Can Tight Calves Cause Knee Pain
One of the most common questions our physiotherapists are asked is can tight calves cause knee pain?. The answer is yes, tight calves can most certainly contribute to knee pain. Lets take a closer look at how this happens. Your calf muscles attach to the back of your knee via the Achilles tendon. When your calf muscles are tight, they can pull on the Achilles tendon and contribute to a condition called Achilles tendonitis. Achilles tendonitis is a condition where the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed and painful. This inflammation can then extend upwards into the calf muscles and cause them to become even tighter. The tight calf muscles can then pull on the kneecap , causing the kneecap to track abnormally. This can lead to a condition called patellofemoral pain syndrome , which is a type of knee pain. So, as you can see, tight calves can most certainly cause knee pain.
Tight muscles in your thigh are usually caused by your hamstrings muscles and your quadriceps muscles . In general, your bones grow faster than your muscles, and they become tight as you get older.
Calf strains can cause gastrocnemius inflammation in the middle part. Because soleus muscles only cross one joint and gastrocnemius muscles cross two joints , strain is less common in general. The most common symptoms are pain in the back of the lower leg or behind the knee.
Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament
You hear a pop and can’t move after you suddenly change direction — often while playing soccer, football, or basketball. You may have torn your ACL, which connects the femur and the tibia and prevents the tibia from moving too far forward. Your knee will hurt and swell and feel unstable.
You can tear or strain any of the tissues that hold your knee together: Ligaments connect bones to each other tendons connect muscle to bone. Irritated tendons from using them too much? That’s tendinitis.
Exercises And Stretches That May Help
People whose knee feels tight when bending should avoid exercising in some instances. Thats because some knee ailments require time to heal and may be better served by rest than exercise.
A stiff knee caused by arthritis, on the other hand, may benefit from exercising. According to the Arthritis Foundation, certain workouts and stretches can aid in various ways:
- Strengthening exercises: Increasing muscular strength around the knee joint relieves joint tension. Leg lifts and hamstring curls are examples of these exercises.
- Range-of-motion exercises: Stretches and exercises that expand the range of motion of the knee keep the joint moving, which helps to alleviate stiffness. Heel slides and stretching with a yoga strap are examples of these activities.
- Aerobic exercises: Cardio exercises can increase a persons energy levels and help them lose weight, which helps reduce strain on the knee. Cycling and swimming are examples of these exercises.
- Balance exercises: The muscles surrounding the knee are strengthened, while also lowering the danger of falling and further damaging the joint. Single leg standing and standing on a foam pad are two examples of these workouts.
Before beginning any new fitness routines or programs, a person with arthritis should consult with their doctor.
Read Also: What Does Constant Knee Pain Mean
Common Causes Of Tightness In Knee Include:
Tight muscles, tendons, and ligaments
Injury to the joint or surrounding tissue
Overuse such as from running or biking for long periods
Stiffness at night might be an indication of joint damage. If youre experiencing this, its critical that you visit a doctor as soon as possible. It may also signal the presence of arthritis, which will need to be evaluated for appropriate treatment options.
Anatomy Of The Back Of The Knee
In order to better understand what youre stretching when performing a hamstring stretch lets talk about whats back there.
Interestingly, one of the main reasons its not your Hamstring thats stretching at the back of the knee, is that they dont sit at the back of the knee. The tendons go either side of the knee and insert to the top of the Tibia. Even the calf muscle which mirrors the hamstring tendons doesnt sit behind the knee either. It also travels either side.
There is one muscle that positions itself at the back of the knee – the Popliteus, but its role is a deep stabilizer of the knee. Its not what youre feeling when your trying to stretch those hamstrings either.
As you can see, the main structures that sit in the Popliteal Fossa at the back of the knee are actually nerves and vessels. The Tibial nerve – a component of the Sciatic Nerve is often the structure felt when stretching.
Don’t Miss: How Long Is Recovery After Knee Surgery
Calf Muscles Prevent Anterior Knee Pain
It accounts for more than half of the muscle mass in the calf and constitutes more than 20% of the body. The knee must be flexed in order to straighten out the soleus and strengthen it. The number of stride lengths and stride rates runners should practice can help them avoid anterior knee pain.
It could be a minor ache or a sharp pain that lasts for a few days. Typically, you have been treated with a corticosteroid on the front of your kneecap. Furthermore, there is some evidence that strengthening your hip muscles can aid in their recovery. Hip and knee strengthening exercises, as opposed to simply strengthening the knee, should be done together. The Journal of Sport Physical Therapy publishes Jospt Perspectives for Patients, a journal that provides patients with perspectives on physical therapy. The information and recommendations contained in this website do not provide an alternative to regular health care. The goal of JOSPT is to provide timely, relevant clinical material, as well as high-quality research and supplemental information about sports-related health, injury, and rehabilitation.
