Knee Pain
Knee pain often stems from muscle tightness or “muscle knots” in surrounding areas. If you feel pain in the back of your knee, it’s frequently due to tight hamstring muscles in your thigh. Pain on the side of your knee is commonly linked to the IT Band or knots in your outer quadriceps, while discomfort in the front of your knee usually comes from the quadriceps muscles themselves or even some inner thigh muscles. Understanding these connections can help pinpoint the source of your knee discomfort. It’s often a good idea to look at the muscles surrounding the knee for the real source of the trouble!
Causes
Over doing any activity including running, skiing, incline walking, weight training: Engaging in excessive amounts of physical activity can lead to overuse injuries, as the body’s tissues are subjected to repetitive stress without adequate time for recovery. This can manifest as microtears, inflammation, or fatigue fractures in muscles, tendons, or bones.
Knee joint or muscle immobilization: Prolonged periods of inactivity or the use of immobilizing devices like casts or braces can lead to significant muscle atrophy and joint stiffness. This lack of movement reduces blood flow and nutrient delivery, weakening the surrounding structures and making them more susceptible to injury upon resuming activity.
Tripping or falling: Unexpected loss of balance resulting in a trip or fall can cause acute injuries due to sudden impact or unnatural twisting motions. This often leads to sprains, strains, fractures, or dislocations as the body attempts to absorb the impact or correct its position.
Sudden overload in the muscles: Applying a force or resistance to a muscle that is significantly greater than its current capacity can result in an immediate injury. This sudden overload often causes muscle strains or tears as the muscle fibers are unable to withstand the excessive tension.
Going up or down steps: The repetitive movements of going up and down steps can place considerable stress on the knee joint and surrounding muscles. Improper mechanics or weakened musculature can lead to pain, inflammation, or aggravation of pre-existing conditions in this area.
Back of Knee Pain
Hamstring and calf muscles can cause pain in the back of the knee. The hamstrings are the muscles located in the back of the thigh. There are three muscles that make up the hamstring group and responsible for extending the hip and bending or flexing the knee. Muscle knots in these muscles can cause pain in the back of the knee, in the back of the thigh, in the glutes, and the lower leg.
I Feel
Side of Knee Pain
Side of knee pain is basically any ache, soreness, or just plain “ow!” that you feel on the inner or outer part of your kneecap and into the back of the knee. Where exactly it hurts can actually give you a hint about what might be going on in there. It could be anything from a bone thing to a ligament issue, maybe a tendon problem, or even something with that cushiony cartilage stuff (the meniscus).
I Feel
Going Up and Down Steps
Going up stairs with side knee pain can feel like a struggle against resistance, with each step potentially bringing sharp pain, aching, or stiffness. Go down the stairs can be even tougher, as the impact often causes a jolt of pain or a buckling sensation, making you move cautiously. That familiar ache on the side of your knee can intensify with each upward or downward movement.
Knee Won't Straighten
When your knee won’t straighten, it feels as if something is blocking the joint, preventing it from fully extending. Sometimes, this can be accompanied by a dull ache or a sharp pinch, making the knee feel weak and unstable.
Behind The Knee Pain When Running
Pain behind the knee when running can feel like a nagging ache or tightness, almost like a pull or cramp. It sometimes comes as a sharper twinge, making you want to stop and stretch, and can leave your knee feeling a bit wobbly.
I Feel
Heel Pain
Heel pain can feel like a dull ache that’s constantly there, or it might be a sharp, stabbing pain, especially with your first steps in the morning or after resting. Sometimes it feels like a bruise right on the bottom of your heel, making it tender to the touch or when you put weight on it. It can definitely make you want to avoid putting your full weight down
I Feel
Crouching Pain
Crouching pain often feels like a deep ache or a sharp poke in your knees.. You might notice grinding or stiffness as you bend, limiting your movement. This discomfort can even linger after standing, making you hesitant to move again.
Locking Knee
A locking knee can feel quite alarming! It’s like your knee joint suddenly catches or gets stuck in a particular position, and you might not be able to straighten it out all the way. It can sometimes be accompanied by a bit of pain or discomfort, making you feel a little stuck and unsure of your next move.
