The knee is the largest joint in the body and bears much of the body's weight when walking and running. Because it takes the most stress, it is also more prone to injuries and degeneration. According to Mayo Clinic physicians, almost one in every three Americans over the age of 45 will report some type of knee pain, and the potential to experience knee pain rises with age. Many of the problems that the elderly experience in their knees start with poor muscle development or inadequate stretching that begins in their 50s.
Osteoarthritis
Sometimes called degenerative arthritis, this condition is fairly common in people over the age of 50, and the incidence rises considerably as people approach age 70. According to Mayo Clinic physicians, osteoarthritis will cause a variety of degrees of pain when standing or walking. Individuals will experience swelling, stiffness and creaking or popping sounds from the knee. Most people who suffer from osteoarthritis will also experience a loss of flexibility in the knee joint so that they do not have full range of motion. These symptoms are a result of breakdown in the cartilage of the knee that happens with use and increasing age.
Meniscus Tear
The menisci are "C" shaped discs that help to support the fit between the large thigh bone and shin bone. They help to distribute the weight and absorb the shock during walking or running. According to the Stretching Institute, a meniscus tear can be the result of injury or degeneration. Because the meniscus doesn't receive any blood supply, recovery from this type of condition is very difficult. Degenerative tears to the meniscus are associated with the breakdown of collagen fibers in the meniscus in the elderly.
Bursitis
The bursae are small sacs of fluid that cushion the outside of the knee joint so that the tendons and ligaments move smoothly over the joint. With repeated injury or increased age, the bursae can become inflamed and cause problems. Injury to the bursae is common when an individual hits the knee against a hard object, such as a desk or cabinet. According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms will include warmth, swelling, redness, tenderness, aching and pain at rest and when going up or down the stairs. If an infection is present, there can also be fever.
Chondromalacia Patella
This condition is common in the elderly who develop it as a result of arthritis in the kneecap. It causes pain and tenderness at the front of the knee when sitting for long periods of time, getting up from a chair or climbing stairs. The sufferer may also experience a grating or grinding sensation when the knee is straightened or extended.
Tendinitis
According to Dr. Mark King from Dynamic Chiropractic, patellar tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons that keep the kneecap in place. Individuals may experience pain either above or below the kneecap. The type of tendinitis more commonly experienced in people over age 35 is located above the kneecap. This condition can be aggravated when the individual has weak gluteal muscles or stiff hips. Both of these situations place more stress on the knee joint and is common in the elderly who do not spend time stretching.
