What is Knee Pain?

Knee pain is a term used to describe conditions or issues that lead to discomfort around the knee joint. Numerous injuries to structures can lead to knee pain, including the joint, muscle, cartilage and ligaments. Examples of knee pain conditions include arthritis and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.

Knee pain is one of the leading physical health problems in Australia. According to the Royal Australiasian College of Physicians, up to 35% of Australian adults will experience knee pain (Wiley). Trends from this study also point out that knee pain increases with age. Especially after the age of 70, people are 39-69% more likely to live with knee arthritis (E Clinincal Medicine).

Pain is categorised as either acute, subacute or chronic knee pain

Acute knee pain: (0 days - 6 weeks)

Acute knee pain is pain that lasts anywhere from a few days, up to six weeks. The cause of acute knee pain is usually a minor injury, like a muscle strain or ligament sprain. Of course, not all pain is associated with damage, sometimes just sleeping awkwardly or doing something else may flare it up without any structural damage. This type of pain usually resolves itself with movement and appropriate rest.

Subacute knee pain: (6 weeks - 3 months)

Sub-acute knee pain usually results from acute pain that doesn’t quite resolve. This can be due to more serious injury or sometimes a poor recovery. If you are still aggravating your knee pain with painful movements then it may take longer to heal and recover.

Chronic knee pain: (3 months +)

Chronic knee pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than three months. Chronic pain is usually more complex and can be difficult to treat. There are usually multiple factors leading to the development of chronic knee pain, such as other injuries or health issues. Stress, lack of sleep and other lifestyle factors like obesity can increase the likelihood of chronic knee pain.

What are the symptoms of knee pain?

Knee pain is the primary symptom that may indicate a condition affecting the knee joint or surrounding tissues. These symptoms can vary from a mild and dull ache right through to sharp and stabbing pain. Knee pain is most commonly felt at the front of the knee or can be felt "in the knee".

Common complaints of pain in the knee

• Swelling around the knee joint
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Difficulty bending and straightening the knee
• Feeling of instability or “giving away” of the knee
• Knee cap tenderness
• Grinding pain when bending
• Popping or clicking sound during knee movements

People may experience

Pain areas: in the knee, calf, or thigh, muscles and bones

Sensory: calf numbness or pins and needles

Also common: instability or weakness

What causes knee pain?

Knee pain is commonly caused by injury to either the muscles, ligaments or bones that form the knee joint. Muscle and ligament injuries are usually caused from accidents and sporting injuries, whereas bone related problems usually occur over time and with age, such as osteoarthritis.

According to MedicineNet (Medicine Net), knee pain is defined as “pain that originates in any of the bony structures compromising the knee joint (femur, tibia, fibula), the kneecap (patella), or the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage (meniscus) of the knee.”

Knee pain can result from an issue in one or several parts of the knee, including:

• Muscles (strain)
• Ligaments (sprain)
• Nerves
• Bone injuries - in the knee, the bones are the femur (top of knee), tibia (bottom of knee) and patella (knee-cap).

Common reasons why people experience pain in the knee

• Sitting for a prolonged time
• Sporting injuries
• Arthritis or inflammation of the joints
• Obesity or general poor health.

This list of causes is only a fraction of the possibilities, with many factors contributing to the possibility of knee pain.

Common injuries that cause knee pain

Patella tendonitis

Patella tendonitis is also known as jumper’s knee. It is the inflammation of your patella tendon which connects the kneecap to your shin bone. This occurs particularly with overuse and in sports like running.

Sprained ligament

Tears and damages to the knee’s ligaments are usually caused by direct impact to the knee or a sudden twisting motion of the knee during acceleration. An ACL injury is one of the most common injuries in contact sports.

Torn meniscus

Similar to a sprained ligament, this can happen with high pressure and a rotational force on the knee joint. Meniscus tears usually occur along with ligament injuries.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage that serves as a cushion in the joints wears down over time. As we get older, stress and microdamage accumulates in the cartilage of the knee joints.

Kneecap dislocation

It is often caused by a sudden change in direction while the leg is planted on the ground. Kneecap dislocation can also be caused by a direct blow to the knee cap.

Fractures

Fractures are rare, but they do happen, usually in the case of extreme force directed to the knee like a large fall. Some conditions which result in brittleness or a decrease in bone density can also increase the risk for bone fracture (e.g., osteoarthritis).

Common conditions that cause knee pain

Some conditions may cause knee pain. If you have any of these conditions, knee pain could be one of the symptoms:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Lupus
• Psoriasis
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout

Sports that increase the risk of knee pain

Previously, we listed some of the more common causes of knee pain, like prolonged sitting or osteoarthritis. However, knee pain may also occur when playing sports.

Sporting events that rely heavily on agility put a tremendous amount of stress on the knee joint and the structures around it, resulting in potential injury or pain over time. Here is a list of the most common sports that result in knee pain:

• Basketball
• Football
• Gymnastics
• Competitive cheerleading
• Running
• Soccer
• Tennis

Other risk factors include

Knee pain can occur at any stage of life, even in teenagers and children. However, these risk factors might increase your likelihood of getting knee pain:

• Excess weight - Being overweight or obese increases the mechanical load on your knees, even during basic activities like walking or taking the stairs. It also increases your risk of osteoarthritis by accelerating the breakdown of joint cartilage.
• Lack of muscle flexibility or strength - Having poor flexibility or weakness of the knee muscles can be a risk factor for knee pain. Strong muscles help maintain good control and protect your joints from injury, and muscle flexibility can help you achieve full range of motion.
• Certain sports or occupations: - There are obvious sports that put more stress on your knees than others. Skiing is a likely problem, with stiff boots and fast turning actions. Basketballers are at risk with jumps and pivots, combined with the fast-paced running up and down the court. Working in construction or other highly physical jobs can also increase the risk of knee pain.
• Previous injury - Recurrences of knee pain are unfortunately more likely once you have injured your knee. Good rehabilitation is the key to preventing that!