Behind the Knee Pain When Running
Pain behind the knee when running can feel like a nagging ache or tightness, almost like a pull or cramp. It sometimes comes as a sharper twinge, making you want to stop and stretch, and can leave your knee feeling a bit wobbly.
Side of Knee Pain
Pain in the side of the knee is typically attributed to the IT Band. The IT Band is a thick band of connective tissue that runs along the outside of the leg from the hip to the outside of the knee. Muscle knots in the outside quadriceps muscle will cause outside knee pain.
I Feel
Side of Knee Pain
Side of knee pain is basically any ache, soreness, or just plain “ow!” that you feel on the inner or outer part of your kneecap and into the back of the knee. Where exactly it hurts can actually give you a hint about what might be going on in there. It could be anything from a bone thing to a ligament issue, maybe a tendon problem, or even something with that cushiony cartilage stuff (the meniscus).
Front of Knee Pain
Muscle knots can cause pain in the front of the knee in the quadriceps muscles and by some of the inner thigh muscles.
I Feel
Front of Knee Pain When Running
When you get that pain at the front of your knee while running—what many people call “runner’s knee”—it can feel unpleasant. It could be a gradual, dull ache, or a more sudden, sharp pain when you’re pushing off or going downhill. Your knee might also feel swollen or tender, leaving you less motivated to keep going.
Stuck Knee Cap
A stuck kneecap. That little bone in the front of your knee, the patella, isn’t gliding smoothly like it should. You might feel a bit of pain or tenderness right there, which can make bending or straightening your knee feel awkward or restricted.
I Feel
Front of Knee Pain When Running
When you get that pain at the front of your knee while running—what many people call “runner’s knee”—it can feel unpleasant. It could be a gradual, dull ache, or a more sudden, sharp pain when you’re pushing off or going downhill. Your knee might also feel swollen or tender, leaving you less motivated to keep going.
Deep Knee Pain
That pain deep in the knee joint feels like more of an ache coming from the very center of your knee. It can be tricky to pinpoint exactly where the pain is coming from. It can feel like a constant pressure, dull throbbing, a sharp pain or all of the above.
I Feel
Pain Above the Knee Cap
If you’re feeling pain in the front of your knee, it might surprise you to learn that muscle knots in your inner thigh muscles, like the adductor brevis and adductor longus, could be the culprit! These points often cause a deep ache in the groin, but they can also refer discomfort directly to the front of your knee
I Feel
Front of Knee Pain When Running
When you get that pain at the front of your knee while running—what many people call “runner’s knee”—it can feel unpleasant. It could be a gradual, dull ache, or a more sudden, sharp pain when you’re pushing off or going downhill. Your knee might also feel swollen or tender, leaving you less motivated to keep going.
Buckling
A buckling knee is that unsettling feeling when your knee suddenly feels unstable and like it can’t support your weight. It might feel like your knee is going to give out from under you, causing you to stumble or feel unsteady. “gives way,” and you’re not sure if it will hold you up.
I Feel
Front of Knee Pain When Running
When you get that pain at the front of your knee while running—what many people call “runner’s knee”—it can feel unpleasant. It could be a gradual, dull ache, or a more sudden, sharp pain when you’re pushing off or going downhill. Your knee might also feel swollen or tender, leaving you less motivated to keep going.
Runner's Knee
That pain in the front of your knee that we often call runner’s knee can affect lots of people, not just those who run. It can feel like a nagging ache or tightness, or a sharper twinge that makes you want to stop and stretch. This pain, and the wobbly feeling that sometimes comes with it, can be noticeable when you’re active, like running, jumping, or climbing stairs, or even after sitting with your knees bent.
I Feel
Front of Knee Pain When Running
When you get that pain at the front of your knee while running—what many people call “runner’s knee”—it can feel unpleasant. It could be a gradual, dull ache, or a more sudden, sharp pain when you’re pushing off or going downhill. Your knee might also feel swollen or tender, leaving you less motivated to keep going.