Many people sooner or later develop knee complaints, especially people who participate in intensive sports. Because you use the joint so much, this is something that can affect your entire day. Several things can cause knee pain. Pain in the front of the knee can be a sign of injury to the knee ligaments, meniscus or muscles. A congenital abnormality of the leg can also be the culprit. If the pain persists for a long time, it is advisable to consult a doctor or physiotherapist.
Pain in the front of the knee
- Pain in the front of the knee or anterior knee pain
- Predisposing factors for knee problems
- Abnormalities of the bones
- Axis and rotation problems
- The muscles
- The knee ligaments
- What to do if you have pain in the front of the knee?
- Continue exercising with a painful knee
Pain in the front of the knee or anterior knee pain
Pain that you feel at the front or front of the knee is also called anterior knee pain . This is where the kneecap , or patella, is located . The kneecap is attached to the extensor tendon of the knee joint and functions as a lever that enables you to exert sufficient force to walk or, for example, climb stairs where you lift your own weight. When walking down the stairs, it is important that the joint is sufficiently stable so that you do not lose your balance and can move down without pain.Pain in the front of the knee is a common complaint that GPs and physiotherapists encounter . They then speak of problems of the patellofemoral joint . The two main problems are pain and instability of the knee. The type of pain discussed here is provoked by certain strenuous activities such as climbing stairs, kneeling, squatting, cycling, sitting for long periods of time and other movements that require a lot of bending and stretching of the knee. Sometimes this increases the pain or it is the only activity in which the pain occurs and the person is not bothered by it during rest. If the problem mainly lies in instability, problems are often caused by twisting movements that you make, for example, when dancing or exercising. This often concerns subluxation or luxation of the knee.
Predisposing factors for knee problems
There are a number of predisposing factors for such knee complaints, i.e. factors that make you more susceptible to them than the average person and are more likely to visit the doctor with pain complaints. These factors are bone abnormalities, axis and rotation problems, muscle problems and problems with the knee ligaments. These factors can contribute to the kneecap not running properly in the trochlea and causing complaints.
Abnormalities of the bones
All kinds of factors surrounding the formation of certain bones can play a role in the development of pain. First of all, the position of the kneecap in relation to the trochlea (a spur in the thigh) is important. If you have a patella alta , the kneecap is too high, in the case of a patella baja it is too low to function optimally. The shape of the kneecap also plays a role. The kneecap is normally convex in shape at the back, but in some people it is flatter than normal, which can cause it to not fit properly into the trochlea. If the trochlea itself is too shallow, the knee may function less well and show wear and tear more quickly. A final factor that must be taken into account is the attachment of the patellar tendon to the lower leg. If it is too much inward or outward, this can eventually cause pain.
Axis and rotation problems
Certain deformities can cause the kneecap to assume an unnatural position. If you suffer from x-legs or a valgus deformity, the patella is pulled outward, putting a lot of pressure on it. People who suffer from flat feet also have to deal with excessive pressure on the knees. A rotation problem can also be the result of abnormalities in the tibia (external rotation) or the femur (internal rotation), or from tearing or folding of the meniscus or part of it.
The muscles
Muscles play an important role in the proper functioning and stability of the knee joint. This mainly concerns the quadriceps, which are located on the front of the thigh, and the vastus medialis obliquus , which runs from the thigh to the inside of the knee. A strain or tear in one of these muscles can cause knee problems.
The knee ligaments
Knee ligament injuries are among the most common sports injuries, especially in football, gymnastics and dancing. The bands, also called ligaments, must have the correct tension to keep your knee stable. If you strain one of the knee ligaments, this can cause a lot of pain.
What to do if you have pain in the front of the knee?
As you have read, knee complaints can arise from a wide range of problems. In addition to the predisposing factors mentioned, knee pain can also be the result of certain conditions such as:
- Osgood Schlatter’s disease: a bump forms where the patellar tendon attaches to the shin bone
- Retropatellar chondropathy: damage to the cartilage at the back of the kneecap or thighbone
- Habitual patellar luxation: easier dislocation of the kneecap as a result of a congenital defect or previous injury
- Osteoarthritis: the coarsening of the cartilage in the knee
- Rheumatism
With so many possible causes, it is almost impossible for a layman to determine what actually causes the problem, let alone how to solve it. If your complaints persist, please consult a GP, orthopedist, manual therapist or physiotherapist. The remedy will often consist of (a combination of) rest, cooling with ice, the use of a bandage or brace, muscle strengthening exercises and, in extreme cases, surgery to repair a defect.
Continue exercising with a painful knee
If you want to continue exercising despite a painful knee, you may want to try using a knee band or knee brace that limits the movement of your knee. The same effect can also be achieved by using sports tape or medical tape . However, this must be applied – at least the first time – by someone who knows this in order to achieve the correct effect.
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