Knee
The femur’s (thigh bone) end meets the tibia’s (leg bone) top, forming the knee joint. The patella, or kneecap, also helps form this essential joint. The knee primarily functions like a hinge joint. This hinge action lets you bend and straighten your leg effectively. Unlike the shoulder, your knee offers limited side-to-side movement.
Bones, however, form only part of the knee joint structure. Crucial soft tissues also support and structure the knee. These important tissues include ligaments, muscles, tendons, and cartilage. This complex joint is essential for almost all everyday activities. Orthopedic knee doctors in Columbus, OH specialize in diagnosing and treating knee conditions.
View Common Conditions
Common Sources of Knee Pain
Numerous factors can irritate or inflame areas around the knee joint. Consequently, this irritation often causes inner or outer knee pain. However, while a single cure may not always exist, effective treatments are still available. For this reason, orthopedic knee specialists first accurately diagnose the causes of knee pain. Subsequently, they also offer effective treatment options for common knee conditions.
- Overuse or repeated muscle use often causes knee pain. One common example is tendinitis, meaning tendon inflammation. "Jumper's knee," another name for patellar tendinitis, frequently affects jumping athletes. Basketball and volleyball activities often trigger this condition. Overuse also commonly causes Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). Orthopedic knee specialists diagnose and treat these overuse knee conditions.
- Additionally, injuring large knee muscles results in what is called a strain. Common examples involve the quadriceps or hamstring muscle groups. In contrast, injuring knee ligaments typically causes a sprain instead. Specifically, important ligaments like the ACL or PCL can be affected. Consequently, orthopedic knee specialists accurately differentiate these common knee injuries through careful diagnosis.
- Consider bursitis, which can cause significant knee pain. Importantly, this condition differs from tendinitis (tendon inflammation). Instead, bursitis specifically involves inflammation targeting the bursa. Essentially, the bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac positioned near knee joints. Functionally, this sac provides cushion during movement. It also helps decrease friction between adjacent knee tissues. Therefore, orthopedic knee specialists carefully differentiate these conditions during diagnosis.
- 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.
Common Knee Conditions
Common Knee 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.
Possible Treatments for Orthopedic Conditions
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.
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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Knee Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see an orthopedic specialist?
Consider seeing an orthopedic specialist when pain persists, limits your movement or interferes with daily activities. A specialist can identify the cause and discuss surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. Traumatic bone or joint injuries caused by an accident or fall may require immediate orthopedic trauma and fracture care.
What is the difference between an orthopedic surgeon and a sports medicine physician?
An orthopedic surgeon treats conditions affecting the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons and can perform surgery when necessary. Sports medicine focuses on preventing and rehabilitating activity-related injuries.
Orthopedic ONE’s sports medicine program includes primary care sports medicine physicians, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers and physical therapists. The right provider depends on the condition and whether surgical expertise may be needed.
What causes knee pain when going up or down stairs?
Pain while using stairs may need an individual evaluation because several knee conditions can cause similar symptoms. Orthopedic ONE’s knee specialists diagnose and treat conditions associated with overuse, patellofemoral pain syndrome, patellar tendinitis, muscle strains, ligament sprains, arthritis and cartilage injuries.
Can a torn meniscus heal without surgery?
Not every meniscus tear automatically requires surgery. Orthopedic ONE offers both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for meniscus tears. A knee specialist can evaluate the location and nature of the injury and recommend an appropriate treatment plan. Learn more about the conditions treated by Orthopedic ONE’s knee specialists.
What are the treatment options for knee arthritis?
Nonsurgical treatment options may include personalized exercise, weight management, physical therapy, activity modification, corticosteroid injections and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Depending on the extent of joint damage, other options may include biologic therapies, cartilage restoration, osteotomy, partial knee replacement or total knee replacement. Orthopedic ONE’s joint preservation specialists work to preserve the natural joint and delay replacement whenever appropriate.
How long does recovery take after a knee replacement?
Recovery varies according to the patient and treatment plan. The Orthopedic ONE patient education library provides a Step-by-Step Guide to Total Knee Replacement and Recovery, preoperative education and home-exercise resources. Your physician and care team will provide instructions based on your procedure and individual needs.
Can physical therapy help me avoid surgery?
Yes. Physical therapy is often a first-line treatment for musculoskeletal pain and injuries. A treatment plan may include therapeutic exercise, manual treatment, pain-relief techniques, activity changes and injury-prevention education.
For some patients with osteoarthritis, physical therapy and other conservative treatments may help delay or avoid joint-replacement surgery. Learn more about Orthopedic ONE’s approach to joint preservation.