What makes knees hurt

There are 2 groups of muscles involved in the knee, including the quadriceps muscles located on the front of the thighs , which straighten the legs, and the hamstring muscles located on the back of the thighs , which bend the leg at the knee. Tendons are tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Ligaments are elastic bands of tissue that connect bone to bone.

Some ligaments on the knee provide stability and protection of the joints, while other ligaments limit forward and backward movement of the tibia shin bone. Many knee problems are a result of the aging process and continual wear and stress on the knee joint such as, arthritis. Other knee problems are a result of an injury or a sudden movement that strains the knee. Common knee problems include the following:. A sprained or strained knee ligament or muscle is usually caused by a blow to the knee or a sudden twist of the knee.

Symptoms often include pain, swelling, and difficulty in walking. Torn cartilage. Trauma to the knee can tear the menisci pads of connective tissue that act as shock absorbers and also enhance stability. Cartilage tears can often occur with sprains. Treatment may involve wearing a brace during an activity to protect the knee from further injury.

Surgery may be needed to repair the tear. Inflammation of the tendons may result from overuse of a tendon during certain activities such as running, jumping, or cycling. Tendonitis of the patellar tendon is called jumper's knee. This often occurs with sports, such as basketball, where the force of hitting the ground after a jump strains the tendon. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that affects the knee.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative process where the cartilage in the joint gradually wears away. It often affects middle-age and older people.

Avoid sleeping on your side. Use pillows positioned on either side of your body to prevent you from rolling onto your side. When lying on your side, keep a pillow between your knees. Stay seated when possible.

If you have to stand, avoid hard surfaces and keep your weight equally divided on both legs. Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.

Some knee pain, especially pain caused by osteoarthritis, will likely be permanent. The long-term outlook for chronic knee pain involves managing pain, preventing flare-ups, and working to reduce irritation to the knee.

You can prevent some, but not all, of the possible causes of knee pain. There are things you can do to alleviate the pain. If your chronic knee pain gets worse because of overuse, or tends to be the most painful after physical activity, you can make lifestyle changes to help treat the pain. These approaches include:. Mild to moderate knee pain can often be successfully treated at home.

Learn how to use heat, cold, tai chi, and other strategies to ease your knee…. Osteoarthritis OA is a form of degenerative joint pain. Learn the early signs, such as pain and tenderness, stiffness, and loss of flexibility. Treatments for arthritis include over-the-counter and prescription medications, but natural and lifestyle remedies also play a key role.

Find out more…. Arthritis can affect your sleep. Learn more about what causes chronic and severe knee pain and why knee replacement is an option that may offer relief. Work on stretching and strengthening your legs. If pain persists after long bouts of activity, it's best to see your doctor for a full evaluation. The ACL is one the most commonly injured ligaments of the knee. Most injuries occur in the young, athletic population.

The ACL is injured when it sustains a force that exceeds the strength of the ligament. This may result from non-contact injury landing awkwardly, cutting or changing direction or from contact such as getting tackled during a football game. The risk of ACL injury is highest in sports that require pivoting, jumping, cutting or a rapid change of direction.

For women, that means participating in sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball and gymnastics. It's also a common problem when athletes have poor physical conditioning and lack strength or flexibility. Individuals who experience ACL tears usually describe a feeling of the joint "giving out" or buckling. Many patients also often hear or feel a "pop" at the time the knee is injured. Other signs and symptoms may include an inability to continue to play after the injury, a large amount of knee swelling noted hours after the injury, an inability to fully straighten or bend the knee and repeated "giving way" episodes of the knee with sports activities.

Recent research has shown that the risk of ACL injury may be reduced through conditioning and training programs designed to increase balance and flexibility, and improve muscle strength and endurance. If you have an injury that you suspect may have caused an ACL tear, it is best to see your doctor for a full evaluation.

The MCL is usually injured when the outside of the partially flexed knee is struck with the foot fixed to the ground. Injury to the MCL can also occur with excessive lateral rotation outside twisting of the knee. This force causes the medial aspect of the knee to widen, creating a stretch, partial tear or complete tear of the ligament. An injury to the MCL may be isolated or a component of a more complex knee injury.

The most common symptom following an injury to the MCL is pain directly over the ligament on the inner portion of the knee. If only the MCL is injured, most patients are able to continue walking after an acute injury, however they often have difficulty with activities involving pivoting and twisting. Pain and stiffness in the joint are localized to the inner part of the knee and the area may become swollen.

More significant MCL tears may give the patient a sense of instability. If you have an injury that you suspect may have caused an MCL tear, it is best to see your doctor for a full evaluation.

Repeating the same motion can lead to wear and tear on almost any of your joints. Overuse injuries are especially common on the knees since you rely on your knees for many activities.