FAQ for Knee Doctors

Over the past few decades, Americans have become more and more focused on staying healthy by staying active. Exercise, running, cycling, weight training, and other types of fitness training are all popular ways of staying in shape. Unfortunately, what this has also done has caused an incredible increase in the number of people who suffer from knee pain and knee injuries. Many conditions require treatment by a knee doctor. If you are having issues with your knee, you likely have questions. Here are few that many of our patients ask us.

What is the anatomy of the knee?

The knee joint is the largest one in our bodies and is located between the shin bone and the thigh bone. The joint itself is protected by the kneecap. Ligaments, muscles, and tendons run down the front and sides of the knee, connecting it the thigh bone and shin bone right at the center of the knee. There is cartilage under the kneecap and on the ends of the bones which provide a smooth service for the joint to move along. The cartilage also serves as a shock absorber.

Do many people suffer from knee pain?

With so many physical activities people are involved in these days, knee pain has become a very common complaint. It is estimated that more than 30 percent of all doctor visits by patients complaining about bone or muscle pain are due to pain in their knees.

What is involved in a knee examination?

If you are experiencing knee pain, your knee doctor will place the knee in a variety of positions, watching the knees movement for each one. The doctor will also visually compare both knees to determine if there is any swelling or other issues that appear in the painful knee and not the other.

What are common conditions that cause the knee to become painful?

There are many activities which can trigger knee pain issues, including occupational and recreational. Cartilage tears, ligaments that are torn or swollen, and runner’s knee are the most common painful conditions that bring patients to their knee doctor. There are also physical conditions that knee doctors see in many patients, such as arthritis or osteoporosis.

What are the two types of injuries that can cause knee pain?

When a patient goes to a knee doctor because they are suffering knee pain caused by an injury, they are suffering from either an acute injury or an overuse injury. An acute injury is one that is sudden and can occur because they twisted or feel on the knee. Some of the more common types of acute injuries are:

-Strains or sprains that affect the tendons and ligaments supporting the kneecap.
-A tear in the meniscus cartilage that surrounds the joint of the knee.
-A tear in ligaments. There are two different types of tears: medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
-Fracture of the kneecap or any of the bones surrounding the knee.
-Dislocation of the kneecap.

The other types of injuries that knee doctors treat are injuries caused by overuse. These injuries occur when the patient is involved in activities that have repetitive movements involving the knee or they put constant pressure on the knee. Cycling, jogging, jumping, and even climbing stairs can all cause overuse knee injuries that require treatment by a knee doctor such as the doctor for knee pain Rockville MD locals turn to. Some of the more common conditions include bursitis, tendinitis, and plica syndrome.  

Thanks to authors at Pain and Arthritis Center for insight into Injury and Chiropractic care.