Front knee pain Causes & Treatments - Dr Nandan Rao

Front knee pain, also known as anterior knee pain, is extremely common. In fact, it is the most common reason people consult a knee specialist.

There may be a general pain in the front of the knee, a specific sharp pain you are experiencing, swelling or a feeling of instability.

It can limit your daily activities, prevent you from participating in sports, or even affect your sleep.

Common causes of frontal knee pain

The most common causes of frontal knee pain are:

• Runner's knee: a problem with the way the kneecap moves

• Bursitis: inflammation of an antifriction bursa.

• Osgood Schlatters: bone irritation related to accelerated growth

• Tendinitis: in the tendon of the quadriceps or patella

• Cartilage damage: cartilage of the kneecap or knee joint

• Plica syndrome: inflammation of the lining of the knee.

• Knee arthritis: wear and tear

• We'll start by looking at the most common causes of anterior knee pain, and then we'll look at some of the rarer ones.

1. Runners' knee

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS: General pain around the front of the knee and pain in the kneecap, grinding sensation with movement of the knee, mild swelling. It gets worse with repetitive activities, eg. Eg running or jumping, stairs, and prolonged inactivity.

2. Chondromalacia patella

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS: Aching pain in the front of the knee, swelling, popping and grinding sensation with movement of the knee. Worse still when you stand up for the first time, play sports, go down stairs, and apply pressure through your kneecap. It usually affects young and healthy people.

3. Knee bursitis

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS: Pain, redness, and swelling in the front of the knee, like a mushy orange. Symptoms are aggravated by kneeling, walking, and bending the knee.

4. Osgood Schlatters

Osgood Schlatters is a common cause of front knee pai

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS: A tender bony lump just below the kneecap, causing pain in the front of the knee. It usually affects teenagers. It gets worse with sports activities like kicking, jumping, and running.

5. Patellar tendonitis (jumping knee)

Patellar tendinitis causes pain just below the kneecap.

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS: Front knee pain just below the patella, pain and stiffness after activity, thickening of the patella tendon. Made worse by repetitive activities like jumping and kicking

6. Cartilage / meniscus tear

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS: Knee swelling, blockage (where the knee gets stuck), instability, difficulty in straightening the knee, capturing pain with knee movements. Worse when bearing weight, p. Eg walking and running, on stairs and squatting

7. Knee arthritis

CLASSIC SYMPTOMS: Morning knee stiffness, generalized swelling, clicking / grinding noises and sensations, knee stiffness with loss of final movements. Symptoms tend to be worse after rest, gradually improving with gentle movements, in cold weather, and after activities. The most common cause of front knee pain in those over 50.

Dr. Nandan Rao is Arthroscopy surgeon in Surat with specialty training in joint preservation and sports orthopedics, ligament treatments,fracture management,joint replacements. With over 10 years of experience in arthroscopy and joint preservation techniques, Best arthroscopy surgeon in Surat