Some of us are familiar with knee pain that occurs due to age or after injury, as well as certain diseases. For many people with arthritis, knee pain gets worse at night. What can you do about it? Severe joint discomfort due to arthritis and other painful conditions can disrupt your sleep. Therefore, you need to know the causes of pain and ways to combat it.
Myth 2: If your knee hurts, it needs rest.
Of course, you cannot engage in active sports if you have acute pain. With arthrosis, there is usually a slight inflammation in the knee, so the pain makes itself felt when walking, going down, or going up stairs. Painkillers and intra-articular injections of the Noltrex synovial fluid prosthesis can be dealt with, but not immobilization.
During movements, blood circulation is activated - the joint receives the necessary nutrition and oxygen. If this does not happen, it will wear out even faster. For arthrosis, you should select special exercises with minimal load on the damaged joint, relieve pain, but under no circumstances go to “bed rest”.
Exercise therapy for arthrosis is designed with minimal load on the damaged joint
Video
October 16, 2019
Knee-joint
The knee is a joint that allows the leg to bend, provides stability to the body and supports all of its weight. Thanks to the knee, activities such as walking, running, turning, jumping and squatting are possible.
This work is ensured by several components:
- bones;
- cartilage tissue;
- muscles and ligaments;
- tendons.
No. 1. Injuries
Acute or chronic injury is a common cause of knee pain. According to some studies, the knee is the joint most often subject to injury. The very anatomical structure of the knee and its functions predispose to the development of injuries, which can disrupt its functioning and, accordingly, cause pain.
The appearance of such symptoms indicates damage to one of three ligaments:
- anterior and posterior cruciate;
- medial collateral.
Such injuries occur in athletes, especially track and field athletes. But this does not mean that non-professional athletes are out of the risk zone. Incorrect running technique is one of the causes of ligament damage and joint pain, which is typical for non-professional athletes.
Football and other contact sports with a ball can cause injuries such as direct blows to the knee. Some injuries may be so severe that they require surgery.
Despite the fact that this injury is serious, it is, unfortunately, not uncommon. Pain can occur not only in the acute period, but also persist in the future.
A fracture can affect several bones, including the kneecap. At risk are older patients and those suffering from degenerative diseases. In this case, a fracture can form even with minor injuries and everyday activities.
No. 2. Bursitis
This is an inflammation of the joint capsule of the joint. Anatomically, they are designed to soften the work of the joint and allow the ligaments to easily slide over the component parts of the joint.
Sudden impacts, chronic injuries and irritations can damage this joint capsule, which leads to inflammation.
Characteristic symptoms of inflammation will be: swelling, pain, stiffness of movement, and the knee becomes hot to the touch.
Treatment is prescribed individually, but more often it comes down to taking anti-inflammatory medications; rest for the knee and the absence of a traumatic agent are also necessary.
No. 3. Dislocations
Patella dislocations are also common, which is accompanied by severe and acute pain. When seeking medical help, the doctor can easily return the patella to its place, however, visual examination methods are mandatory.
Radiography allows you to identify possible fractures and, based on this, develop treatment tactics. In severe cases, surgery may be required to prevent further dislocations.
No. 4. Degenerative changes in tissues
Osteoarthritis is a common problem and degenerative tissue disorder. A decrease in the volume of cartilage and surrounding tissues is the cause of pain, stiffness of movement and dysfunction of the joint.
Such changes are more associated with the aging process: it occurs in 10% of men and 13% of women aged 55-65 years.
No. 5. Rheumatoid diseases
These are inflammatory autoimmune diseases in which the target organ is the joints. Their own immune system perceives them as enemies and attacks.
Characteristic symptoms of the disease include: swelling, severe pain in the joints; if left untreated, bone erosion and joint deformation may occur.
There is no specific treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, but depending on the clinical picture, the doctor may prescribe a number of medications:
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- corticosteroids;
- biological agents and antirheumatic drugs;
- painkillers and others.
This is a very painful form of arthritis. Characteristic symptoms include: severe swelling, stiffness of movement, severe pain, etc. Their appearance is associated with the accumulation of uric acid in the joint; taking anti-inflammatory drugs or other treatments helps break down these chemicals.
Myth 3. Destroyed cartilage can be restored with medications.