Consider Orthotics to Prevent Exercise-Related Injury

Sometimes the structure of your body (biomechanics) increases your injury risk. That means even the best athletic shoes won’t protect your feet when you exercise. If your feet are flat, if your arches are too high or if your legs are different lengths, you may need extra support. Customizeable Orthotic insoles such as SelectFlex could be your solution. SelectFlex are an entirely new type of dynamic energy returning insole that won ISHN’s award for Best Foot Protective Product of 2020.

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The Hip Joint is a Big Deal!

The Importance of the Hip Joint to the Human Body is much the same as the Importance of the "Grand Central Terminal" to the City of New York. You may have heard the term "Everything flows through the hips" - and it is said for good reason!

Major nerves and arteries extending into the lower body pass through the hips, and pinch points for these major nerves are often found in the lower back or the hip. Pinched nerves can happen for many reasons, but soft tissue inflammation due to muscle imbalance, gait issues, and/or overcompensation is one of the major causes.

Hip Pain: Causes and Treatment

The hip joint can withstand repeated motion and a fair amount of wear and tear. This ball-and-socket joint--the body's largest-- fits together in a way that allows for fluid movement.

Whenever you use the hip (for example, by going for a run), a cushion of cartilage helps prevent friction as the hip bone moves in its socket.

Despite its durability, the hip joint isn't indestructible. With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged. Muscles and tendons in the hip can get overused. Bones in the hip can break during a fall or other injury. Any of these conditions can lead to hip pain. 

If your hips are sore, here is a rundown of what might be causing your discomfort and how to get hip pain relief.

• Arthritis.Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most common causes of hip pain, especially in older adults. Arthritis leads to inflammation of the hip joint and the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions your hip bones. The pain gradually gets worse. People with arthritis also feel stiffness and have reduced range of motion in the hip. Learn more about hip osteoarthritis.
• Hip fractures. With age, the bones can become weak and brittle. Weakened bones are more likely to break during a fall.
• Bursitis. Bursae are sacs of liquid found between tissues such as bone, muscles, and tendons. They ease the friction from these tissues rubbing together. When bursae get inflamed, they can cause pain. Inflammation of bursae is usually due to repetitive activities that overwork or irritate the hip joint. Learn more about bursitis of the hip.
• Tendinitis. Tendons are the thick bands of tissue that attach bones to muscles. Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of the tendons. It's usually caused by repetitive stress from overuse. Learn more about tendinitis symptoms.
• Muscle or tendon strain. Repeated activities can put strain on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the hips. When they become inflamed due to overuse, they can cause pain and prevent the hip from working normally.
• Misalignment of Lower Body - Be Aware of Your Posture.  A key factor for preventing hip pain is maintaining good posture throughout the day. Your ears, shoulders, hips, and ankles should make a straight line. Having proper alignment goes beyond maintaining a good posture — it can also help prevent long-term pain. Misalignment may impair your range of motion, and severe issues can affect your quality of life (Healthline).  Observing your profile picture will tell you if you are letting your head, shoulders, and hips lean forward. This misalignment is the foundation of many health problems including hip pain.

Hip Pain Relief

If your hip pain is caused by a muscle or tendon strain, osteoarthritis, or tendinitis, you can usually relieve it with an over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen.

Rheumatoid arthritis treatments also include prescription anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate and sulfasalazine, and biologics, which target the immune system.

If you have arthritis, exercising the hip joint with low-impact exercises, stretching, and resistance training can reduce pain and improve joint mobility. For example, swimming is a good non-impact exercise for arthritis. Physical therapy can also help increase your range of motion.

There is another crucial variable that most people don’t take into account when considering how best to achieve proper alignment and posture in turn relieving Hip pain.  That is the footwear and arch support that your foot receives.  When your feet and arches are supported properly than the rest of your body will be in a better position to be properly aligned and in turn achieving lower body alignment.

Most shoes do not provide proper arch support, and most insoles provide what we like to refer to as static support vs. Dynamic.  By static, we mean there is no fluid support through the gait cycle in support of the arch.  Static support is primarily the type of support that all orthotic insoles provide, whether they are custom or over-the-counter.  To be able to provide Dynamic Arch support would mean providing support underneath the arch throughout the gait cycle, and effectively maintaining alignment throughout the gait cycle.   

There is now such an insole called SelectFlex that provides the Dynamic Arch Support. SelectFlex is an entirely new type of dynamic energy returning insole that just won the ISHN Best Protective Footwear category for 2020.  SelectFlex insoles use a patented energy returning arch lifting technology called the PowerLift Arch.  The PowerLift Arch provides the wearer with 3 energy return levels to support the arch with dynamic alignment with every step.  A byproduct of proper alignment will be good posture.