Knee Pain

In this article we discuss:

Symptoms related to types of pain from the knee area.

When to see a medical professional for knee pain

Knee Pain is a common condition that affects millions of people each year. It can be caused by many different factors including injury or disease.

The knee joint consists of three bones the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone) and the patella 9knee cap). Movement at these joints allows you to walk, run, jump and climb stairs. The knee joint plays a huge role in our ability to move and injury to the knee can affect other parts of our body too (such as the ankle or hip).

There are many different knee pain types which include; injuries to joints, muscles, or ligaments.

Symptoms related to types of pain from the knee area.

Joint pain in one or both knees
Knee pain and swelling
Stiffness when walking or difficulty sitting
Difficulty climbing stairs (or knee pain bending)
Loss of strength in the affected leg
Dull ache or sharp pain in the knee

Common knee pain causes

Knee pain can be caused by injuries, mechanical problems, types of arthritis, and other problems.

Like most other injuries it can therefore be categorised as acute or chronic.

Common knee injuries

Acute injuries - can be caused by sudden, obvious injury/accident:

Injury from sports activities or other accidents (eg. knee pain from football or running)
Sprained/strained knee ligament (eg. sudden twisting action in the knee)
Muscle strain when the tissues are overloaded (e.g. sprinting, jumping)
Torn knee cartilage (meniscus tear which acts as our natural shock absorber)
Dislocated kneecap (patella) (sudden injury where the joint unhinges)

Knee Conditions

Tendonitis (e.g. Patellar Tendonitis known as jumper's knee caused by continuous jumping impact eg. common in basketball players)
Osteoarthritis (age-related degenerative wearing away of the cartilage - can also be caused by excessive stress and being overweight). *The knee can be pain free even when osteoarthritis is present.
Inflammation due to infection (eg. septic arthritis or osteomyelitis which is the infection of the bone)
Knee Fractures (Any sudden fall or accident can lead to breaking or bone/fractures - people that are elderly or have weaker bones due to osteoporosis are more prone to this)
Knee Bursitis (Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that help the gliding of a joint while reducing friction - when these become inflamed and swollen due to repetitive movements bursitis sets in)
Loose Body (injury could cause a small part of bone or cartilage to break off and float within the joint - this can cause a great amount of pain within the joint eg. bone spurs)
Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome (When the ITB becomes excessively tight and starts to rub on the femur bone, common in long-distance runners and cyclists)
Hip or foot pain (changes in the way you walk may affect your gait and therefore the alignment of your knee which can create wear and tear eg. Patellofemoral pain syndrome)
Baker's Cyst (fluid-like swelling behind the knee usually caused by overuse)

Medical conditions:

Septic Arthritis (Type of arthritis caused by Septicemia in the joints - if you are experiencing any other symptoms along with knee pains see a medical professional immediately.)
Gout (usually occurs in the big toe but it can affect the knee joint too, at an advanced stage)
Pseudo gout (caused by the build-up of calcium-containing crystals that form within the fluid of the joint)
Rheumatoid arthritis (a form of arthritis caused by inflammation in the joint which starts to destroy the cartilage - this is usually not age-related and more common in the smaller joints of the hand and wrist)

Treatment Options

A ligament sprain, broken bone or dislocated joint often causes immediate pain when it occurs. However, most injuries heal without causing long-term damage. If you experience any type of knee injury, seek medical attention immediately. Your physician will provide a diagnosis or order further tests if needed. Surgery is often not necessary to treat knee injuries.

Knee pain natural remedies

There are however a few self-care tricks you can do at home to reduce pain and further injury

Rest - Resting the joint with ice packs may help reduce swelling, stiffness, and pain.
Supplements - Calcium and magnesium, omega 3, turmeric, and ginger may all help to promote joint health and could help with inflammation.
Exercise - although too much of the same exercise can be a cause of a knee injury, exercise is important in strengthening weak muscles, correcting muscle imbalances, and preventing further injuries. Although rest is important, physical activity is an integral part of preventing pain and rebuilding the injured tissue).

Knee-friendly exercise/sport:

Swimming
Cycling
Tai Chi
Gentle walking
Any other low impact exercise

Stretch - this increases your range of motion and often when a muscle is overused or overworked it compromises the mobility range of the joint which can cause pain or further injury.

This should only be done once the knee pain has been diagnosed and a therapist has given the go-ahead. Do not stretch an area if it increases your pain or symptoms

Quadricep stretch for knee pain

Find a sturdy chair or wall to support yourself.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Bend your right knee until your foot almost touches your glutes (butt cheek).
Use your right hand to pull your foot toward your glutes as far as you can.
Hold the position for about 30 seconds. If you worry that you'll lose your balance, hold on to the wall or chair.
Return to the starting position and change legs.

When to see a medical professional for knee pain:

A manual therapist may be able to help with pain and injuries to the knees.

To relieve symptoms of pain, osteopathy treatment can work on the knee muscles, ligaments, and the knee joint to increase circulation and decrease swelling. This will help relieve the tension in the knee and could reduce pain. Your osteopath may also give you advice on appropriate exercise and prescribe rehabilitation exercises to accelerate your recovery.

Osteopathy is therefore a very effective way of treating an injury of any kind, using manual manipulation techniques of muscles and joints and rehabilitation, hopefully, to avoid the necessity of surgical intervention.

In certain circumstances, your doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the initial stage of injury to reduce pain and swelling.

In very severe cases surgery might be needed (eg. knee replacement surgery) depending on what the injury is to the knee. A knee brace might also be necessary. If any pain persists please go see your doctor for medical advice.

If you have persistent knee pain, whether chronic knee pain or acute, visit us at The Osteopathic Clinic Singapore locations today.