Knee Pain
pain with expert podiatry
care in Sydney
What is Knee Pain?
Causes of Knee Pain
Our expert Sydney podiatrists at the Podiatry & Injury Clinic can determine the underlying cause of your knee pain and recommend appropriate treatments. Here are some more details around the causes of knee pain.
Ligament Injuries: Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect the bones in your body. The knee has four major ligaments, and injury to any of them can lead to knee pain. ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries are especially common in athletes who play sports like soccer or basketball.
Meniscal Injuries: The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your thigh bone and shinbone. It can be torn if you suddenly twist your knee while putting weight on it.
Tendon Injuries: An inflammation or injury to the tendon, due to excessive use or sudden, forceful motion, can result in tendonitis, causing pain in the knee.
Some types of knee pain can arise from mechanical issues:
Loose Body: Sometimes, due to injury or degeneration of bone or cartilage, a piece of bone or cartilage breaks off and floats in the joint space. This might not create any problems unless the loose body interferes with knee joint movement.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome: This occurs when the ligament that extends from the outside of your pelvic bone to the outside of your tibia (iliotibial band) becomes so tight that it rubs against the outer portion of your femur. It’s commonly seen in runners and cyclists.
Dislocated Kneecap: This refers to the displacement of the patella (kneecap), often to the outside of your knee.
Various types of arthritis can lead to knee pain:
Osteoarthritis: The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis involves wear-and-tear damage to the knee’s cartilage that results in bone grinding on bone, which can be very painful.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: The most debilitating arthritis form, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that can affect almost any joint in your body, including your knees.
Gout: This type of arthritis occurs when uric acid crystals build up in the joint, causing inflammation and severe pain. Gout most commonly affects the big toe, but it can also occur in the knee.
Septic Arthritis: Sometimes your knee joint can become infected, leading to swelling, pain, and redness. There’s usually no trauma before the onset of pain. Septic arthritis can cause damage to the cartilage of the knee if not treated promptly.
These are more in-depth causes of knee pain. If you are experiencing knee pain, it’s essential to have it examined at our Podiatry & Injury Clinic in Sydney to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.