Knee pain can occur from the muscles and tendons around the knee, knee ligament, meniscus or cartilage injuries.
Muscles/Tendons around the Knee
Pain at the front of the knee can be causes by injuries to the quadriceps muscle/tendon and the patella ligament which connects the kneecap (patella) to the shin bone (tibia).
Meniscus Injuries
The knee has ligaments inside the knee joint itself as well the outside the knee joint. Some of the ligaments of the knee that are commonly injured include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), Medial collateral ligament (MCL) and Lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Together with knee pain, ligament injuries can also cause the knee to feel unstable
Cartilage Injuries
There are 3 main compartments in the knee, the inner (medial) aspect, the outer (lateral) aspect and the front (anterior) where the kneecap (patella) is moving on top of the thigh bone. All these surfaces are lined with cartilage to allow smooth motion of the bones with respect to one another. Cartilage injures can occur from a traumatic or sports injury causing defects in the cartilage (cartilage ulcers). Degeneration of the cartilage also occur with age. Sometimes, the cartilage wears out due to inflammatory problems such as rheumatoid arthritis. All of these cartilage issues can cause knee pain. Sometimes, it is associated with knee swelling and deformity.
Types of Treatment
- Physiotherapy
- Brace
- Anti-inflammatory Medications
- Injections
- Keyhole, minimally Invasive Surgery (Knee Arthroscopy)
- Knee Replacement (partial or total knee replacement)
