Three reasons your knee hurts when straight but not when bent

Whenever you go for a run, bend down, or even walk to your mailbox, your knees are bearing much of your body weight to do so. In fact, your knees are involved in a large variety of movements you perform each day, whether that be sitting down, standing up or reaching down to tie your shoelaces. When you sustain an injury to your knee, performing simple activities can become difficult. The same applies in cases when you develop a condition that can interfere with the knee’s functionality. In many cases, untreated knee injuries can lead to chronic pain. Research estimates that about 1 out of every 4 adults in the U.S. experiences chronic knee pain.

If you can bend your knee but not straighten it without pain, you’ll want to keep reading about common conditions that can impact your knees. These conditions most often include:

• Torn meniscus — The cartilage that can be found in the knee and is C-shaped is called the meniscus. Everyone has a meniscus in each of their knees. This type of cartilage acts as a shock absorber during movement. It prevents the knee joint’s bones from rubbing together. If you injure meniscus, like tearing it, that injury can prevent you from straightening your knee without experiencing pain.

• Runner’s knee — When a person develops runner’s knee, the tendon running from the knee to the shin becomes inflamed. This inflammation is usually a result of overuse caused by running. You may be able to bend your knee without any trouble, but straightening your knee with runner’s knee may cause you to feel pain.

• Strained muscles — If you overuse a muscle that’s connected to the knee, like the hamstring, the muscle can become strained. Muscle strains can cause pain when straightening and bending your knee. 

What treatment is available for someone who experiences pain when straightening their knee but not bending it?

A few different treatment options are available to those with knee pain. These options can be used in conjunction with one another or one at a time, depending on what your trusted health care provider may prefer. These include:

• Physical therapy — A licensed physical therapist can work with you to create a treatment plan designed to address and relieve your pain. They’ll determine the cause of your pain and begin guiding you through a series of prescribed movements, exercises and therapeutic techniques to improve your condition. PT is gentle, noninvasive, and lasts for extensive periods of time with the right maintenance.

• Anti-inflammatory medication — Anti-inflammatory medications, like NSAIDs, will likely help reduce pain and inflammation around the knee for short periods of time. This pain relief option only lasts for a few hours at a time. While anti-inflammatory medications won’t heal your injury or condition, they can provide pain relief long enough for you to take other steps toward recovery, like resting and going to PT sessions.

• Corticosteroid injections — If the cause of your knee pain is osteoarthritis or another type of arthritis, steroid injections may help reduce the pain and inflammation you’re likely experiencing. However, the number of corticosteroid injections that can be used in one area is limited, and the injections do wear off, so this option may be a short-term one.

Let Advent Physical Therapy help you improve the condition of your knees

If you’re experiencing pain that occurs when you straighten your knee but bending the knee feels OK, our physical therapists can help. At Advent Physical Therapy, we use a variety of evidence-based PT treatments to help each one of our patients improve their physical condition.

Our patients’ health and wellness are our first priority at Advent Physical Therapy. We understand how much getting back into peak physical condition means to you. Whether you’re dealing with an injury or aiming to improve your performance during play, we want to help you reach your unique goals. We’re a team-oriented group of professionals who work with each of our patients jointly to create the best outcomes for all. 

We can help you create a treatment plan to optimize your health, even years down the line. Advent PT values building relationships with our patients and helping them prevent pain and injury from recurring. If you’re interested in starting treatment with us, let us provide a free screening to help us address your health.

Contact our team today for more information on how we can help with knee pain that occurs during straightening movements but not bending, or to schedule an initial appointment with us.