UNDERSTANDING KNEE PAIN
Regain control of your knee mobility
ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM KNEE PAIN ?
Do you experience knee pain when climbing stairs, sitting down or standing up, or simply bending or straightening your leg?
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Knee pain can prevent you from relaxing or sleeping, and can limit activities you enjoy, such as swimming, driving, gardening, or playing golf. If you’ve experienced any combination of these symptoms or others, and medications aren’t delivering enough relief, it may be time to consider knee replacement surgery.
Why do I have knee pain?
The knee joint consists of the distal end of the femur, the proximal end of the tibia and the patella, enclosed by a series of soft tissues surrounding the joint (ligaments, joint capsule and inter-articular menisci).It is one of the most complex joints in the human body.
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The cartilage that covers the articular surfaces protects the bones from direct friction and facilitates the relative sliding during the movements of everyday life.
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During flexion-extension movements of the leg, the action of the thigh muscles causes the femur to slide over the tibia and the patella to slide along the distal end of the femur.
The onset of some degenerative pathologies (arthritis) can lead to damage to the cartilage and to the reduction of its thickness: the bone surfaces therefore enter in direct contact causing pain.
What is knee arthritis?
The main cause of knee diseases, and consequently knee pain, is wearing out of the knee cartilage, known as arthritis.
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There are many types of arthritis. However, the following are among the most common.
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Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. This occurs when the cartilage that cushions and protects the ends of bones deteriorates with use and age.
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic form of inflammatory arthritis, an autoimmune disease that can affect almost any joint in your body, including your knees.
