Who Gets Pfp Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome usually happens in people who do sports that involve a lot of knee bending and straightening, such as running, biking, and skiing. It also can happen to people, particularly young women, who do not do a lot of sports.
PFP syndrome is more common in women and happens most often to teens and young adults.
Tight or weak leg muscles or flat feet can make someone more likely to get PFP syndrome.
Above Or Around The Kneecap
If bending causes pain in front of, above or around the kneecap, you may be experiencing:
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome. Commonly known as runners knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome develops when the tissues around and under the kneecap become irritated and inflamed. Runners knee causes pain, stiffness and grinding or creaking sounds in the knee.
- Quadriceps tendinitis. The quadriceps tendon sits above the knee and connects the quadriceps muscle to the kneecap. Overuse can cause the tendon to become thickened, inflamed and torn, leading to knee pain and stiffness.
- Patellar tendinitis. The patellar tendon sits below the knee and connects the shinbone to the kneecap. Overuse can cause the tendon to become thickened, inflamed and torn, leading to knee pain and stiffness.
- Bursitis. The knee joint contains several fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. When one or more of the bursae becomes inflamed, it can cause knee pain and stiffness over the kneecap.
Who Is At Risk For Pfs
PFS often impacts athletes and those who engage in running, basketball, and other sports. Women are especially vulnerable to PFS, particularly at a younger age. This thought to be partially due to the greater likelihood of patellar malalignment in females, in addition to muscular imbalances.
PFS is most symptomatic during positions when the knee is flexed, such as after sitting for a prolonged period time, exercises that required deep squatting, or, most commonly, climbing stairs. Strengthening the muscles around your hips and quadriceps and stretching your iliotibial band, hamstrings, and quadriceps can help relieve strain on your knee.
You May Like: Does Tommie Copper Knee Sleeve Work
Do You Have Pain Above The Kneecap
Above the kneecap, your patella is secured by a strong tendon that connects the bone to the powerful muscles in your thigh. Pain in this location can indicate that youve sprained or torn this tendon. Its also possible, as with any pain you feel in this complicated part of the body, that the pain is referred from deeper in the joint, as with a tear in the knees cartilage.
Knee Pain With Straightening: 11 Causes And How To Fix Them
Do you have pain when trying to straighten your knee? The cause of pain might not be what you think as there are many different reasons that you can have pain as you move into knee extension.
You might have pain when you are sitting with your knee bent and you feel a sharp pain as straighten it or possible when youre walking and the knee starts to straighten out.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own.
There are many reasons for pain with extension of the knee and it can be difficult to figure out which one is causing pain. Well go over the top causes, treatments, and other tips that will help speed up healing in this article.
Also Check: Knees Crack When Doing Squats
Pain Behind Knee When Bending Leg Joint From Popliteal Cysts Or Bakers Cyst:
The cysts often go away without any treatment. The first case of the treatment when it would usually involve addressing the underlying condition. Using ice is the best way of relieving this behind the knee pain. There is also a treatment for a meniscus tear often involves physical therapy depending on the severity of the tear. This is was a treatment of the Pain behind knee when bending Leg.
Understanding The Anatomy Of The Knee
To understand why the knee hurts when bent, we first must understand its anatomy and how it works. The bones of the lower and upper legs are connected by the knee joint. This joint consists of muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones that work together to allow us to move, give us flexibility, and support our body weight. Proper functioning of this joint also enables us to stand, walk, squat, jump, and turn. Lets examine the knee joint in detail.
Also Check: My Knees Crack When I Squat
Other Causes Of Knee Pain When Bending
Other less common causes of knee pain when bending include:
Top Causes Of Knee Pain When Bending
Runners Knee
Runners knee is a painful condition that develops as a result of repeated bending of the knee joint. However, it can also occur because of poor alignment, a direct blow to the knee, or due to flat feet or weak thigh muscles. Pain from runners knee is usually just below or to the sides of the kneecap in the front. Symptoms include swelling around and behind the kneecap, knee pain when bending, possible crepitus, or cracking and popping noises in the knees when walking. Runners knee pain usually begins gradually and increases in severity as symptoms worsen.
Bursitis
Each of your knees has fluid filled sacs called bursa, which cushion and protect the structures of the knees. Bursitis occurs when the bursa become inflamed when kneeling, squatting, or in the presence of excess friction in the joint. Repetitive or prolonged kneeling or falling onto the knee can also cause inflammation of the prepatellar bursa below the kneecap on the front of the knee. Excess fluid in the knee joint that seeps back into the bursa can cause swelling and pain on the back of the knee. Although bursitis is not the most severe condition, it can cause significant discomfort.