Today, many drugs are advertised that supposedly restore cartilage. They contain cartilage components chondroitin and glucosamine. However, their action is not enough to compensate for the daily loss of cartilage cells. It turns out that for this purpose you need to take chondroprotectors for life and in huge doses. Specialists from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons emphasize the lack of evidence of their effectiveness. Although there may be exceptions.
The thickness of healthy cartilage is only a few millimeters
Myth 4. Hyaluronic acid quickly relieves pain.
Hyaluronic acid is another component of cartilage. Sodium hyaluronate serves as the basis for cartilage tissue, protects its surface from destruction, and acts as a lubricant. Preparations based on hyaluronic acid are injected into the joint in courses - several injections with a week break. The goal of this treatment for osteoarthritis is to restore the deficiency of synovial fluid (lubrication) and stop friction.
The effect is achieved in several injections - you should not expect quick pain relief. It is also a mistake to believe that hyaluronic acid can completely cure knee pain. It is impossible to cure arthrosis, but with the help of this technique it is possible to take control of the destructive processes in the joints.
To prevent possible allergic reactions and side effects, many orthopedists recommend using its synthetic analogue, Noltrex, with a higher molecular weight, instead of sodium hyaluronate. The drug lasts longer because it takes longer to break down.
Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid do not provide immediate pain relief
Diseases that cause pain at rest
The most common causes of this condition are:
- injuries - damage to the meniscus, fractures, bleeding into the joint cavity;
- inflammation – arthritis, periarthritis, bursitis, synovitis;
- degenerative changes – osteoarthritis.
Other vascular, muscle and bone diseases can also have a negative impact on the peripheral nervous system and cause knee pain. Unpleasant sensations may occur due to venous stagnation and blood clots in the blood vessels. Excess weight, which increases the daily load on the limbs, negatively affects the health of the knee joints.
Arthritis
This disease can be suspected if the following symptoms are present:
- Knee pain at night when at rest: pain in the knee joint
- sharp bursting or throbbing pain;
- swelling of the joint and its increase in size;
- redness, shine and heat of the epidermis above the knee.
The development of the disease is often accompanied by a rise in temperature and general malaise. Also, with arthritis, “restless legs syndrome” often occurs: the patient has twisting and aching legs and feet at night. In severe cases, a person begins to suffer during the day.
Arthrosis
The most common cause of night pain. First, discomfort appears at the end of the day after unusual loads on the joint. At rest it passes. The pain becomes constant as the articular cartilage deteriorates.
This disease in most cases affects women, especially if they are overweight and have problems with the veins.
If arthrosis is not treated, it will lead to complete immobilization of the joint.
Bursitis
When the joint capsule is inflamed, the pain intensifies at night when crossing the legs; it spreads upward from the affected joint, or, conversely, downward from the knee to the foot. The joint swells, the skin over it becomes red and hot.
Synovitis
When inflammation occurs, a tumor forms in the inner surface of the knee joint capsule. The pain intensifies in the morning and subsides in the evening, but even at night, in a calm state, the aching does not disappear.
Osteoporosis
A distinctive feature is vivid symptoms. At rest, spasms and severe pain in the knees occur, especially when the weather changes. At an advanced stage, the legs become deformed and the person cannot move independently.
Injuries
Aching pain at night is often a consequence of injury. It could be:
- bruise and dislocation of the knee;
- meniscal damage;
- sprains and ruptures of ligaments or tendons;
- patella fracture.
Additional symptoms include swelling, a change in skin color to bluish-red, and limited movement.
Venous congestion
Prolonged sitting provokes stagnation of blood in the legs and pelvis. If you do not engage in physical activity after sedentary work, stagnation at night can cause swelling, pain, and pale skin above the knees. With this ailment, the legs burn in the dark, and by the morning the burning sensation disappears. Vascular disorders are also characterized by simultaneous pain in the left and right knee.
- Causes of aching pain in the knee joint at rest. What to do if your knees ache
Pinched nerve
It is indicated by the occurrence of sudden piercing pain in the leg, which affects the area of the knee joint. It takes considerable effort to find a suitable position, relax and fall asleep. But when changing position, the person will wake up in pain.
Development of osteophytes
Osteophytes are new formations of bone tissue in joints. Their appearance is due to poor nutrition of the cartilage of the knee joint. If there is an osteophyte, the knee will ache even at rest.
Blood clots
When blood clots form, heaviness and pain occur in the legs, they often cramp, and swelling appears. The occurrence of ulcers signals a violation of metabolic processes.
