Knee pain is a common cause of hospital visits in Glen Rock. This problem affects people of all ages but is more common among young people and the elderly. The severity of knee pain varies among different people. Some people only experience mild knee pain that resolves within a short duration. However, some people develop chronic knee pain that limits them from carrying out routine activities. This pain can lower the quality of life and even cause psychological problems.
If you are struggling with knee pain, you can benefit from various available modes of treatment. When you visit a Glen Rock sports medicine specialist with complaints of knee pain, they will take a medical history to determine the duration, character, and site of the pain. They will also examine your knee for any injuries or other deformities that may be causing the pain. The diagnosis that the specialist makes will guide them in determining the type of treatment that you require. This article highlights the various causes of knee pain.
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Injuries
The knee joint contains bones, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, fluid, and tendons. When you get into an accident, any of these structures can develop an injury. One of the most typical injuries in the knee joint is the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This type of injury is common in people who play sports like basketball, or soccer where the players make jerky movements. Other injuries of the knee joint include fractures of any of the bones in the joint and inflammation of tendons and the bursa in the knee.
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Arthritis
Arthritis refers to the inflammation of joints. Different types of arthritis can occur in the knee joint. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that causes degenerative changes like wear and tear of the joint. On the other hand, Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes chronic inflammation of the knee joint. The knee can also develop gout when uric acid crystals accumulate in the joint. Septic arthritis is a type of inflammation that occurs together with an infection.
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Mechanical Problems
You can also develop knee pain due to mechanical abnormalities like dislocation of the knee cap, which can compress surrounding structures and cause pain. In rare cases, pain in the foot and hip can alter your gait and put pressure on your knee joint causing knee pain. Floating parts of bones or cartilage inside the knee joint can also cause knee pain.
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Obesity
Obesity can also increase the risk of knee pain. Being overweight can put pressure on your knee joint and make it hard for you to do routine activities like walking or even climbing stairs. Obesity and being overweight also increase the risk of degeneration of the knee joint, which is a risk factor of developing osteoarthritis, a significant cause of knee pain. Losing excess weight through exercise and eating a proper diet can relieve this type of knee pain.
In summary, knee pain is a common reason for visits to the hospital. Knee pain mainly affects the elderly and young people who play sports, but the problem can affect a person of any age. The causes of knee pain include injury to any of the structures in the knee joint such as the bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. Knee pain can also occur due to dislocations, arthritis, and being obese. Treatment of knee pain helps to resolve these problems.
