Ligament Injuries
Ligaments connect bones and help provide joint stability. There are four main ligaments supporting the knee. Instability, swelling, and pain are frequently associated with knee ligament injuries.
Meniscus Tears
The meniscus is an important piece of fibrous cartilage that acts like a bumper cushion. Locking, swelling, and loss of motion in the knee could indicate a meniscus injury.
Fractures
A fractured knee can be serious. While some fractures heal with a splint or brace, others can be serious. Knee fractures occur with traumatic injuries like a fall and commonly cause sudden pain and swelling.
Arthritis
Arthritis occurs when the smooth cartilage lining the bones of the knee wears out. Arthritis is a common condition in aging athletes. If you’re experiencing stiffness, swelling, or knee pain, arthritis may be the cause.
Patella (Kneecap) Injuries
Pain along the front of the knee or with walking, standing, and stairs can result from patella problems. Patella related pain is the most common cause of knee pain seen by doctors.
Patella Tendonitis
The patella tendon is a flat piece of fibrous tissue running along the front of the knee. It can cause a lot of pain and be difficult to treat. This commonly affects those who do running and jumping sports like soccer and basketball
Iliotibial (IT)Band Syndrome
A long piece of connective tissue running from the outer hip to knee called the IT band can cause pain with activity. Irritation of this tissue frequently results in pain with walking or running along the outside of the knee.
Leg Muscle Strain
A partial tear or strain in a muscle can occur when muscles are tired or not adequately warmed up before activity. These injuries can be painful and result in bruising around the injury site.
Leg Thigh Contusion
A deep bruise of muscle can occur if your thigh comes into contact with something hard like a helmet or other object. It can cause pain and stiffness at the injury site.
Leg Shin Splints
Runners with pain in the lower legs especially at the beginning of a run could be experiencing shin splints. Usually this pain lessens after a few minutes of running activity. It can be associated with starting a new training program and even a sign of something wrong with your running form.
Leg Exertional Compartment Syndrome
This rare but painful condition can severely restrict activity, especially running activity. It can cause the lower legs to feel heavy and a squeezing type of pain. The pain will build up until the runner stops running and rests.