Excess weight
The knee joint experiences heavy loads. They increase several times if a person is overweight. Overweight people suffer from aching pain in their knees even during sleep.
Myth 5. Stem cells can cure arthrosis and get rid of knee pain forever.
Scientists around the world are conducting research and looking for a way to restore cartilage using stem cells. So far this has not been possible, but it is quite possible that this will happen soon. Even in this case, stem cells will not stop the development of osteoarthritis. They will only save a person from focal damage to the cartilage. If the cartilage is very worn out, the only method is joint replacement.
If your knee hurts at least sometimes, it’s worth considering. If you already have gonarthrosis, you need to be doubly careful. How not to start the disease? Simple tips from an expert:
Diagnostic features
Depending on the nature of the pain, you should contact one of the doctors:
- if your knee hurts after a blow, injury or awkward movement, see a traumatologist;
- if there are no visible reasons for pain, see an orthopedist or neurologist;
- If hematomas or spider veins appear on your legs, see a phlebologist.
To clarify the diagnosis, the specialist may order an X-ray, MRI or CT scan, ask for an ultrasound of the joints, a blood or urine test, or biomaterial for joint puncture. Collection of joint fluid is necessary for synovitis and bursitis to check for the presence and type of infection. Before treating osteoarthritis, MRI is used to determine the degree of joint space narrowing, the nature of osteophytes, bone tissue destruction and other factors.
The knee is hurt? Feel free to ask questions to an orthopedist or traumatologist
Myth 6. Getting an artificial joint will permanently relieve knee pain.
The strength of cartilage varies from person to person and is determined by genetic factors. Some people are limping at the age of 50, while others can walk calmly without a cane at 80. If you have a tendency to arthrosis, it will certainly develop. All therapeutic methods eliminate only the consequences, but do not affect the cause. Even if you install an artificial joint, degenerative processes will still progress in the joints, caused, for example, by hormonal imbalance, metabolic disorders or genetics.
Joint replacement often causes complications and requires serious rehabilitation. Sometimes, even after its installation, knee pain persists, and no doctor can tell you how long the structure will last. Therefore, this operation should not be considered a panacea. It is more correct to preserve the “native” joint as long as possible. You can extend his life and get rid of pain with the help of Noltrex injections - a synovial fluid prosthesis.
Sometimes after endoprosthetics the knee hurts even more
Increased swelling at night
Experts say knee pain depends on what happens to your joints during the day and how that pain is perceived when you try to calm your body and mind before bed. When people go to bed, it is important that they feel as comfortable as possible. Pain is usually very annoying and haunts. People try to relax because during the daytime we are usually busy and listen less to our bodies. In the evening, when we go to bed, we have more time for ourselves, so lesions due to arthritis or other pathologies cause more pain.
Daytime stress on the knee can also negatively affect how it feels at night. Additionally, inflammation in the knee can increase pain at any time, without warning or previous activity.
The synovial fluid inside our knee, which lubricates the surfaces of the joint, bathes the knee when we bend it to stand, walk, or be active in other ways. Therefore, when we move, we do not experience as much swelling of the joint. Research shows that those who have osteoarthritis and lead an active lifestyle have better knee joint health and function, and experience less pain overall.
On the contrary, as soon as we go to bed, the tendons and muscles relax, and the fluid practically does not circulate or flow out, but accumulates around the joint. Thus, the knees become swollen by morning. And the swelling compresses the nerve endings and provokes pain. Additionally, many people tend to be sedentary in the evening before bed, which can make knee pain worse at night.
Myth 7. Knee pain due to arthrosis is the lot of older people.
Today, knee pain is increasingly a concern for young people, especially those who enjoy outdoor activities or play sports. The disease is “getting younger”; post-traumatic arthrosis is becoming more common, for example, after damage to the cruciate anterior ligament in football players, handball players, etc. Of course, the disease predominates in people over fifty, but many young people are also at risk. Thus, you can get arthrosis of the elbow or shoulder if you regularly engage in the same type of activity, and this is precisely the lot of young people.
Treatment
Since there are many diseases that can manifest as knee pain, there is no single treatment strategy. In each case, it is developed individually, based solely on the nature of the pathological changes, their severity, the presence of concomitant pathologies, the individual characteristics of the patient, his age, etc.
For spinal pathologies that cause knee pain, treatment is carried out under the supervision of a neurologist. If they are the result of arthrosis or other pathologies of the knee, ankle joints, or feet, treatment is prescribed by an orthopedist.
