| Excessive use or abuse of the joint, incorrect | | | | such example. This injury occurs in the thick band of |
| positioning during movement, inadequate warm up or | | | | tissue that extends from the hip to the knee |
| cool down activity prior to and after exercise, and | | | | exterior. |
| insufficient stretching are some of the physical | | | | - Joint infection. |
| causes of knee pain. Knee pain resulting from these | | | | - Kneecap dislocation. |
| simple causes may resolve on its own through rest | | | | - Knee injuries - these injuries can result in internal |
| and careful self-nurturing. However, excess weight or | | | | knee bleeding, thereby aggravating the pain. |
| obesity can increase the risk of developing painful | | | | - Strains and sprains - these are minor ligament |
| disorders of the knee. | | | | injuries that are caused by abrupt or irregular joint |
| Some of the diseases that cause knee pain include: | | | | wrenching motions that may cause ligament trauma. |
| - Arthritis - rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, | | | | - Tendinitis (tendonitis) - characterized by anterior |
| and other connective tissue disorders like lupus. | | | | knee pain that is exacerbated by activities like going |
| - Baker's cyst - when the posterior region of the | | | | up or down stairs and other inclines. Athletes like |
| knee is inundated with fluid, swelling and arthritic | | | | runners, skiers and cyclists are more prone to this |
| inflammation occurs. This engorged cyst can burst, | | | | disease than most. |
| causing pain to travel down the back of the calf. | | | | - Meniscus tears (cartilage tears) - these type of |
| - Bursitis - symptoms include inflammation from | | | | injuries result in pain in the interior or exterior knee |
| constant knee stress (e.g., prolonged kneeling, | | | | joint. |
| excessive joint use, or injury). | | | | - ACL tear (ligament tear) - the resulting pain and |
| - Disorders of the hip - pain causing ailments which | | | | damage also causes the knee joint to become |
| affect the knee. The Iliotibial Band Syndrome is one | | | | unstable. |