Knee pain

Knee pain can develop for many reasons, from injuries to arthritis. We offer leading, innovative knee care, from comprehensive diagnostic tests to computer-assisted total knee replacements. The orthopedic specialists at Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic help you return safely to work, play and everyday life after knee pain.

What is knee pain?

Your knee is the largest joint in your body. It’s made up of bone, cartilage (cushioning tissue), ligaments and fluid. It’s also connected to muscles and tendons that stabilize your knee joint and help it move.

Pain can develop from damage to any of the structures in and around your knee. Knee problems are common in people of all ages. They can cause pain, swelling and a range of other symptoms.

Causes of knee pain

Knee pain can develop for many reasons from an accidental injury to arthritis.

Knee injuries

Several structures in your knee, such as cartilage, ligaments and tendons, are prone to injury. Common knee injuries include:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury: The ACL connects your upper and lower leg bones.
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury: The PCL connects your thigh and shin bones.
• Meniscal tear: The meniscus is a C-shaped disc of cartilage on the inner and outer edge of your knee.

A knee injury can be acute, meaning it happens suddenly after a specific traumatic event. Injury can also happen from overuse, when damage develops over time from repeated stress on your knee.

Knee arthritis

Arthritis is a condition that damages the cartilage in your joints. It causes swelling and pain in your joints that can limit your movement.

Knee arthritis can develop from several conditions, including:

• Osteoarthritis: This joint disease is the most common cause of knee arthritis. It can develop as you age and causes cartilage in your joints to break down.
• Post-traumatic arthritis: This type of arthritis develops after you have a sudden injury. Damage from a knee injury causes joint tissues to break down over time.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): RA is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks healthy tissues in your joints.

Knee pain symptoms

Knee pain can look and feel different depending on its cause. Common symptoms of knee injuries and disorders include:

• Clicking or popping sounds in your knee
• Locking or buckling of your knee
• Pain that is sharp, dull or aching
• Redness
• Stiffness
• Swelling

You may have symptoms only when you move or do certain activities. Symptoms can worsen at different times of day or feel constant.

Knee pain diagnosis

Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They’ll do a physical exam to learn about your knee pain, such as when and where it hurts.

You may need additional testing to diagnose the cause of knee pain, such as:

• Imaging tests: Imaging helps your provider see the structures inside and around your knee. Your provider may request an X-ray, CT scan, ultrasound, bone scan or MRI.
• Knee arthroscopy: This minimally invasive knee procedure helps your provider diagnose damage such as tears and cartilage loss. Your provider may also be able to treat or fix problems during the procedure.
• Biopsy: A biopsy is a procedure to remove a tissue sample, which gets analyzed by a tissue specialist. Knee biopsies can help diagnose abnormal growths.

Knee pain risk factors

You face a higher risk for knee pain if you’ve had a previous knee injury. Whether you develop knee pain can also depend on your:

• Age: Your risk for knee pain increases as you age.
• Health history: Conditions such as certain autoimmune diseases, infections or gout increase your chance of having knee pain.
• Occupation: Jobs that lead to joint strain or overuse can cause knee pain.
• Weight: Having a higher body weight can place more strain on your knees over time and cause pain.

Knee pain prevention

Knee pain can’t always be prevented. But you can help protect your knees and joint health by:

• Gradually working up to longer or more intense physical activity
• Maintaining a healthy weight to avoid putting extra pressure on your knees
• Strengthening your leg muscles with targeted exercises
• Warming up before exercising and playing sports
• Wearing the right size shoes 

Exercising with knee pain

Your provider can help you create an exercise plan that reduces your risk for future knee problems. They may recommend avoiding high-impact exercises, such as running or movements that involve jumping. Exercises such as swimming, biking or walking are gentler on your knees.

Physical therapy for knee pain

Physical therapy is part of many treatment plans for knee pain, but it’s also an important part of preventing future knee problems. Physical therapists guide you through personalized routines, such as icing, stretching and muscle strengthening exercises.

Finding a knee specialist

We have several specialties at Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic that provide knee pain and joint care. Depending on your needs, we may recommend seeing a:

• Sports medicine specialist for knee pain caused by a sports injury or daily activities
• Joint replacement specialist for knee pain associated with aging or arthritis
• Pediatric orthopedic specialist for children with knee pain