Problems Due To Blood Vessels
The popliteal artery and its accompanying vein are major blood vessels at the back of the knee. The artery branches off from the large femoral artery which runs down from the top of the leg, and divides into several other significant blood vessels around the distal end of the femur and proximal ends of the tibia and fibula. The popliteal vein follows the path of the artery and carries blood back to the heart.
Read Also: What Kind Of Knee Brace Do I Need
Your Knee Pain Is Accompanied By Back Pain
Knee pain accompanied by back pain is the easiest symptom to identify which suggests the deeper problem is with the spine. Even if the back pain is mild or simply feels like some tension and tightness, it should not be disregarded because these signs are both related.
Think back if youve experienced mild back and knee discomfort at the same time, especially if you tend to spend your day sitting down. Sitting shortens the height of the discs along your spine and increases the disc bulge by pushing water out. The pressure on these discs is lowered when youre sitting compared to when youre standing. If youre sitting a lot during the day but have knee and back pains, your spine may be the problem.
Your knees and back are connected by the spinal cord through a nerve branch that controls the lower extremities. If your spine has a pinched nerve or a bulging lumbar disc, the lower back where the nerve branch is located can redirect the pain to the knees. For some people, this is the reason why they only notice the discomfort in the knee but not in the back.
If youre experiencing acute or chronic knee pain, make a mental scan of your body for discomfort in other areas — even if it seems completely unrelated. Let your physician know about these other aches so they can make a fully informed diagnosis.
I Am Training For A Marathon And Have Started To Get A Pain Behind My Knee Every Time I Run Do I Need To Rest It Or Do I Need Treatment
The nagging pain or tenderness at the back of your knee which is causing you some discomfort could be hamstring tendonitis or an injury to the popliteus muscle. Both of these conditions are caused by overuse and repetitive actions. You should take a rest from training for a while and use the RICE treatment. If the problem does not clear up I would be happy to see you and assess things further.
Also Check: What To Expect After Full Knee Replacement Surgery
Access Wellness University & Certified Health Coaches
PartnerMD memberships include access to our members-only wellness program, Wellness University, which delivers more than 70 physician-approved courses and certified health coaching targeting the 4 areas most critical to your health, including stress and sleep, brain health, nutrition, and strength and mobility.
With offices in Richmond, VA Midlothian, VA Short Pump, VA McLean, VA Baltimore, MD Greenville, SC and Atlanta, GA, you can experience primary care built around you, one focused on wellness and prevention to help you stay as healthy as possible, as long as possible. Learn more about health coaching at PartnerMD.
A Popping Sensation Behind The Knee Or Pain And Stiffness At The Side Of The Knee
May be the result of a torn meniscus, particularly the posterior horn of the meniscus. This can often occur due to an impact or twisting sports injury, and is more likely as one gets older and the meniscus becomes worn. Pain might not be evident until some time after the injury occurred. RICE may temporarily alleviate the symptoms, but the tear will often require a surgical procedure.
Don’t Miss: What Does Arthritis In The Knee Feel Like
If You Feel Pain Behind Your Knee When Bending Or Squatting:
You may be feeling a symptom of Patellar Tendonitis . This is caused by repetitive activity like kicking, jumping or running. The repetitive exercise puts a lot of strain on the tendon resulting in tiny tears and inflammation along the patellar tendon. Other symptoms include pain just below the kneecap, pain with any pressure to the knee, aching and stiffness after activity, knee stiffness in the morning and thickening of the patellar tendon.
Also Check: Do Copper Knee Braces Really Work
What Conditions Can Exercise Help
Knee exercises and stretches can help relieve knee pain caused by many conditions, including these three that commonly affect older women:
Patellofemoral pain. This condition typically causes a dull, aching pain in the front of the knee thats made worse by daily activities, such as squatting, going up or down stairs, or standing up after sitting for a long period of time. The pain is caused by irritation of the cartilage underneath the kneecap when it does not glide or sit properly. Exercise can help to eliminate problems that lead to this irritation. Stretches can loosen tight muscles on the side of the knee that may be pulling the kneecap out of its groove as it moves. Strengthening weak hip muscles or stretching tight muscles in the front or back of the legs can also reduce discomfort.
Chronic degenerative meniscal tears. When one or both pads of cartilage that cushion each of your knee joints deteriorates or tears, you may feel pain and a sticking or locking sensation. While surgery is sometimes necessary, doctors usually first recommend physical therapy to help build up the muscles around the knee to take the pressure off the joint and reduce discomfort.
Recommended Reading: Why Is My Knee Stiff And Painful
Common Causes Of Pain Behind The Knee
Where do we start with making an accurate diagnosis?
Generally, most doctors use a methodological process to confirm or rule out causes. Firstly, we perform a thorough assessment to test the joints, ligaments, and tendons that pass across the back of the knee. Then, we consider imaging to confirm our thinking. X-rays often pick up major arthritis in the knee. MRI can detect soft tissue problems such as tendonitis or muscle tear. Occasionally, we perform other tests such as blood, ultrasound, or nerve studies depending on the presentation.
