Fitness: Exercise: Injury: Knee Joint: Knee Pain: Knee Problems

Knee Pain and Injury

This fact sheet contains general information about knee problems. It includes descriptions of the different parts of the knee, including bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Individual sections of the fact sheet describe the symptoms, diagnosis, and probable treatment of specific types of knee injuries and conditions. Information is also provided on the prevention of knee problems.

How Common Are Knee Problems? What Causes Them?

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, more than 4.1 million people seek medical care each year for a knee problem. Some knee problems result from wear of parts of the knee, such as occurs in osteoarthritis. Other problems result from injury, such as a blow to the knee or sudden movements that strain the knee beyond its normal range of movement.

How Can People Prevent Knee Problems?

Some knee problems, such as those resulting from an accident, cannot be foreseen or prevented. However, a person can prevent many knee problems by following these suggestions:

• First warm up by walking or riding a stationary bicycle, then do stretches before exercising or participating in sports. Stretching the muscles in the front of the thigh (quadriceps) and back of the thigh (hamstrings) reduces tension on the tendons and relieves pressure on the knee during activity.
• Strengthen the leg muscles by doing specific exercises (for example, by walking up stairs or hills, or by riding a stationary bicycle). A supervised workout with weights is another pathway to strengthening leg muscles that benefit the knee.
• Avoid sudden changes in the intensity of exercise. Increase the force or duration of activity gradually.
• Wear shoes that both fit properly and are in good condition to help maintain balance and leg alignment when walking or running. Knee problems may be caused by flat feet or over-pronated feet (feet that roll inward). People can often reduce some these problems by wearing special shoe inserts (orthotics). Maintain appropriate weight to reduce stress on the knee. Obesity increases the risk of degenerative (wearing) conditions such as osteoarthritis of the knee.

What Kinds of Doctors Treat Knee Problems?

Extensive injuries and diseases of the knees are usually treated by an orthopedic surgeon, a doctor who has been trained in the non-surgical and surgical treatment of bones, joints, and soft tissues (for example, ligaments, tendons, and muscles). Patients seeking non-surgical treatment of arthritis of the knee may also consult a rheumatologist (a doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and related disorders).

What Are the Major Structures of the Knee? What Do They Do?

The knee joint works like a hinge to bend and straighten the lower leg. It permits a person to sit, stand, and pivot. The knee is composed of the following parts:

Please visit Structures of the Knee for detailed information outlining the ligament connective tissue of the knee and their specific roles and functions.

How Are Knee Problems Diagnosed?

Doctors use several methods to diagnose knee problems.

• Medical history -- the patient tells the doctor details about symptoms and about any injury, condition, or general health problem that might be causing the pain.
• Physical examination -- the doctor bends, straightens, rotates (turns), or presses on the knee to feel for injury and discover the limits of movement and location of pain.
• Diagnostic tests -- the doctor uses one or more tests to determine the nature of a knee problem.
• X-ray (radiography) -- an x-ray beam is passed through the knee to produce a two-dimensional picture of the bones.
• Computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan -- x-rays lasting a fraction of a second are passed through the knee at different angles, detected by a scanner, and analyzed by a computer. This produces a series of clear cross-sectional images ("slices") of the knee tissues on a computer screen. CAT scan images show soft tissues more clearly than normal x-rays. Individual images can be combined by computer to give a three-dimensional view of the knee.
• Bone scan (radionuclide scanning) -- a very small amount of radioactive material is injected into the patient's bloodstream and detected by a scanner. This test detects blood flow to the bone and cell activity within the bone, and can show abnormalities in these processes that may aid diagnosis...
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -- energy from a powerful magnet (rather than x-rays) stimulates tissues of the knee to produce signals that are detected by a scanner and analyzed by computer. This creates a series of cross-sectional images of a specific part of the knee. An MRI is particularly sensitive for detecting damage or disease of soft tissues, such as ligaments and muscles. As with a CAT scan, a computer can be used to produce three-dimensional views of the knee during MRI.
• Arthroscopy -- the doctor manipulates a small, lighted optic tube (arthroscope) that has been inserted into the joint through a small incision in the knee. Images of the inside of the knee joint are projected onto a television screen.

Please visit Index to Knee Injuries and Problems for detailed information covering specific knee injuries and problems. Always consult your Doctor when questioning pain, injury or any “nagging” experience with possible injury. This and any article in our website on injury, disease or dysfunction is intended to inform - not to diagnose, treat or advise.

Get a personal trainer for motivation, injury prevention, greater strength & safe weight loss. Find a personal trainer for exercise advice. Simplefit personal services include personal training, fitness consulting, diet plan & exercise equipment advice.