Knee Anatomy & Causes of Knee Pain

If you have had joint pain in the past, you know just how difficult it can be to navigate everyday life with consistent aches and pains. It may seem as though you have tried each and every remedy on the internet to help fix your joint pain. From stretching, hot compresses, cold compresses, and everything in between, maintaining movement can be a challenge. This is especially true if you suffer from knee pain. The knee is the largest joint in the body, and therefore extremely vital to healthy long-term movement.

Since our bodies rely so heavily on the ability to walk and move freely, there is a mass amount of pressure and weight put on our knees every single day. If you suffer from certain conditions such as arthritis, obesity, or diabetes, you may notice your symptoms be more severe than others. Since the knee is the largest joint in the body, it withstands the most pressure. The knee is also the most complex joint in the body, due to its size and mobility functionality.

The knee is also a synovial joint, which means it contains a fluid-like substance within. This fluid-filled substance is held within a capsule to help lubricate the joint and promote healthy knee functionality. Healthy maintenance of this fluid capsule is crucial to pain-free walking, running, and everyday use. If you are an athlete, you are more likely to cause trauma to the knee versus someone who does typical physical activity. Studies have shown that the knee is one of the most frequently injured joints, most commonly found in athletes.

Understanding How the Knee Works

Besides typical function, the knee has many different responsibilities to help support the body overall. The knee helps to keep us in an upright position without tightening are muscles, which can cause fast fatigue. Thanks to our knees, we are able to stand tall for long periods of time. These also provide stability to help us keep our balance when standing up or participating in strenuous activity.

Knees also act as shock absorbers, which can be observed when you run or walk quickly on a hard surface. You may notice if you are a runner, that your feet hit the ground consistently sending vibration up your leg. Your knee helps to soften this blow and absorb the shock caused by your feet hitting the ground. Thanks to our knees, we are able to run and walk efficiently over long distances.

Our knees help us to propel us forward as well. Without them, we would have to take much larger strides in order to get to where we want to go. Our knees help give us the inertia needed to move faster so that we can cover more ground in a shorter period of time. Our knees also help are shins and thighs twist from side to side, allowing an extra surge of momentum.

The joint of the knee is composed of at least two bones joined together by ligaments. Known as the largest joint in the body, the knees anatomy is composed of three separate sections:

• The femur, otherwise known as the lower portion of the thigh bone

• The tibia, otherwise known as the upper portion of the shin bone

• The patella, commonly called the kneecap

The femur, tibia, and patella all fit together with the femur and tibia held together by the thick bands of tissue known as ligaments. These ligaments help to keep the knee joint together and stable. The muscles located along the front of the thigh, known as the quadriceps, help to keep the knee strong.

The Femur

The knee is composed of three separate bones, one of which is the femur. The femur is the lower portion of your thigh bone, which is embedded with the tibia with ligaments, which we mentioned above. The muscles alongside the front of the thigh bone help to keep the knee strong and stable.

The Tibia

The tibia is the second bone we will discuss, also found in the knee. The tibia is the upper portion of your shin bone, which lives just below the kneecap. The tibia also helps you to maintain balance and gives your knee the flexibility to walk.

The Patella

Lastly, the patella bone. The patella bone is what makes up your kneecap, protecting the soft tissues and muscles from impact. Your patella bone also allows your knee to have the flexibility to bend and adapt to various movements.

How Bones, Cartilage, and Muscular Structure Support Knee Strength

There are a few different parts that make up the knee as we know it. First and foremost, the main structural material used to create the knee is bones. There are three bones that make up the knee, which are the thigh bone, shin bone, and knee cap. Joints help to keep these bones in place, and these are the three largest and most important structures within the knee. The kneecap even has the thickest layer of cartilage in the human body, to work as a shock absorber when you walk or run, as we mentioned above! The kneecap is triangular shaped and covers the very top of the knee.

Cartilage is a sturdy yet flexible material that helps to make up a large percentage of the human body. The two types of cartilage that you will find in your knee are called meniscus and articular cartilage. The cartilage that makes up your knee is similar to that which forms the shape of your ears expanding off the side of your skull. The meniscus cartilage is another crucial component for shock absorption. Meniscus cartilage helps to make sure that your knee can have the proper range of motion without the bones crashing against each other, causing pain. The meniscus also is a central place where nerves are stored. This helps you to improve your stability and balance, while supporting your weight.

Articular cartilage is a more shiny substance and is described as a lubricant. Articular cartilage also helps to decrease the shock associated with running and walking, while making sure that the bones have a free range of motion.

Ligaments are another key structure that helps to make up the knee. Ligaments are similar to threads that connect bones together, without causing tension when movement occurs. There are four different ligaments found in the knee, to keep everything up right and functioning as normal!

The muscles found in your legs, such as the hamstrings and quads, help the knee maintain a full range of motion. These muscles make it possible for you to straighten your knee, position your knee, and bend down.

What Causes Knee Pain?

When the knee joint’s cartilage lining wears away, both pain and a loss of mobility is extremely common. What causes this pain is a result of the individual bones in the knee grinding against each other, causing friction, and subsequently swelling and pain, in the process. Of all the conditions that can affect the knee, osteoarthritis is the most common culprit of the pain and swelling. A form of trauma to the knee or extensive injuries can also cause osteoarthritis which leads to severe pain. Without cartilage acting as a cushion between bones, pain will certainly occur.

Since the knee is such a complex structure, it is crucial to try and avoid an injury to the area. More often than not, knees are impacted during strenuous physical activity. If you are an athlete or someone who participates in a contact sport, having the proper equipment to protect your knees from injury is one of the most important parts of preparing for a game.

The most common injuries include sprains and strains, fractures, and tears. You may have heard of the ACL and MCL as being two ligaments that are commonly talked about in sports medicine. A tear in this ligament followed by a loud popping sound and swelling can allude to an injury in the area.

Overuse is another common reason for knee injuries. Cyclists and runners are most susceptible to these types of injuries. Overuse can occur when training for a race, marathon, or other sporting events. The best way to help relieve pain in this case, is to rest! If you continue to train, the pain will continue.

Your Treatment Options for Knee Pain in Fort Myers

A variety of treatment options are available, including anti-inflammatory prescription medication, therapy, and injections directly into the knee. However, if these treatment options have not proven successful, there are certainly alternatives to help alleviate your knee pain and allow you to regain both your life and your mobility.

Knee replacement surgery may very well provide the pain relief that you have long searched for and allow you to participate in all the activities you used to love. This decision, however, is ultimately up to you. Even if your orthopedic surgeon recommends the surgery, the final say is still up to you. The decision you want to make is the one that will most help alleviate your pain.

If knee replacement surgery is what you ultimately opt for, have no fear. On average, over 250,000 Americans undergo this same surgery each and every year. Since 1968, knee replacement surgery has helped millions of people with their pain.

References:

1. Arthritis Foundation – February 2006

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