When diagnosing pathologies of the spine or pelvic bones, patients, in addition to consulting a neurologist, may additionally be advised to visit an endocrinologist who will help solve the problem of excess weight.
All patients with spinal diseases, orthopedic pathologies, including arthrosis of the knee joints, are recommended for complex treatment, which may include:
- drug therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- exercise therapy;
- manual therapy.
Each measure is selected strictly individually in accordance with the diagnosis and the degree of neglect of pathological changes. And for grade 2-3 arthrosis of the knee joints, plasma lifting is often additionally prescribed.
Drug therapy
Drug treatment usually includes 2 areas: symptomatic and etiotropic therapy. The first is aimed at quickly improving the patient’s well-being, eliminating knee pain and other existing symptoms. The goal of the second is to directly influence the cause of the development of disorders and normalize the patient’s condition in the long term.
Therefore, in most cases, patients are prescribed a complex of medications:
- NSAIDs are symptomatic therapy that quickly relieves pain in the knee, lower back, and feet and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Corticosteroids are drugs with a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, indicated for severe inflammation and most often injected into the joint cavity. They are used in short courses.
- Chondroprotectors are products containing components used by cartilage tissue for regeneration. They are prescribed in long courses, usually lasting at least 2-3 months.
- Muscle relaxants are drugs prescribed for spasms in the muscles of the back and hips, which is often a reflex reaction of the body to pain impulses.
- Vitamin complexes are drugs indicated to improve the course of metabolic processes in the body, as well as the transmission of bioelectrical nerve impulses along the nerves.
Plasmolifting
Plasmolifting is an injection of plasma obtained from the patient’s own blood directly into the affected knee joint or the soft tissue around it. Due to the saturation of blood plasma with platelets, cytokines and growth factors, it promotes:
- stimulation of natural regeneration processes;
- restoration of the normal composition and volume of synovial fluid;
- activation of blood circulation and nutrition of joint cartilage;
- eliminating inflammation;
- pain reduction;
- restoration of normal range of motion in the affected joint;
- reducing treatment time by 2-3 times.
PRP therapy, as plasmolifting is also called, perfectly complements the therapy for arthrosis of the knee joint, so it is often included in the treatment regimen for this disease. It can also be used in the treatment of spinal osteochondrosis and injuries, complementing drug therapy, physiotherapy, exercise therapy and other treatment methods.
Physiotherapy
Various types of physical therapy treatments can be used to treat musculoskeletal disorders that cause knee pain. They increase the effectiveness of other treatment methods and have a positive effect on the affected area. Physiotherapy is always prescribed in courses of 7-15 procedures, which are selected individually. Most often they resort to help:
- magnetic therapy;
- ultrasound therapy;
- UHF;
- phonophoresis;
- electrophoresis;
- SMT therapy or amplipulse therapy;
- vibration massage.
Exercise therapy
Physical therapy plays an important role in the treatment of pathologies of joints of any location and the spine in particular. It allows you to dosely increase the range of movements, as well as stimulate blood circulation, which leads to increased nutrition of all structural elements of the knee joints and thereby promotes their regeneration.
But it is important to choose the optimal set of exercises that will be most useful in the current situation and will not cause harm. Patients may be advised to perform stretching exercises, which are especially important for spinal pathologies. Also, exercises are almost always prescribed to strengthen the muscular-ligamentous system. They contribute to the formation of a strong muscle frame, which will reduce the load on the affected joints and create favorable conditions for their recovery.
Exercise therapy classes are simple and accessible to people of any age, since an individually designed program ensures the creation of a precisely dosed load that has a positive effect on sore joints and eliminates exercises that can cause harm. But in order to master the methodology of each proposed exercise as accurately as possible, it is worth conducting the first classes under the supervision of a physical therapy instructor.
In the future, you can practice at home, outdoors or in any other suitable place, but every day. Systematicity is one of the basic rules for the success of physical therapy. Therefore, you need to add it to your list of daily tasks and devote the proper amount of time - 20-30 minutes is usually enough. During exercise, it is important to avoid sudden movements and haste, as this can cause pain and worsening of the condition.
Myth 8. If there is pain under the knee, it is a Baker's cyst.
Many people make this diagnosis for themselves when they experience pain under the knee. Let's look at what happens in the case of a cyst. At the back of the knee are muscle tendons covered with a thin layer of lubricant. Tendons are located in channels in which they slide during movements. Sometimes a channel forms between the joint and the sheath, and fluid flows out and swells the sheath. A bag with a viscous fluid is formed - a cyst.
