In this article

• Introduction to Knee Pain
• Anatomy of the Knee
• Home Care for Knee Pain
• When to Call the Doctor for Knee Pain
• When to Go to the Hospital for Knee Pain
• Getting a Knee Pain Diagnosis
• Types of Knee Pain
• Acute Knee Pain
• Chronic Knee Pain
• Knee Pain Prevention

Chronic Knee Pain continued...

• Description: Osgood-Schlatter disease occurs in adolescent athletes where repetitive extension of the knee causes inflammation and injury of the tibial tubercle (the bony protrusion at the top of the shin, just below the kneecap).
• Symptoms: Children suffering from this syndrome report pain at the tibial tubercle. This pain is typically worse when extending the leg. The tibial tubercle is tender to touch and over time begins to protrude more because the chronic inflammation stimulates the bone to grow.
• Treatment: Osgood-Schlatter disease is a self-limited condition that usually resolves as the the tibial tubercle stops growing with the end of adolescence (at about age 17 years in males and age 15 years in females). Treatment includes PRICE and NSAID therapy to minimize acute pain from activity. Physical therapy to identify limitations will reduce stress to the tibial tubercle and often includes strength training of the hip and core. In severe cases, splinting the knee for a few weeks may help reduce the pain and halt the inflammation cycle.

• Description: A fibrous ligament, called the iliotibial band, extends from the outside of the pelvic bone to the outside of the tibia. When this band is tight it may rub against the bottom outer portion of the femur (the lateral femoral condyle).
• Symptoms: Distance runners typically suffer from this condition. These runners complain of outside knee pain usually at the lateral femoral condyle. Early on, the pain will typically come on 10 minutes to 15 minutes into a run and improve with rest.
• Treatment: The most important aspect of treating iliotibial band syndrome is to stretch the iliotibial band. One way to do this is to place the right leg behind the left while standing with your left side about 2 feet to 3 feet from a wall. Then, lean toward your left for 20 to 30 seconds using the wall to help you support yourself. In addition to stretching the iliotibial band, PRICE therapy and NSAIDs may be of some help.

Knee Pain Prevention