Knee pain is a very common complaint that many people live with. Whether you’re on your feet all day or chained to a desk, you’re all too familiar with swelling, fatigue and pain in your knees. It affects young, old, athletes and sedentary people. This part of the body is the second largest source of reoccurring pain. Knee pain affects approximately 25% of adults. The prevalence of knee pain has increased almost 65% over the past 20 years, accounting for nearly 4 million primary care visits annually. Knee pain is the second most common cause of chronic pain and chronic pain is the most common cause of long-term disability. Approximately one-third of all Americans reported that they experience knee pain at some time or another. Knee pain is a very common musculoskeletal condition and is a leading cause of disability in people aged over 50 years.
Knee pain can be due to a condition that builds up over time or it can be due to a single traumatic event, also known as an acute injury. The knee is a complex joint that is under a lot of stress when executing most athletic movements like stopping, starting, jumping, landing, cutting, and pivoting. There are several muscles that cross the knee from the hip above and the leg below. This crisscrossing of muscles, if not working efficiently, can strain and stress the knee leading to pain. Some common diagnoses associated with knee pain are: Patellar Tendonitis, Patellofemoral knee pain, Runners Knee, IT Band Syndrome, Meniscus injury and entrapment, Medial and Lateral Collateral Ligament sprains, Quadriceps bursitis, ACL injury and Sprain. As with any condition, the most important step is to evaluate the region and correctly diagnose the problem. With knee pain, it is important to rule out problems in the hip, low back, ankle and foot when determining the cause of the pain. Once the cause of the pain is determined, a treatment strategy using manual therapy and therapeutic exercise should help to alleviate your knee pain.
