Causes of Knee Pain

The knee is a large joint that carries body weight and moves constantly, so it is often injured or worn. Knee pain can come from the joint, the ligaments, the cartilage, the tendons or the bones.

Wear and long-term causes

• Osteoarthritis: wear of cartilage, common after age 45 and with extra body weight
• Patellofemoral pain: pain around the kneecap from overuse, weak thigh muscles or poor tracking
• Chondromalacia patella: softening of the cartilage under the kneecap

Injuries

• Ligament tears, including ACL, MCL, LCL and PCL
• Meniscus tear, often from twisting
• Fractures and kneecap dislocation
• Sprains and strains from sport or falls

Overuse conditions

• Patellar tendinitis ("jumper's knee")
• Iliotibial band syndrome in runners
• Bursitis from kneeling or repeated pressure
• Baker's cyst behind the knee

Inflammatory and crystal causes

• Gout and pseudogout
• Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis

Infection

Septic arthritis, which is an emergency, and tuberculosis of the knee.

Other factors

• Overweight or obesity
• Flat feet or poor footwear
• Previous knee injury
• In teenagers, Osgood-Schlatter disease, which causes pain below the kneecap
• Pain referred from the hip or back

Ayurvedic view

Ayurveda calls degenerative knee pain janu sandhigata vata and links it to Vata imbalance, dryness and ageing. This is a traditional framework and not a modern diagnosis.

Key point

Age, weight, injury and overuse are the main causes, and the pattern of pain helps find which one.

Before your appointment

Note when the knee pain began, where it hurts, and whether there was a fall or twist. Describe swelling, stiffness, locking, giving way, clicking and what makes it better or worse. List all medicines, painkillers, supplements and herbal products. Mention fever, other joint pain, gout and past knee problems. Bring earlier X-rays or reports and your usual shoes. Ask about tests, exercise, safe pain relief and when surgery is considered. Seek urgent care for a hot swollen knee with fever or inability to bear weight, or call 112 for severe symptoms.