Knee
The knee joint is formed by the end of the thigh bone, the femur, and top of the leg bone, the tibia. The kneecap, also called the patella, is another bone involved in making up the knee joint.
The knee is also called a hinge joint, since it allows you to bend and straighten your knee, but it doesn’t allow for other movements that you might find in joints with greater freedom of motion, like the shoulder.
The bones are not the only components that make up a joint. Other soft tissues like ligaments, muscles, tendons, and cartilage all work together to help support and provide structure to the joint. Your knee is essential for all of your everyday activities!
View Common Conditions
Common Knee Pain Sources
The area around the inside or outside of the knee joint can become irritated, inflamed, or painful for a number of reasons.
Injuries or conditions that involve repeated use of a muscle, or overuse, can lead to knee pain, like in the case of tendinitis, which refers to the inflammation of a tendon. Jumper’s knee is a common name for patellar tendinitis, which is often related to sports that involve repetitive jumping, like basketball or volleyball. Patellofemoral pain syndrome, or PFPS, is also a knee condition that can be associated with overuse.
Muscles around the knee joint, like the quadriceps or hamstrings, may be injured which is often called a strain. When a ligament, like the anterior or posterior cruciate ligament, is injured, that is often called a sprain.
Bursitis is another possible cause of knee pain. While tendinitis refers to an inflammation of a tendon, bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, which is a fluid-filled sac around the joint area meant to provide cushion and decrease friction.
Other conditions, like arthritis, can impact the cartilage inside of the joint, which can lead to stiffness, joint pain, or limitations in range of motion. The cartilage inside of the joint may also be torn or injured for other reasons, such as during a collision or sport.
While these conditions or injuries may not have one cure, there are several treatment options available for knee pain and common knee-related conditions.
Common Knee Conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Knee - Osteoarthritis
- Soft tissue tear or inflammation
- Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper’s Knee)
- Bursitis
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)
- ACL injury
- Patella Fracture (Broken Kneecap)
- Hamstring Tendon Tear
Common Knee Pain Treatments
When you’re feeling pain, it’s important to seek help from a healthcare professional, like your primary care physician or a physical therapist, who can help to identify the cause and can work with you to explore treatment options.
Physical therapy is a common first line of treatment for those dealing with knee pain. A physical therapist will evaluate your pain in order to identify a possible diagnosis. Then, they will collaborate with you to put together a plan of action.
These plans often include home-based and clinic-based exercises, and they can also include manual treatments like soft tissue mobilization or electrical stimulation to provide pain relief. The goals of physical therapy often include decreasing pain and/or inflammation, increasing range of motion, improving muscle strength, posture, or core control, and, depending on the condition, it may also include lifestyle or home modifications as well as education as needed.
A physician may prescribe medications or injections, as well. These medications are often meant to reduce pain or inflammation, and they may be used in addition to other treatments, like physical therapy. In some cases, surgery, such as a total knee replacement or other procedure, may be discussed or recommended as a treatment option. Many total joint replacement surgeries are now done in outpatient settings and are able to go home the same day of surgery.
Common Knee Treatments
- Physical therapy
- Knee Arthroscopy
- Injection(s)
- Total Knee Replacement
- ACL Tear Repair
- Fixation for Patella Fractures
- Proximal Hamstring Repair
- Trochleoplasty
Our Knee Specialists
The physicians at Orthopedic ONE have advanced training in musculoskeletal conditions of the knee. Offering each patient individual attention, they are able to offer a thorough diagnostic evaluation and a variety of effective treatment options from conservative therapies to advanced knee surgery. From knee cartilage preservation to ligament repair and reconstruction, to total knee replacement surgery, the orthopedic surgeons at Orthopedic ONE are ready to get you back to being your best. Contact Orthopedic ONE today and let our qualified Knee doctors get you on the road to recovery.
Common Conditions
Common Procedures
These lists are not inclusive of all conditions and procedures. In order to obtain a complete and accurate diagnosis, a physician should assess your individual situation. Following diagnosis, your physician will discuss appropriate treatment options with you – both surgical and non-surgical. Schedule an appointment with an Orthopedic ONE physician.
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