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What are the symptoms of knee pain?

 Imagine where your knee catches and buckles with severe ache while walking or climbing the stairs. What happens if you are unable to get up by falling suddenly? There are some conditions where you not only experience knee pain, but you will be experiencing many other associated symptoms. 

Before going through the associated symptoms in addition to your knee pain, let us see why the symptoms are interconnected and how the anatomy of your knee pays an active role in it.





Anatomy of the Knee Joint 

The knee joint includes bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, as well as bursal sac; it is considered as the most complex joint in the human body. These parts work together in coordination to perform routine activities like walking, jumping, and bending down.


  • The knee joint consists of three types of bones such as the tibia (shin bone), femur (thigh bone), and patella (kneecap). Both tibia and femur end with a rounded protuberance, namely condyle. 

  • The lubricant in bursa sac works as a cushion between these bones to limit the friction. 

  • Knee cartilage, otherwise called the meniscus, is located between tibia and femur. It occurs in two forms, namely medial and lateral. The function of knee meniscus includes distribution of body weight and the protection of bones from friction. 

  • Ligaments hold tibia and femur by remaining at their front and back part to stabilise the joint. An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is at the front, while posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) remains at the back. 

  • There are two types of tendons, namely patellar tendon and quadriceps tendon. The quadriceps tendon joins the patella to the quadriceps thigh muscle, while the patellar tendon connects tibia and patella.

  • Also, there are two types of knee joints namely patellofemoral joint and tibiofemoral joint. The patellofemoral joint connects the femur with the patella. The tibiofemoral joint connects the femur with tibia. Both these joints mainly help in bending, straightening, and rotating the knee.


The function of the Knee Joint

Like how a door opens and closes with the help of a hinge, you can move your legs in front-to-back and side-to-side due to the flexible knee joint. But sudden trauma hinders your joint movement causing acute knee pain. 

Similarly, the knee acts as the weight-bearing joint. But obesity may put excess pressure on the knee joint. This condition damages your cartilage, thereby causing degeneration, or wear and tear.

Since the knee joint is the largest joint interconnected with each other, you are always prone to injury and experience many other symptoms apart from knee pain.


Signs and symptoms

The severity and location of knee pain may vary, depending on the cause of the problem. The signs and symptoms that accompany knee pain include:

  • Swelling 

  • Stiffness

  • Redness and warmth sensation to the touch

  • Weakness 

  • Instability

  • Popping or crunching noise

  • Limited range of motion

  • Inability to fully straighten the knee


Consult your doctor if you:

  • Have all these symptoms that are getting worse day by day

  • Can't bear weight on your knee 

  • Have marked knee swelling or limited movement

  • See an apparent knee or leg deformity 

  • Have a fever, along with the above-listed symptoms

  • Have severe knee pain with an injury


Not all knee pain is serious. However, if the pain is severe, it may lead to joint damage and disability if left untreated. 


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