Sprains or Injuries to Ligaments
Meniscus Tear
Arthritis or Osteoarthritis
Poor Alignment
Don’t Miss: How Much Does Aflac Pay For Knee Surgery
Basic Anatomy Of Knee Joint
Learning the basic anatomy of the knee joint will help you understand the cause of your pain. In addition, you can now relate to the image and understand it way better.
The knee is one of the bodys largest and most complex joints. The knee joins the femur to the tibia . The smaller bone that runs alongside the tibia and the patella is the other bones that make the knee joint.
Tendons connect the knee bones to the leg muscles that move the knee joint. Ligaments join the knee bones and provide sufficient stability to the knee.
- The anterior cruciate ligament prevents the femur from sliding backward on the tibia .
- The posterior cruciate ligament prevents the femur from sliding forward on the tibia .
- The medial and lateral collateral ligaments prevent the femur from sliding side to side.
- Two C-shaped cartilage named the medial and lateral menisci act as shock absorbers between the femur and tibia.
Read Anterolisthesis
How Are Knee Problems Diagnosed
In addition to a complete medical history and physical exam, other tests for knee problems may include:
-
X-ray. This test uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to make images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.
-
Magnetic resonance imaging . This test uses large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to make detailed images of organs and structures within the body can often determine damage or disease in a surrounding ligament or muscle.
-
Computed tomography scan . This test uses X-rays and computer technology to make horizontal, or axial, images of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general X-rays.
-
Arthroscopy. A minimally-invasive diagnostic and treatment procedure used for conditions of a joint. This procedure uses a small, lighted, optic tube , which is inserted into the joint through a small incision in the joint. Images of the inside of the joint are projected onto a screen used to evaluate any degenerative or arthritic changes in the joint to detect bone diseases and tumors to determine the cause of bone pain and inflammation.
-
Radionuclide bone scan. A nuclear imaging technique that uses a very small amount of radioactive material, which is injected into the patient’s bloodstream to be detected by a scanner. This test shows blood flow to the bone and cell activity within the bone.
Also Check: Does Aflac Pay For Sprains
Ligament Sprain Or Tear
A ligament sprain or tear can also cause pain when trying to straighten the knee. This is often caused by a sudden twisting motion of the knee joint thats common with cutting and changing directions. Youll feel or hear a pop within the knee and feel as if the knee is unstable and may give out.
Ligaments are bands of tissue that connect one bone to another and they help stabilize the joint. When they are stretched too far or torn, it can cause pain when they are stretched to normal range of motion.
The body typically can heal on its own if its an LCL or an MCL tear but it can take nearly 12 weeks to recover. Physical therapy is recommended to work on a range of motion, strengthening, and getting back to normal activities.
If you suffer an ACL or a PCL injury, then these may require surgery to fix. These do require an MRI to correctly diagnose.
My Knee Hurts When I Bend It And Straighten It
Your knees bend countless times throughout the day. Running up the stairs, down the hall after kids, and getting into the car. You straighten the knee as you walk, descend stairs or get into and out of the car. Bending and straightening the knee are necessary for daily activities. Knee pain with bending or straightening may be a mild, transient irritation or may indicate a more significant problem. Learn more below and avoid further injury and dysfunction.
Don’t Miss: Whiten Knees Fast
Burning Pain At The Side Of The Knee
Any kind of knee injury or pain causes alarm. When you feel pain at the side of your knee, you often do not have a knee problem at all.
Your knee is a complicated joint where two major bones and sets of muscles meet. If either of those two sets of muscles is injured, then your knee will hurt as a result. The muscles stabilize that joint, so a compromised muscle also compromises the joint.
Your IT band or iliotibial band is a band of connective tissue that runs from your hip to your knee and shin. When the band is tight from exercise, it will rub against your thigh bone, causing friction and pain down to your knee.
Sometimes you will feel the pain from your hip to your knee. Sometimes you just feel pain on the side of your knee.
IT band syndrome or ITBS is a common problem among individuals who fail to stretch before they exercise or individuals who do too much too soon. For example, if you’ve never ridden a bicycle for more than five miles and attempt to ride fifty miles in a day, you may end up with a sore IT band, and the outside of your knee will burn.
