Got Knee Pain?

Causes of knee pain

Mechanical problems of the body can also place unusual stress and strain on muscles, especially in the knee. Pain from mechanical issues are often caused by bad habits like poor posture, non-ergonomic chairs, and incorrect lifting. When the shock absorbers of the knee are injured, it can cause a lot of pain.

Common mechanical problems in the knee include:

• • Loose bodies: Bone or knee cartilage that detached interfering with joint movement.
  • Iliotibial band (IT band) syndrome: When the ligament that runs from your hip to knee is so tight that it rubs against your femur causing pain.
  • Dislocated kneecap (patella): When the bone on the front of your knee slides out of place, usually to the outside of your knee.
  • Gait alterations: If you have hip, foot, or other pain while walking causes you to alter your gait to avoid that pain, your knee may compensate and become painful too.

Arthritis is also a major source of knee (and other) joint pain. The types to most likely to affect the knee include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pseudogout, and septic arthritis.

The cause of your knee pain may also be difficult to identify, but that does not make it any less real. This is usually labeled as patellofemoral pain syndrome or “runner’s knee,” and is usually associated with a dull or aching pain in the front of your knee.

Patellofemoral pain is aggravated by stairs, kneeling, squatting, sitting with bended knees for long periods, running, jumping, and other overuse. Doctors don’t know the exact cause but believe that it’s often due to weakness or lack of flexibility in the muscles around the knee and hip.