Most joint and leg pain occurs at the knee with referred pain from the ankle to the hip. Referred pain occurs when an injury occurs in one place, and the pain can be felt elsewhere. The knee is one of the more mobile joints in the body, allowing rapid changes of direction, while providing the stability needed to hold the leg in an upright standing position. However, the knee is highly susceptible to injury caused by these movements, commonly damaging the cartilage or ligaments surrounding the knee causing joint and leg pain.
Runner's Knee---Patellar Tendinitis
Runners or joggers are susceptible to at least two types of inflammation known as runners' knee. Inflammation causes pain of the illiotibial tract, a fibrous band that runs down the outside of the knee from the buttock muscles to the tibia. Inflammation of the tendon of the kneecap--the patella, which attaches the kneecap to the shin--is also called runners' knee.
Chondromalacia Patellae
In this disorder, damage to the joint surface at the back of the patella causes pain behind the kneecap. This condition most often occurs in teens and young adults, and more common in girls. According to MedlinePlus, a publication of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, research shows the problem occurs because the patella is tilted at an abnormal angle. A muscle imbalance around the knee may cause the tilting.
Bursitis
Repeated pressure, strains, or a blow to the knee may cause inflammation of one of the fluid-filled sacs called bursae surrounding the knee joint. Wrestlers are prone to bursitis in front of the knee because of the pressure they place on their knees.
Osteoarthritis
Repeated injuries to the knee can lead to osteoarthritis, a disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints. Degeneration of the cartilage that lines the joints, as well as formations of bony growths, occur because of osteoarthritis. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, osteoarthritis of the knee can be extremely painful. In the advanced stages, the joint can become unstable due to swelling and inflammation.
Ligament Damage
Damage to a knee ligament is one of the most common injuries in sports. Injury to the medial ligament is more common than damage to the lateral, although cruciate ligament injury may be the most common of all. Minor strains cause pain, tenderness and swelling in the knee. Referred pain can be felt above and below the knee. If the medial or cruciate ligaments rupture, the stability of the knee can be affected, requiring surgery.
