Knee pain can be caused by a multitude of factors.
Some common knee injuries include:
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome:
This condition usually occurs due to poor tracking of the knee cap (Patella) into the patello femoral joint (where the knee cap sits). If the knee cap doesn't sit correctly in the joint when you go to walk or run you will find it can pinch the joint or irritate it.
This is one of the most common and least serious of the knee injuries and can usually be treated with conservative management including Remedial massage to release tight Iliotibial band, glutes and Quads. As well as strengthening up the Gluteus Medius and VMO.
Meniscal Damage:
The meniscus is a layer of cartilage that sits between the 2 bones that make up part of your knee joint (tibiofemoral joint). There are 2 menisci, lateral and medial or one on the inside of the joint and one of the outside.
If there is a tear in one of the menisci then it will be very painful and may become pinched in the joint.
Symptoms include - unable to straighten or bend the knee, pain inside the inside or outside of knee joint, pain when walking up or down stairs or running, swelling.
Remedial massage can help take some strain off the joint and if the tear isn't too major then it may heal on its own.
If the tear is severe and the symptoms unbearable then surgery will be required to clean up the meniscus.
Ligament sprain:
This is another common injury of the knee. The most commonly injured ligament of the knee is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). It is often injured in sports that involve lots of jerky movements in different directions, jumping as well as contact around the legs. The ACL often gets damaged with the Medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the medial meniscus.
The other ligaments in the knee
Fat Pad Impingement:
Osteoarthritis: