What Is Knee Pain from Osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis is a condition commonly found in older adults, and the number of patients affected continues to grow. The severity varies from person to person.
What Causes Knee Osteoarthritis?
- Being overweight
- Being over 40 years of age
- Prolonged standing or sitting with bent knees
- Bow legs or knock knees
- Weakness in the muscles surrounding the knee joint due to injury
- Poor nutrition
- Menopause in women
- Steroid injections into the joint
- Other forms of arthritis such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis
How Can You Take Care of Your Knees at Home?
- Control and reduce body weight — studies show that weight loss directly correlates with a slower rate of knee joint deterioration.
- Avoid incorrect knee positions that place excessive pressure on the joint — particularly squatting, sitting cross-legged, kneeling, and going up and down stairs.
- Use a knee brace, especially when standing or walking.
- Use a walking cane or walking aid to reduce pressure on the knee.
- Take medication as prescribed by your doctor.
- Exercise and strengthen the knee regularly.
Could Your Sport Be Hurting Your Knees?
This type of pain typically involves damage to the cartilage surface of the kneecap (patella). It is most commonly caused by an abnormally shaped kneecap, running excessively, or using incorrect running technique — all of which disrupt the smooth movement of the kneecap during knee extension and flexion.
With repeated running, stress accumulates on the cartilage surface. Over time, this damages the articular cartilage of the kneecap. Deep knee bending increases compression on the kneecap further, causing even greater cartilage damage. Activities such as running uphill, downhill, or on steep slopes — which require more knee bending — are therefore more likely to cause knee pain.
Another common cause of cartilage damage is weak thigh muscles, which fail to properly hold the kneecap in place. During movement, the kneecap cartilage rubs against the knee joint bone, leading to joint surface damage.
