Being active is among the best things you can do for your body and its joints. But injuries can happen. And most of the time, they involve your knees. Let’s face it, knee pain when bending your leg can be extremely bothersome since your knees move many times throughout the day. In fact, knees play an essential part in your daily activities, like sitting in a chair, climbing the stairs, and walking down the road.
In fact, everyday life wear and tear can take a toll on your knees, causing severe pain. Your knees have several muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones. If there’s a problem with any of these, you might experience knee pain when bending your leg.
Some causes of knee pain are minor. You can easily treat them with home remedies. But others require medical attention. Well, don’t worry. If you experience severe pain, you can visit Genesis Pain Clinic. We’re here to manage and treat your knee pain.
That said, let’s discuss the potential causes of knee pain when bending and 5 simple ways to remedy it!
Why does my knee hurt when I bend my leg?
Your knee can cause pain because of several reasons. Some of them are:
- Injury or trauma to the knee ligaments or joint: it may cause sharp pain and difficulty in moving your knee
- Patellofemoral syndrome: causes pain in front of your knee
- Iliotibial band syndrome: causes pain in your knee that spread to your thigh or hip
- Patellar tendonitis: causes burning pain in your kneecap
- Hamstring tendonitis: causes pain behind your knee and/or thigh
- Quadriceps tendonitis: leads to pain in front of your knee
- Osteoarthritis: causes diffuse knee swelling, stiffness, and pain, especially in the morning
- Knee bursitis: may cause warmth, swelling, and pain below or over the knee
- Baker’s cyst: may cause swelling and tightness behind your knee
Where exactly do you feel knee pain when bending? Is the pain behind your knee or above it? Knowing the location of your knee pain can help you identify the cause. So, take notes if you have the following types of knee pain.
Sharp knee pain when bending
If you have sharp knee pain when bending, it may be due to:
- Torn ligament
- Meniscus
- Patellar or knee fracture
- Patellar tendonitis
- Osteoarthritis
Pain behind the knee when bending
If you’re feeling pain behind your knee, it is likely because of:
- Knee injury
- Baker’s cyst
- Hamstring tendonitis
Pain above kneecap when bending
Following conditions may cause pain above the kneecap when bending your leg:
- Knee bursitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Quadriceps tendonitis
Pain in the front of the kneecap when bending
If you have pain in front of the kneecap when bending, you may have:
- Patellar fracture
- Knee bursitis
- Quadriceps tendonitis
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Patellar tendonitis
Home remedies for knee pain when bending
If your knee pain is mild, here’s what you can do to remedy it at home:\
1) Change your activity
Notice how your knees feel during different activities throughout the day. Avoid certain activities if they make your knees hurt until you feel better. You can also try doing low-impact activities, like swimming, biking, walking, or water aerobics.
2) R.I.C.E: Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate!
RICE is an acronym for rest, ice, compress, and elevate. This treatment is beneficial for minor muscle injuries, including knee pain. When you’re experiencing knee pain, you can rest and avoid putting pressure on your knee. Then, wrap ice in a clean cloth and apply to your knees for 20 minutes, multiple times a day. Later on, you can try compressing your knee by snuggling it with an elastic bandage. But make sure not to make it too tight. If your knees are swelling, elevate them higher than your heart. With this method, you can help remedy most mild knee pain.
3) Heat
Applying heat can increase blood circulation in the affected area. If your knee muscles are sore or stiff, or you have arthritis, you can use heat for some relief.
4) Massage
Massage can be a great way to relieve and manage knee pain. Your therapist will use their hands to put pressure on your muscles, ligaments, and tendons. If your knee pain is because of an injury during sports, you can consider sports massage.
5) Knee exercises
Knee exercises are beneficial to manage your knee pain. Moreover, they can strengthen the muscles that support your knee. Strong and healthy supporting muscles put less stress on your knee. You can also try doing knee stretches. This way, you can help decrease muscle tension around your knee, which in turn reduces pressure on the knee joint. But make sure to move slowly. If an exercise causes more knee pain, immediately stop doing it.
Final Words
Most mild knee pain when bending can be remedied at home. However, you should see a pain management professional if your knee pain is severe. So, if your knee pain is severe, call Genesis Pain Clinic right away!
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Genesis Pain Management Clinic of Overland Park
6700 W 121st St Ste #300, Overland Park, KS 66209
913-871-9888
www.genesispain.com