Treatment Tips For Knee Pain When Bending
Treatment for an injury or damage to the knee is based on the underlying cause. Before surgery becomes an option, there are remedies for knee pain treatment.
- Apply heat or cold packs to the affected knee
- Use a knee brace or supporting device
- Rest the knee for a limited time
- Perform strengthening exercises for hamstrings and quadriceps
- Use specialized shoe inserts
- Maintain alignment by taping knee
- Avoid applying body weight on affected knee
- Use proper footwear for activities
Read Also: Ginger Poultice For Knee Pain
What Does A Knee Injury Feel Like
Depending on the underlying cause, a knee injury can cause sharp, shooting pain, a dull ache or a burning pain. You may notice swelling and your knee may feel tender to touch. You may also have difficulty bending, straightening or bearing weight on your knee and may find that your knee gets stuck . A knee injury can also make you feel as if your knee is about to give way when you try to walk on it.
Back Of Knee Pain From Athletic Hamstring Or Pcl Injury:
Some injuries causing Pain behind knee when bending Leg and pain in the back of the knee ranges from athletic activity. For example, one can pull a hamstring muscle via a sudden stretch of the muscle fibers of the hamstring. The pulled hamstring refers to a strain to one of the three muscles of the hamstring. The inadequate footwear or a prior injury can contribute to a sudden injury. The symptoms of the hamstring may also include swelling, bruising, muscle spasms and limited range of motion and knee flexion.
You May Like: Inversion Table Knees
Quadricep Or Hamstring Tendonitis
Your tendons attach your muscles to your bones. Tendonitis means your tendons are irritated or inflamed.
You can experience tendonitis in any of your tendons, including in your quadriceps. The quadriceps are located in the front of your thigh and extend toward your knee, or your hamstrings, which are located in the back of your thigh.
Quadricep or hamstring tendonitis can be caused by overuse or improper form during physical activities, such as sports or exertion at work.
Symptoms include:
- pain or aching when moving or bending your leg
Treatment for tendonitis focuses on relieving pain and inflammation. Common treatment options include:
- resting or elevating your leg
- applying heat or ice for short periods several times per day
- performing light stretches and exercises to improve mobility and strength
In more severe cases, your doctor may recommend providing temporary support through splints or braces. They may even recommend removing the inflamed tissue through surgery.
How To Prevent Knee Pain When Bending
Before you begin having serious problems with your knees, there are prevention tips to incorporate into your daily living.
- Strengthen knee muscles with exercises for the thighs
- Always stretch before and after a workout or exercise routine
- Do strength training exercises for your back and abdominal muscles
- Use proper posture when performing tasks, sitting, standing, and walking
- If standing for prolong periods, shift weight from one foot to the other or alternate feet using a foot rest
- Avoid placing strain on knees with bending or squatting by using proper techniques
- Follow a healthy diet to maintain good health of the muscles
Having knee pain when bending can limit your daily activities and may lead to further complications. Our knees allow us to move in many ways, and we depend on the proper functioning of the knees many components. An injury or disease to any part of the knee can be debilitating. Good health and strengthening exercises for the knee joint and its connecting partners are key to maintaining pain-free movement.
Also read:
Recommended Reading: Where To Get Knee High Converse
When To Contact A Medical Professional
- You cannot bear weight on your knee.
- You have severe pain, even when not bearing weight.
- Your knee buckles, clicks, or locks.
- Your knee is deformed or misshapen.
- You cannot flex your knee or have trouble straightening it all the way out.
- You have a fever, redness or warmth around the knee, or a lot of swelling.
- You have pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or bluish discoloration in the calf below the sore knee.
- You still have pain after 3 days of home treatment.
Diagnosis Of Inner Knee Pain
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and when they started, as well as your medical history. They will also carry out a physical examination of your knee to check for swelling and instability, as well as to assess the range of movement in your knee.
They may then recommend imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI scan to more closely examine the bones and tissues of your knee. They may also recommend blood tests to check for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and infections.
Recommended Reading: Roller Knee Walker
When You Feel Knee Pain
If you have knee pain, the thought of stretching might seem unpleasant. However, doing knee stretches when your knees hurt can help you feel better.
The key is to move slowly and gently. Hold each stretch for just a few seconds. If youre doing reps, start with a low number. As your muscles loosen up, you can increase the duration of each stretch.
You should stop if you feel new pain or if your existing pain gets worse. In this case, see a physical therapist for personalized guidance.
In addition to stretching your knees, there are other ways to keep them healthy. This includes: