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Knee Pain

Twenty percent of U.S. adults report regular knee pain or stiffness.

Delaying knee pain treatment can limit mobility and be extremely painful. Discomfort in the knee can arise from injury, overuse, and aging. Osteoarthritis is one of the main causes of knee pain. Sports, recreation, working, repetitive motion, projects around the home, and yard work also can lead to problems. Common injuries include sprains and strains of the ligaments and tendons in the kneecap, meniscus tears, kneecap fractures, kneecap dislocations, and knee joint dislocations. Common causes of knee pain include inflammation, tendonitis, bursitis, and plica syndrome. One out of five Americans experience regular pain or stiffness in the knee.

Knee Pain Risk Factors

Knee pain can occur from injury, overuse, or medical conditions that affect joint health such as arthritis. Common risk factors include:

  • Repetitive motion from exercise, hobbies, or work
  • Aging
  • Obesity
  • Exercise such as jogging, cycling, or sports
  • Weight-bearing activity
  • Family history of arthritis

Health conditions that may require knee pain treatment include:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gout
  • Lupus
  • Osgood-Schlatter disease
  • Baker’s cyst
  • Pinched nerve
  • Osteochondritis dissecans
  • Infection

Knee Pain Symptoms

Knee pain can take different forms, depending on the cause and severity. Symptoms include:

  • Acute pain
  • Soreness
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Inflammation
  • Pain during and after activity

Diagnosis for Custom Knee Pain Treatment

Treatment of knee pain depends upon specific identification of the cause. Severe cases of acute injury may require reparative surgery, potentially including knee replacement surgery in extreme cases of joint damage. Knee pain resulting from overuse or injury typically can be alleviated with rest, ice, elevation, compression bandaging, massage, chiropractic treatment, pain medication, and stretching. Treatment of underlying conditions also may help reduce joint pain.

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