Daily, a large number of individuals all over the world suffer from knee pain. These people usually find walking or climbing stairs very difficult which greatly limits their mobility in performing daily tasks. Typically,elderly people experience knee pain since their knees become weak as they grow older. Having said that, younger people or adults can still have the same conditions since knee pain causes can be traced to many sources. In general, people use their knees for a range of movements such as running, climbing, and crawling. As years go by, the knees disintegrate due to normal wear and tear but other knee pain causes can also make the situation more difficult. It would be valuable to understand that the knee is a hinge joint formed by two bones- the femur and tibia. Four important ligaments hold the knees together which is surrounded by the synovium. The cartilage is protected by a thick fluid known as the synovium. Likewise, the outer layer of the synovium protects and supports the joint. A good understanding of the knee’s anatomy can guide you in understanding the following knee pain causes.
Rheumatoid arthritis -One of the usual knee pain causes affecting the elderly. This condition ensues when the body’s own immune system works against its own joints. The white blood cells accumulate in the synovium causing inflammation. This leads to redness, swelling, and pain especially after waking up in the morning. As the condition worsens, the cartilage becomes eroded which can really be debilitating.
Osteoarthritis The second leading reason for knee pain causes. As a result of the cartilage breakdown, the bones begin to rub one another that results to pain. The result is swelling and loss of motion. There’s also the likelihood of having a bone deformity later as year go by. Small bone spurs slowly develop along joint edges which is one of the painful knee causes in this condition.
The above mentioned are just some of the common knee pain causes but there are other sources of knee pain too. The knee pain causes can be a symptom of something more serious depending on the pain’s location in the knee. Other knee pain causes can be bursitis, softening of the patella or Bakers cysts. Previous injuries or infections can also be knee pain causes that must be attended by a medical specialist.