Knee Arthritis
The question is not “if” but “when” we will be subject to knee arthritis. Our knee is made up of our upper thigh bone, the femur and the lower leg bone, the tibia. Each bone is covered in cartilage at the knee joint to portect it, acting as a shock absorber. “Arthr” is latin for inflammation and “itis” is latin for ” inflammation”.
Therefore “arthritis ” translates directly to the inflammation of the body’s joints. This occurs when the cartilage around the ends of our bones becomes thin and begins to wear through. The analogy we like to give is to compare your knee to a car tire. The more miles that are driven, the more the rubber on the tires wear out.. just like our knees!
Total Knee Arthroplasty
We have all heard of or know someone who has had a “Total Knee”; meaning that they have had their entire knee joint replaced with a prosthetic device (metal or plastic). Many individuals are hesitant about pursuing this surgery, because it is… surgery (which we all try to avoid) and they know little about it which causes even greater concern. But I want you to see it from this perspective: your knees are like tires on a car. When your car tires are worn out, you replace them so that you can drive freely and safely without concern… your knees are no different. When your knees “wear out” you simply need to replace them via this highly effective procedure, alleviating your pain and hence much improving your lifestyle.
Are You Suffering from Knee Pain?
The location of knee pain can help identify the problem. Pain on the front of the knee can be due to bursitis, arthritis, or softening of the patella cartilage as in chondromalacia patella. Pain on the sides of the knee is commonly related to injuries to the collateral ligaments, arthritis, or tears to the meniscuses.
Patellofemoral Syndrome
Patellofemoral Syndrome (PFS) is a group of conditions in which the main indicator is pain under or surrounding the patella. The syndrome can be caused by many different problems that arise at the patellofemoral joint. As the knee flexes and extends, the patella tracks along the intercondylar groove of the femur. Any factor that disrupts the normal tracking (direction of travel) of the patella can result in inflammation or pain on the undersurface of the patella. This may include inflammation, damaged cartilage, and the development of arthritis. Cases where patella tracking is especially poor can even result in subluxation or dislocation of the patella.
Patellar Tendonitis
Also referred to as “jumpers’ knee”, patellar tendonitis is an inflammation of the patellar tendon. This tendon is a continuation of your quadriceps muscles from the front of your thigh, attaching to your tibial tuberosity which is a large bump just below your knee.
Osgood Schlatter Disease (OSD)
Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is a condition affecting adolescents in which there is partial separation of bone fragments from the tibial tuberosity at the site of insertion of the patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity. OSD is one of the most common orthopedic conditions that adolescent athletes will encounter. Adolescent athletes with OSD typically present with pain, swelling, and tenderness over the tibial tuberosity that worsens with athletic activity. OSD presents in growing children (boys, 12-15 years; girls, 8-12 years).
Mensical Injuries
The purpose of this article is to give the reader a better understanding of an injury to a structure in the knee called the meniscus. It will include a description of what the meniscus is specifically as well as its purpose. Further discussion will include how meniscus injuries occur and how they are diagnosed by physicians, and possible surgical intervention. Future articles will discuss the role of physical therapy, the evaluation process, and physical therapy intervention.
Knee Bursitis
Did you know that you have 11 fluid-filled sacs in your knees called bursa? These sacs are present to decrease friction and add extra cushioning to the knee. When those bursa are irritated they can become inflamed which is referred to as ‘bursitis’ of the knee. The most common bursa that become inflamed are located below the kneecap and on the inner part of your knee just below the joint line. Knee bursitis can be caused by many different things.
What type of pain are you having?
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