Patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runner's knee, causes pain in the front of the knee. We think misalignment of the knee or increased pressure behind the kneecap leads to joint irritation and inflammation. What is patellofemoral pain syndrome, and how do we manage it? What is the patellofemoral joint? The patellofemoral joint (PFJ) [...]
Popliteus tendinitis, also known as popliteus tendonitis or tenosynovitis, is a rare cause of pain at the back and outside of the knee. It's poorly understood and often misdiagnosed as another problem, such as a ligament or cartilage injury. So what is the popliteus tendon, and how do we detect popliteus tendinitis? What [...]
Front of knee pain is a common complaint in active people. The most common cause is the runner's knee or patellofemoral pain. However, not all pain in front of the knee is the runner's knee. The key to ending knee pain is finding the correct cause and treating it. The reason is based on [...]
Knee pain is common, and it doesn't always follow an injury. Sometimes knee pain comes on suddenly with no obvious cause — and it can be the first sign of a condition such as arthritis or gout. So what causes sudden knee pain without injury, and how do we sort it out? When [...]
Pain at the front of the knee has many causes — patellofemoral pain, patellar tendonitis, fat pad impingement, or plica syndrome. One less common cause is swelling around an accessory bone of the kneecap — a bipartite patella. So what is a bipartite patella, how does it cause pain, and what should we do [...]
Most people have heard of an ACL injury, which amateur and elite athletes of all ages commonly suffer. But a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury accounts for up to 20% of acute knee injuries. So, what is a PCL tear in the knee, and how do we treat it? What is the posterior cruciate [...]
An MCL injury usually occurs when a force strikes the outside of the knee. The MCL resists that force, and stretches or tears as a result. So what are the typical signs of a medial collateral ligament injury, and how do we treat it? What is the medial collateral ligament? The MCL, or medial [...]
Osgood-Schlatter disease causes a painful bony lump below the knee, usually in sporty children and adolescents. Pain and swelling generally settle after puberty. But some adults develop bony ossicles in the tendon that can become loose and painful. We also call this a tibial tuberosity bump in adults, which can be painful. So what [...]
Synovial tissue lines the knee joint and produces the fluid that lubricates it. A plica is a thickening of this synovial lining that separates the knee into compartments. These folds form in the fetus and shrink during the second trimester — and in most people, they shrink away or stay small. But in some, [...]
Knee cartilage wears away as we get older. As the cushioning fails, pain and swelling develop. So what happens when you have no cartilage in your knee, and what can you do about it? This guide covers the full range of treatment options for knee cartilage damage. This is the comprehensive treatment guide. For [...]
