Why is my knee hurting and how can I treat it?

Running, skipping, walking, jumping. There are very few lower leg movements that don’t involve your knee joints. However, most people don’t really think about how much their knees move until they start to hurt. 

Knee pain is a common problem among U.S. adults, and one medical study estimates that 25% of adults have frequent knee pain. Physical therapists can help people treat many issues that cause knee pain. These specialists can also help you answer the question, “Why is my knee hurting?”

Three reasons why your knee is hurting

There could be a number of reasons why your knee is hurting. Physical therapists can perform an assessment to determine what issue is specifically causing your knee pain. Such assessments typically involve questions about your past medical history and lifestyle. Additionally, they often include tests to determine your pain level and range of motion. 

Your assessment could reveal many different issues that cause knee pain. Here are three conditions that a knee assessment might expose: 

1. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) — This issue is one of the most common causes of knee pain, particularly in older adults. Knee OA occurs when the cushioning cartilage in the knee joints wears out over time. This can lead to symptoms like pain, stiffness and swelling. Researchers estimate that in adults 60 years old or older, 10% of men and 13% of women have knee OA. 

2. Patellar tendinitis — People who do lots of jumping while playing sports are particularly likely to develop patellar tendinitis. One medical study reports that this condition occurs in up to 20% of jumping athletes. Patellar tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone. Pain and tenderness at the bottom of your kneecap are the most common symptoms of this knee issue. 

3. Pseudogout — This condition is known as calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD) by medical professionals. It’s a type of arthritis that involves calcium crystals forming in the knee’s lubricating fluid. Pseudogout can cause severe knee pain, but it can also lead to unusual swelling and warmth in the joint. Medical researchers report that up to 50% of people who develop pseudogout are over the age of 85.

Advent Physical Therapy can help you learn why your knee is hurting

You don’t have to continue to wonder why your knee is hurting. Our therapy specialists at Advent Physical Therapy can reveal the source of your pain. In fact, pinpointing the cause of pain and other symptoms is one thing our free screenings are designed to do. Once we know the cause of your knee pain, we can then build you a personalized therapy plan to treat it. 

Do you want to get our help with your knee pain? Contact our team today for more information about how we can help or to schedule your free screening.