Your knees are important joints that give your body flexibility and enable your legs to bend, extend and swivel. However, their structure is so complex that they are vulnerable to many injuries that can cause pain during exercise. Fortunately, most causes of knee pain are preventable and treatable.
Common Causes
Many medical conditions that lead to pain around the front of your knee are known as patellofemoral pain, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Most of these conditions are caused by heavy stress from sports such as skiing and soccer. Potential factors contributing to knee stress include a misaligned kneecap, dislocation of the knee, flat feet and tight or weak thigh muscles. Injuries to other areas of the knee can also cause pain during exercise. For example, an injury to the PCL -- posterior cruciate ligament -- might occur due to taking a misstep or receiving a blow to the knee during an athletic event. Knee cartilage might also tear during actions such as twisting or pivoting, which can lead to pain during exercise.
Home Care
The standard plan of action for a knee in pain is the RICE method: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Taking a few days off from normal activities allows the knee to recover, applying an ice pack for 20 or fewer minutes at a time reduces inflammation, using a compression bandage prevents buildup of fluid and elevating the knee reduces swelling. Your doctor might also recommend that you take an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen, or suggest that you rub on an over-the-counter pain relief cream that contains an ingredient such as lidocaine.
Treatment
If your knee requires further treatment, the treatment method depends on the underlying cause of the pain. Your doctor might recommend using bracing and orthotics to support and protect the knee joint, as well as prescribe physical therapy to strengthen surrounding muscles and help stabilize the knee. He might also prescribe a stronger pain medication or suggest an injection that either reduces inflammation or lubricates the affected joints. Although surgery is typically a last resort, you might need it to repair a severely damaged joint, reconstruct a torn ligament, fix damaged cartilage or replace a faulty knee with a man-made knee.
Prevention
Take a breather from physical high-impact activities such as volleyball and running if you know that you're susceptible to knee injuries or if you've just recovered from a knee injury. Lower-impact exercises such as swimming and running on an elliptical machine will reduce the stress on your knees. If you intend to return to a higher-impact sport, do it gradually to avoid overburdening your knee, recommends the American Academy of Family Physicians. Go at a slower pace, slightly increase the duration each week and never forget to stretch, warm up and cool down. Finally, get advice from your doctor or physical therapist about getting the proper footwear for your exercise method and foot shape.
