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What are the causes of knee pain when bending?
Pain when bending the knee, depending on the original problem, that is, whether there was an injury or not, can have different causes. If there was an injury, it could be a fracture or damage to the meniscus. It could also be an effusion or hematoma in the knee, which causes restriction of movement and pain that is particularly worse during flexion or full extension. The contour of the knee is then widened, indicating that there is an effusion, hematoma or fluid in the supraspinatus. Above the patella, there will be a visible protrusion of tissues.
In the case of an effusion, it is worth consulting an orthopedist, who will try to determine its cause. When the effusion is very large, it is necessary to perform an LP to decompress the joint and improve its mobility, as well as reduce pain.
Knee pain when bending - meniscus damage
Knee pain when bending can result from damage to the meniscus, both fresh ones, as a result of trauma, and chronic ones, as a result of degenerative changes. Damage to the meniscus as a result of trauma, usually occurs when the knee is put under very high stress, not only during sports. The forces that damage the meniscus most often act when the knee is twisted, in a deep squat.
With age, the elasticity of the meniscus decreases. Therefore, in people over the age of about 40, even minor injuries to the meniscus during daily activities can lead to damage. Repeated minor injuries result in so-called degenerative damage to the meniscus, in which there is gradually increasing pain and joint dysfunction. Often the pain intensifies during squatting, and twisting movements of the knee.
The most common symptoms of meniscus damage include localized pain on the side of the damaged meniscus, swelling, and locking or jumping in the knee. Patients often describe the condition as increasing knee pain when bending.
The success of meniscus treatment depends mainly on the severity of the damage, as well as the biological capacity of the damaged tissue to heal. The treatment of a damaged meniscus depends on a number of factors.
Knee pain when bending - degenerative changes
Knee pain when bending can also result from degenerative changes. In a situation where there was no trauma and the pain appeared spontaneously, it may be due to degenerative changes.
Although osteoarthritis can occur even in young people, the risk of developing the disease increases after the age of 45. Age is the most common cause of osteoarthritis of the knee. However, there are several factors that increase the risk of developing it, such as: body weight that increases pressure on the knee joints, gender - women are more at risk than men, and heredity.
A big factor in the development of osteoarthritis of the knee is repetitive stress injuries usually associated with the type of work performed, such as: kneeling, squatting or lifting heavy weights. Athletes who play soccer, tennis or long-distance running are also at risk.
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee are: pain, especially knee pain when bending, as well as reduced mobility, stiffness and a feeling of friction inside the joint. In the advanced stage of the disease, the following can be observed: asymmetry of the limb's axis or deformation of the contours of the knee joint itself.
The primary goal of treating osteoarthritis of the knee is to relieve pain and return to full mobility. The basis is manual therapy, where an experienced physiotherapist will increase the flexibility of the joint and show ways to strengthen the muscles. The orthopedist may also assign painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications, or administer corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections into the knee.
Knee pain when bending - Baker's cyst
A Baker's cyst is the result of disease inside the knee caused by overload, mechanical trauma, degeneration or inflammation. As a result, this leads to increased production of joint fluid, which finds an outlet at the site of reduced resistance, which is the posterior capsule of the joint, forming a cyst.
A cyst can form as a result of both trauma and inflammation. Athletes, as well as obese and inactive people, are in the group most prone to this condition. In some cases, there may be redness and swelling, as well as discomfort. Knee pain when bending is also mentioned among the complaints.
If the cyst is small and does not cause great discomfort, the orthopedist introduces non-operative treatment, recommending work under the care of a physiotherapist. In special cases, surgical treatment may be introduced - knee arthroscopy.
Knee pain when bending - a problem in another joint
It should also be borne in mind that the pain that the patient feels in the knee may be due to problems not directly related to the knee, as the causes may lie in another joint such as the hip joint, spine, and sometimes the ankle joint.
Knee pain when bending - muscle problems
Theoretically, knee pain when bending can also be caused by muscle problems. Mainly after an injury, where a muscle may have been torn or ruptured. However, joint problems should always be ruled out first.
Related articles:
Learn about other possible causes of knee pain in other areas of the joint.
Bibliography:
- Healthline - What Causes Knee Pain When You’re Bending It, and How’s It Treated? - Medically reviewed by Lauren Jarmusz, PT, DPT, OCS — By Kirsten Nunez on August 10, 2020
- Verywell Healt - Top Causes of Knee Pain When Sitting or Bending - Laken Brooks
- Knee pain during activities of daily living and its relationship with physical activity in patients with early and severe knee osteoarthritis - Naoto Fukutani, Hirotaka Iijima, Tomoki Aoyama, Yuko Yamamoto, Masakazu Hiraoka, Kazuyuki Miyanobu, Masashi Jinnouchi, Eishi Kaneda, Tadao Tsuboyama & Shuichi Matsuda - Clinical Rheumatology volume 35, pages2307–2316 (2016)