This pathology occurs in people of any age, even small children. If it is small, you can do without treatment; large cysts are removed. The formation will put pressure on the nerves and blood vessels and may burst. The cyst has nothing to do with arthrosis.
Most often, pain under the knee occurs with osteoarthritis of the knee or osteochondrosis of the spine. The cyst is not detected. The cause of pain is spasms of muscle vessels or transmission of nerve impulses from the lower back. In young people, pain is accompanied by damage to the posterior meniscus or anterior cruciate ligament. In this case, the popliteal muscles perform functions unusual for them and become overworked.
Pain under the knee often occurs with gonarthrosis
Myth 9. If your knee hurts, your knee needs to be treated.
This does not always happen. Sometimes, after diagnosis, the patient is surprised to discover that his knee joints are healthy. Orthopedists say: if your knee hurts, check your hip joint. With arthrosis of the hip joint, the pain radiates to the knee, while the damaged joint may not bother you at all.
Sometimes back problems lead to knee pain, for example, due to herniated discs between the lumbar vertebrae, nerves are compressed. There are other reasons, including gynecological ones, such as pelvic inflammation. Very often the knee hurts due to compression of the sensory nerve between the thigh muscles. This condition is diagnosed when the inside of the knee hurts, the pain is burning and does not go away after taking painkillers.
Knee pain often occurs with systemic diseases - psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis. Its cause is inflammation in the joint, which, despite the absence of injury or wear, quickly leads to the destruction of cartilage. There have been cases when knee pain occurred against the background of reactive arthritis caused by genitourinary tract infections. Therefore, when visiting an orthopedist, you should not hide any clinical symptoms in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
The knee joint is a complex system. Even experienced orthopedic doctors cannot always determine the cause of pain in it. Therefore, take care of your knees, do not ignore pain and discomfort, because who knows what is hidden behind this symptom - ordinary fatigue, a systemic disease or incurable gonarthrosis.
Causes
Knee pain can accompany a variety of diseases, ranging from arthrosis of the knee joints to pathologies of the lumbar, sacral spine, and pelvic bones. Chondropathy, arthritis, neuritis and other similar diseases can also cause discomfort or even acute pain in the knees.
The obvious cause of the development of pain syndrome is various types of injuries from bruises, dislocations, to ligament ruptures, meniscal injuries or intra-articular fractures. But in such situations, the pain is almost always acute and appears at the moment of a blow, fall or other traumatic factors. Therefore, in such cases, victims need to contact a traumatologist to treat the consequences of the injury.
Thus, pain in the knee is always a sign of a pathological process that affects the cartilaginous, bone or soft tissue structures of the knee itself, or damage to the nerve that innervates it. Let's look at the main reasons for their appearance.
Arthrosis of the knee joints or gonarthrosis
Arthrosis, osteoarthritis of the knee joint or gonarthrosis is one of the most common causes of knee pain. This disease is characterized by the occurrence of degenerative-dystrophic processes in the cartilaginous structures of the joint, which becomes a consequence of disruption of metabolic processes, the action of traumatic factors in the past, etc. Very often, gonarthrosis is diagnosed in middle-aged and elderly people, athletes and people engaged in heavy physical activities. labor.
This disease has a chronic course, tends to progress slowly and ultimately lead to severe limitation of joint mobility, impairment of the supporting function of the limb (usually both), and pain. Initially, they are dull, aching, pulling in nature and appear during movements, accompanied by a crunching sensation in the knee, especially while climbing stairs. But if left untreated, the cartilage of the knee joints continues to progressively wear out, which leads to increased pain and its presence even at rest. Subsequently, destruction of the articular surfaces occurs, which further aggravates the situation and can even cause disability.
A typical feature of arthrosis of the knee joints is the presence of initial pain, to eliminate which patients need to “disperse”. Thanks to this, an improvement in the condition is observed within 15-30 minutes.
Gonarthrosis is often complicated by the addition of inflammatory processes that can affect the synovial bursa, ligaments and tendons. This leads to a sharp increase in pain, acquiring a bursting character, swelling of the soft tissues and a local increase in temperature.
