Common Causes of Knee Pain

The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body. It plays a pivotal role in facilitating movement and supporting the entire weight of the body. Hence the risk of knee injuries and knee pain is very high and may be caused by many factors. Minor knee injuries mainly occur due to stretching and twisting or any movement that goes beyond the knee's endurance. Sudden movements or jerks can also cause knee injuries, often occurring while walking on uneven paths or athletes training on rough surfaces.

The knee joint has many components facilitating its movement which include ligaments, tendons; cartilage, menisci with knee pain affecting any of these. The convolution of the structure of the knee joint and the verity that it is a weight-bearing joint are issues that make knee problems common and the knee one of the most injured areas.

Snapping and popping within the knee is pretty frequent but this should not be considered as a symptom of any problem. Rather it's a kind of knee injury which occurs when a ligament is torn. So this is one problem that needs immediate attention as else it can cause tremendous knee soreness for the victim. If left untreated for a long time it can cause permanent disability to the injured person.

Other acute knee injuries that may include torn cartilage or ligaments are frequently caused due to sports that involve jumping and running and sudden jerks in turning or stopping. There are many such sports like tennis, cricket, volleyball, basketball, soccer, football, rugby, hockey and wrestling where the sportsperson is in high risk of suffering from knee pain. Overuse knee injury is one of many issues that include tendonitis, bursitis and muscle strain. Initially, the person affected experiences mild and sporadic aches that gradually increase over a period of time.

The rationale behind this is that when the tendons and muscles are overstressed beyond their capabilities, it results in microscopic tears. If not checked, these may lead to chronic problems. Knee pain is recurrently caused by doing too much of physical activity in a short span of time like doing excessive jogging or running after a long period of time.

Osteoarthritis is again a one of the common causes of knee pain. The problem is usually age related and the chances of this increase with age. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis concerning disintegration of the cartilage. Exercise is essential to retain flexibility and strength of muscles that provides support to the knee, which lessens the strain on the knee joint.

Runner's knee is a widespread cause of knee pain among youth. The pain is generally spread behind the kneecap. It's very important to be cautious and take extra care of our knees as it is an important part of the human body. Regular exercise and preventive measures can always help one to stay fit and stay away from knee pain. Women, especially, should be careful about knee problems as a recent study reveals that more number of women suffer from knee pain as compared to men.