Here is some information from a Knee Pain Workshop that I hosted last month. For those of you dealing with knee pain, this may help shed some light on what your diagnosis may be.
The 3 Most Common Diagnoses of Knee Pain
1. Osteoarthritis – OA refers to the joint surface of the knee and what happens when there is breakdown in that surface. It is a degenerative,” wear-and-tear” type of arthritis that occurs most often in people 50 years of age and older, but may occur in younger people, too. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the knee joint gradually wears away. As the cartilage wears away, it becomes frayed and rough, and the protective space between the bones decreases. This can result in bone rubbing on bone, and produce painful bone spurs.
2. Meniscus Tear – The meniscus is the cartilage “shock absorbers” of your knee. Sudden meniscus tears sometimes occur when there is a quick traumatic movement like a twist or a contact injury. More often meniscus tears occur as part of the aging process. Cartilage weakens and wears thin over time. Aged, worn tissue is more prone to tears. When people talk about torn cartilage in the knee, they are usually referring to a torn meniscus.
3. Patellofemoral Syndrome – Is a garbage can term used to describe pain in the front of the knee and around the patella, or kneecap. It is sometimes called “runner’s knee” or “jumper’s knee” because it is common in people who participate in sports—particularly females and young adults—but patellofemoral pain syndrome can occur in nonathletes, as well. The pain and stiffness it causes can make it difficult to climb stairs, kneel down, and perform other everyday activities.
Can you relate to any of these conditions?
Next week I am going to offer more information about the knee that will explain the most common CAUSES of knee pain. You won’t want to miss this post, because it’s this info that will help you determine the right solution for your knee pain.
