In addition to providing us with mobility, the knee also supports the entire weight of the human body. Therefore, it is not surprising that it is more vulnerable to injury. It is the second most injured joint in sports activities, and it is the fourth most injured joint in the workplace.
It comprises bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, and when any of them is injured, pain and limitation when walking can appear, among other symptoms. In the following FastlyHealarticle, we explain the possible causes of knee pain when walking, a sign that you should pay attention to start the appropriate treatment and avoid complications.
Table of Contents
Factors that can affect the knees
Many risk factors can increase your chances of experiencing knee pain:
- The age of the patient and the wear and tear that occurs over the years.
- Being a woman, menopause or pregnancy usually causes joint pain in the knee.
- Obesity, since the knees are responsible for bearing the body’s weight, generates more excellent joint wear.
- Sudden movements or blows can cause a strain or sprain.
- You are playing sports, especially skiing, soccer, rugby, and athletics, which increase your chances of injury due to your movements and sudden speed changes.
- We are having diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sitting for a long time also affects your knees. This is common in some professions or in people who take long trips.
- Finally, the use of inappropriate footwear such as heels can trigger knee ailments.
Causes of knee pain when walking
Possible causes that can trigger knee pain when walking are:
Ligament injuries
They usually occur in footballers, athletes, people who have suffered traffic accidents, etc. Symptoms of ligament injuries include severe, sharp pain in the knee, inability to use it, and total instability.
Meniscal injuries
Secondly, injuries to the menisci should be mentioned caused by tearing, tearing, or displacing the menisci. It is more common in the medial meniscus and has a more remarkable recurrence in men than in women. It is caused by sudden and repetitive movements and activities that involve physical overload, which generates intense pain in the knee, a stabbing sensation, inflammation, swelling, and clicking.
Osteoarthritis
It also causes knee pain when walking. It is a chronic disease characterized by the progressive deterioration of the cartilage that is responsible for covering the bones that make up the knee. Arthritis causes pain that intensifies when performing physical activities and even when walking and stops when the person returns to rest, resulting in the inability to walk and stand in most cases.
Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of the knee joint or the many other joints in the body. Its term encompasses more than 100 different conditions, and although this is a chronic disease, it can vary in duration and intensity, even appear and disappear.
Having rheumatoid arthritis in the knees can be rare but possible, even if it first occurs in the hands and feet. This usually causes pain when walking due to the degradation of the cartilage that protects the joint.
Patellar tendinopathy
Patellar tendinopathy is quite common and can also cause knee pain when walking. It is a fairly common injury, primarily due to overloading of the patellar tendon or repetitive microtrauma. Age, obesity, hormonal changes, and frequent taking of medications such as NSAIDs are often quite influential.
Chondromalacia
The degeneration of the patellar cartilage or chondromalacia can also cause knee pain, either seated at the start of walking or climbing or descending stairs. In this case, if this condition is not treated, the discomfort will increase over time.
Baker’s cyst
Last but not least, as it causes knee pain when walking, we find Baker’s cyst, an accumulation of synovial fluid behind the knee. It usually causes swelling and heaviness in the knee.
It is not normal for the knee to hurt either at rest or when walking, there is always a factor that triggers this discomfort, and it must be diagnosed.
Knee pain when walking: treatment
Once the specialist has identified the cause of knee pain when walking, they will logically tell you what to do. However, most of the treatments used to remove knee pain have a multi-pronged approach, including:
- Physical rest and application of ice packs as an initial measure. It can be complemented by placing an elastic compression bandage and raising the legs on cushions.
- It is also necessary to indicate prescribed analgesics and anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, or naproxen.
- The orthopedic surgeon may also indicate the use of local corticosteroids infiltrated directly into the knee joint. This is helpful in soothing pain and inflammation.
- It may be necessary in some cases to use a knee brace. In this way, the articulation of sudden movements that can worsen the pain is limited.
- It is also advisable to relieve knee pain to avoid weight lifting and running or walking when the pain is active.
Finally, it is advisable to go to the traumatologist when the pain remains for more than three consecutive days even at rest and if the pain intensifies when performing simple activities. Remember that treatment is individualized and depends on the symptoms and the cause to be treated.
In the following article, you can see some home remedies for knee pain and inflammation.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Knee pain when walking: causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints, and Muscles category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.