Stiff knee pain: 3 common causes and treatments

Your knees allow you to complete every movement throughout your day, from sitting down at your work desk to walking around your house. So when your knee becomes stiff, even the simplest motions can become hard and painful.

Knee pain is a common issue that affects about 25% of all adults and accounts for almost 4 million physician appointments in any given year. Stiffness and knee pain can interfere with your quality of life because it feels like your joints are locking up every time you try to move. But what is the cause behind it? How can you treat the pain and restore your mobility? Those are the questions that we’re here to answer.

Read on to learn about the potential reasons behind stiff knee pain and treatment options to relieve the ache.

3 common causes of stiffness and knee pain

When someone describes stiff knee pain, they’re referring to a tightness in the joint that reduces its range of motion and makes it painful to extend or bend their leg. The tightness often stems from an injury or medical condition that causes swelling from fluid buildup, which reduces the space in the knee.

Knee pain is often associated with other symptoms including redness and instability. 

Stiff knee pain can be caused by a variety of injuries and medical conditions including:

• Arthritis — One of the most common causes of knee pain and stiffness is joint inflammation from arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two types of joint inflammation that are associated with knee pain. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to break down while rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of the joint.

• Meniscus tear — The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee that works as a cushion between the tibia (shinbone) and the femur (thighbone). There are two menisci located in each knee. Forcefully rotating your knee can tear a meniscus, causing stiffness and pain. A meniscus tear can happen to anyone, but they are especially common in sports that require a lot of stopping and pivoting, such as basketball.

• Bursitis — There are fluid-filled sacs in your knee called bursae, which act as a cushion for your joints to move smoothly and reduce friction during movement. There are three major bursae located throughout the knee. A bursa can become inflamed due to overuse or excessive strain, which can cause pain, swelling and tenderness. 

3 treatments for stiff knee pain

Stiff knee pain can make it difficult to complete your daily tasks with comfort and ease. The good news is that there are several treatment options you can explore to alleviate the pain and swelling. You can consult with your health care provider or a licensed physical therapist about a proper diagnosis so that you can determine which treatment will be the most effective for your injury or medical condition. 

There are self-care treatments that you can complete at home while others may require the assistance of a health care professional, such as a physical therapist.

Here are three common treatment options for knee pain:

• Soft tissue mobilization — A common manual therapy technique for knee pain involves the physical therapist using their hands to find and break up tight tissue. They will use massage-like movements around the knee to feel for scar tissue. Then they can break it up to release the tension that’s causing your pain.
  
• Joint mobilization — Since the knee is the largest joint in the body, a physical therapist will often use joint mobilization as a way to reduce pain and stiffness. This is another manual therapy technique that involves the physical therapist applying controlled pressure and gentle motion through the joint to stretch the stabilizing tissue and improve mechanics. They can use their hands to mobilize the joint, to decrease pain and increase mobility and range of motion.
  
• Targeted exercises — By increasing the strength of your knee muscles, you can increase the support surrounding the joint as well as reduce the stress that’s being placed on it during movements, which may contribute to your pain and risk of injury. A physical therapist can walk you through targeted exercises that will strengthen and stretch your knee muscles that may be impacted by an injury or medical condition. 

Find treatment for stiff knee pain at Advent Physical Therapy 

If you’re ready to take care of your stiff knee pain so that you can return to your normal activities, then we’re here to help. At Advent Physical Therapy, we can determine the cause of your knee pain, then design a personalized treatment plan that will help. Your plan could include a variety of treatment methods, such as manual therapy techniques and therapeutic exercises.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.