Generally, the more common causes of pain behind the knee include:
If The Back Of Your Knee Hurts While Running Or Walking:
This could be a symptom of hamstring tendonitis. The hamstring tendon connects the hamstring muscle to the outer aspect of the knee. This is caused by overuse in running or jumping or insufficient warm-up exercises. If you are an individual who has just started working out or increased your level of fitness, you are at risk for this injury. Pain can be felt when putting strain on the muscle or tendon.
Also Check: What To Eat The Day Before Knee Replacement Surgery
Understanding Pain Behind The Knee
More often than not, pain behind the knee is diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome . Patello is the patella, so the kneecap. Femoral refers to the femur, which is the thighbone and pain and syndrome is PFPS, patella femoral pain syndrome. It usually happens to runners and cyclists and hikers.
However, people who sit for most of the day in sedentary jobs or sedentary lifestyles, it can also happen to them. There are a couple of muscles involved with this. The quadriceps muscle is the big muscle at the front of the thigh. The calves are the sizable muscles behind the shin, and the hamstrings are the muscles behind the thigh.
So these control the joints of the lower body.
PFPS can be caused by overuse , biomechanical abnormalities or muscle dysfunction .
PFPS typically feels like mild or severe discomfort that radiates from the back of the knee cap touching the thigh bone.
Fast Facts On Pain In The Back Of The Knee
- There are many possible causes of this kind of pain.
- Receiving early treatment for knee pain often prevents the injury from getting worse.
- In some cases, the pain may be due to fatigue or not stretching before exercise.
It is important to work closely with a doctor to diagnose pain in the back of the knee, as some causes require long-term treatment to heal completely.
Some possible causes of pain in the back of the knee include the following.
You May Like: How To Treat Pain Behind The Knee
It Is Painful When I Bend My Knee What Does This Mean
If you are experiencing knee pain, especially when you bend it to walk, kneel, sit, squat, and more, it is likely that you have a condition or injury that needs treatment. There are many causes of knee pain, and it is incredibly difficult to self-diagnose yourself correctly. This is why it is critical to see an orthopedic specialist with a wealth of experience diagnosing and treating knee conditions and injuries.
Knee Pain Caused By Nerve Aggravation
This is an incredibly common cause for pain in the back of your knee. As an official diagnosis, it refers to aggravation or compression of the sciatic nerve .
Most often, sciatica is caused by compression of the nerve roots in either your lower back or from soft tissue in the buttocks. People often describe the sensation as a pain that travels or shoots down their limbs, commonly hitting that tender spot behind the knee.
Sciatica is typically diagnosed in your 50s, though its possible for it to start as early as your 20s or 30s. Research estimates that, on average, you can have up to a 40% chance of experiencing sciatica at some point in your life.
Luckily, though, since its a common diagnosis that afflicts a wide population, theres plenty of research surrounding methods for alleviating that radiating pain.
The most effective solution is to seek physical therapy. Your treatment will likely focus on improving movement patterns that is, working on your movement during activities that compress or load the lower back. Depending on your general lifestyle habits, this could include anything from stretching to core strengthening, or lifting education and manual manipulation of the tissues.
Recommended Reading: How Long Should You Do Exercises After Knee Replacement
I Have A Pain Behind My Knee But I Also Feel Unstable On My Feet As If My Knee Is Looser What Should I Do Right Away
An unstable knee results from a problem with the tissues that keep the knee stable. This could be a ligament injury, a meniscal tear, a patella injury or an injury to the knee capsule itself, or to the muscles which provide secondary stability. You should consult your doctor to get a proper diagnosis as soon as possible. If the problem does not clear up I would be happy to see you and assess things further.
Signs Your Knee Pain Comes From Your Spine
Unless you have suffered a traumatic injury to your knees, the knee pain you feel is not an inflammation or a problem with your joints. Most likely, the discomfort in your knees is a symptom of the underlying cause and theres a good chance your spine is the real culprit.
Here are four signs that can help you determine if your knee pain is a sign of a spinal condition:
Recommended Reading: How To Help Knee Pain When Working Out
Sciatic Nerve Links The Back To The Legs
The most common back ailments that cause pain in the knees are related to the sciatic nerve. If you have back pain and feel a shooting sensation originating from your lower back running down your leg and through your knee, your sciatic nerve is to blame.
As the longest and largest nerve that runs through the body, the sciatic nerve if damaged or compromised can cause debilitating pain. The condition is called sciatica, and it is often the byproduct of a degenerative nerve condition or an injury .
When any part of the spine puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, the result may be shooting pain or a tingling sensation that travels from the back down to your hips, buttocks, knees, and feet.
Treatment Tips You Can Follow To Manage Knee Pain
Depending on your physicians diagnosis, they can create a specific treatment plan which will address the root cause of your problem and help you relieve knee pain. Surgery is often not the first option a specialist will propose for your treatment.
You can expect your doctor to recommend physical therapy, postural correction, and self-care to help you heal. Here are a few treatment tips you can follow to help you care for your body:
You May Like: Do Cortisone Shots Help Arthritic Knees