaments tears (either partially or completely), it will cause pain, swelling, and a loss of range of motion. The location of your pain will vary based on which ligament is affected, and the severity of the tear will determine the specifics of your symptoms.

Osteoarthritis

• If you’re an older individual, your knee pain might stem from osteoarthritis, which is not an injury but a chronic condition in which the knee cartilage degenerates, leading to pain and inflammation in the knee joint. You’ll experience pain during activity and a general sense of joint stiffness.

Knee Pain Management at Strive Fitness and Therapy

Many of these knee pain causes can be managed or resolved with physiotherapy. In the case of severe injuries (such as a fully ruptured ligament), you may need to undergo surgery–but our physiotherapists will be standing by to guide you through your rehabilitation.

We’ll create personalized treatment plans that combine several different physiotherapy interventions, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and balance and gait training. Our goal is to reduce your pain and restore your knee’s functionality so you can engage in your favorite activities.

Ready to get started? Schedule an appointment at our Winnipeg clinic today!