Diseases of the spine and asymmetry of the pelvic bones as a cause of knee pain
At first glance, there is no connection between the lumbar spine and the knees. But in reality this is not the case. They are closely interconnected by the sciatic nerve (nervus ischiadicus), which is the main nerve of the leg. It originates in the spine and is formed simultaneously by fibers extending from the spinal cord through natural openings in the vertebrae of the nerves:
- L4;
- L5;
- S1;
- S2;
- S3.
These nerves pass through the vertebrae of the same name, uniting at the level of the sacrum into a nerve plexus. From it the sciatic nerve extends along the dorsum of each leg and innervates the knee. In this case, this nerve is responsible for its sensitive (sensory) and motor (motor) functions. Therefore, disturbances at any point in its passage, in particular at the level of the lumbar region, can provoke the appearance of pain in the knee. Most often this is due to the development of:
- Osteochondrosis, protrusions and intervertebral hernias. These diseases are based on degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs located between almost all vertebrae. They are characterized by a systematic decrease in the height of the disc and its dehydration, which leads to a decrease in the elasticity of its structures and an increased risk of their rupture under load. As a result, the vertebrae move closer together, which can lead to compression of the nerve roots passing through them. If such changes occur in the lumbar region, compression of the fibers that form the sciatic nerve is possible and, accordingly, the appearance of pain in the knee. But more often, this symptom occurs when osteochondrosis is complicated by the formation of a protrusion (bulging) of the intervertebral disc or its herniation (rupture of the outer shell of the disc), since the protruding areas can strongly compress the spinal roots directly in the spinal canal and provoke the appearance of severe neurological complications, including pain in the knee.
- Spondylosis. This is a disease that most often develops against the background of osteochondrosis and is chronic. When it occurs, there is an overgrowth of the surfaces of the vertebral bodies adjacent to the intervertebral discs and the formation of bone protrusions (osteophytes) on them. In severe cases, adjacent vertebrae can fuse together, which leads to their immobilization and severe compression of the nerves passing through them.
- Spondylolisthesis. This term refers to a pathology of the spine in which the overlying vertebra is displaced in relation to the one located below it. Most often, it is the lumbar region that is affected, which leads to pinching of the nerves that form the sciatic nerve.
Signs by which one can suspect the cause of the development of knee pain due to the occurrence of pathologies of the lumbar spine may include the presence of additionally:
- nagging, aching, acute pain in the lower back;
- muscle tension, hamstrings, quadriceps femoris muscle, which occupies the entire front surface of the thigh and partially the outer side;
- pain and stiffness in the hips;
- diffuse pain in the legs;
- pain in the upper thighs.
In each individual case, the set, nature and severity of symptoms will be different. This largely depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the degree of nerve compression.
Damage to the sciatic nerve may be directly indicated (symptoms can be observed in only one limb or in both at once):
- pain in the knees, hips and lower back;
- spasms of the muscles of the back and legs;
- burning along the back of the leg;
- loss of control of bladder and bowel functions.
When the functioning of the sciatic nerve is impaired, there is often a feeling of instability in the knees and their compression. As a result, the patient complains that he cannot fully rely on his legs.
Asymmetry of the sacrum and pelvic bones can also provoke the appearance of pain in the knee joint. It occurs as a result of a difference in the length of the lower extremities, which may be a consequence of congenital features or curvature of the pelvis, including due to scoliosis. This leads to overload of one of the legs and faster wear of the cartilage of the knee joint, resulting in arthrosis.
The abdominal muscles, which attach to the pubic bone, are responsible for ensuring the stability of the pelvic bones. When they are weakened as a result of excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle, or other factors, the muscles of the back of the thigh are overloaded. This in turn provokes overload of the knee joint.
Pathologies of the feet and ankle joints
Ankle joints, like knee joints, can be affected by arthrosis. It is often diagnosed in athletes, especially ballet dancers, gymnasts, as well as in older people. This leads to disruption of the biomechanics of movements, which increases the load on the knee joint and contributes to its faster wear. In such situations, a person will be bothered by pain not only in the knee, but also in the ankle, which significantly affects the gait due to limited movements.
Foot pathologies, in particular flat feet and hallux valgus, can also provoke increased stress on the knees and cause pain in them. These orthopedic pathologies are very common today and in most cases begin to form in childhood and worsen in adulthood. Hallux valgus is characterized by a violation of the axis of the ankle joint as a result of the foot falling inward. This is associated with increased fatigue of the legs and pain in them, but can subsequently lead to pain in the knees.