{"id":403624,"date":"2023-12-30T11:27:42","date_gmt":"2023-12-30T16:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/knee-pain-location-chart-know-what-the-pain-in-your-knee-means\/"},"modified":"2023-12-30T16:05:43","modified_gmt":"2023-12-30T21:05:43","slug":"knee-pain-location-chart-know-what-the-pain-in-your-knee-means","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/knee-pain-location-chart-know-what-the-pain-in-your-knee-means\/","title":{"rendered":"Knee Pain Location Chart: Know What The Pain In Your Knee Means","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
The knee joint is the largest compound synovial joint of the human body. The joint has bones, cartilage, muscles, and bursae that are held together by ligaments and tendons. Damage to any of these structures can give rise to knee pain.<\/p>\n
The location of knee pain can be very telling, and can help narrow down the diagnosis. That is why we have created a knee pain location chart. This will give you a brief idea of what is causing your knee pain.<\/p>\n
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The knee joint is made up of three bones: the tibia, femur, and patella.<\/p>\n
The major tendons at the knee joint are the iliotibial band, quadriceps tendon, patella tendon, and hamstring tendons.<\/p>\n
The muscles that move the knee can be divided into two main groups: flexors and extensors. The flexors bend the knee, and include the articularis genus, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris. They originate from the femur and anterior inferior iliac spine. <\/p>\n
The extensors straighten the knee, and include the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, gastrocnemius, plantaris, popliteus, and gracilis. They originate from the ischial tuberosity, inferior pubic ramus of the hip bone, and the femur. They attach to the tibia, fibula, and calcaneus.<\/p>\n
The major ligaments of the knee joint are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial cruciate ligament (MCL), and lateral cruciate ligament (LCL).<\/p>\n
Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the knee joint. There are five major bursae in the knee joint: the prepatellar, suprapatellar, infrapatellar, pes anserine, and the semimembranosus bursa.<\/p>\n
The knee receives blood supply from arterial branches of the popliteal artery and femoral artery. The lymph from the knee and lower leg drains into the popliteal lymph nodes in the popliteal fossa. The popliteal nodes, along with lymphatics from the lower limb drain into the inguinal nodes.<\/p>\n
The major structures in the knee and many of the flexor muscles receive their nerve supply from branches of the femoral nerve (L1, L2, L3). L1, L2 and L3 are lumbar nerve roots that are named based on the vertebra that lies above them. The extensor muscles receive their nerve supply from the sciatic nerve (L4, L5, S1, S2, S3).<\/p>\n
Different knee injuries can cause a range of different symptoms. Some common symptoms of an injury to the knee may include: <\/p>\n
If you look at the knee pain location chart, you can see that the knee can be divided into different compartments. You have the inside (or the medial part) of the knee, the outside (or the lateral part)of the knee, the center of the knee, above and below the knee itself, and the back of the knee.<\/p>\n
The location of your knee pain can indicate the diagnosis. For example, in the knee pain location chart, knee pain in the medial side of the knee joint could indicate injuries to the medial meniscus, medial collateral ligament, or pes anserine bursa.<\/p>\n
Similarly, injury to the lateral collateral ligament and the iliotibial band can cause pain in the lateral side of the knee. There can also be some overlap when it comes to pain location. For example, osteoarthritis can cause pain <\/p>\n
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The front of the knee and area above the knee are occupied by the quadriceps tendon, the patella, the synovium which lines the entire knee joint and lubricates the joint, and the plica covering the joint. Some of the possible diagnoses that can cause pain in the front of and above the knee are the following:<\/p>\n
Quadriceps tendonitis is an inflammation of the quadriceps tendon due to sports like jumping, volleyball, and soccer. Because of the location of the quadriceps, the area in the front of the knee and above the knee can become tender or painful.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
In this syndrome, the formation of fibrotic folds in the medial knee are quite common and so the pain due to inflammation is usually experienced in the front and area above the patella.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
When any form of trauma affects the lateral facet of the patella, if there is a partial dislocation or is attached to very tight, weak muscles, the lateral facet can get compressed and lead to pain in the front and area above the patella.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
The front and inner knee contains the patellar tendon, the ACL, the quadriceps tendon, and the patellofemoral joint compartment. Injuries to these structures can lead to the following diagnoses.<\/p>\n
Here are some possible diagnoses that cause pain <\/em>in the front of and inside the knee:<\/p>\n Anterior cruciate ligament injury<\/a> can include a tear or rupture. ACL injuries commonly occur in high-demand sports like soccer and basketball where athletes stop suddenly, land incorrectly on a jump, change direction rapidly, or collide in a tackle. Pain from an ACL injury is usually felt inside the knee and at the front of the knee.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Due to the central location of the patella, people affected by patellofemoral pain syndrome often experience pain in the front of the knee.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n As it involves the patella, patella chondromalacia can cause pain in the front of and inside the knee.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Patellofemoral arthritis can cause pain in the front and the inside of the knee due to the involvement of the patella and the femur.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Patella dislocations usually only occur in collision or high intensity sports. Previous injuries to the knee or hyperlaxity can also increase the risk of dislocation if it affects the patellar ligaments, making the patella more prone to dislocations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n As the tears multiply, the tendon gets weaker due to inflammation. Tendonitis causes pain in the front and inside the knee.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The repeated force of the patellar tendon where it inserts at the soft tibial tubercle can cause tears in immature skeletal muscle. This can lead to pain in the front of and inside the knee due to the involvement of the patellar tendon.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The traction on the patellar ligament inflames the insertion at the inferior pole of the patella. It occurs during the growth spurt in adolescence and can develop from trauma and overuse.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Additionally, the formation of osteophytes or bony spurs can make the joint stiff and worsen the symptoms of knee pain.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The tumor can grow and invade the surrounding tissue, which worsens the pain as a result. Bone tumor pain is often more pronounced at night.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Some of these conditions include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, pseudogout, idiopathic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, among others. The constant inflammation can cause pain, swelling, and joint stiffness.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n At the back (posterior part) of the knee, damage to the posterior cruciate ligament, the popliteus muscles, and the popliteal bursa can cause pain. Some of the possible diagnoses are the following.<\/p>\n Here are some possible diagnoses that cause pain in the back of the knee:<\/p>\n PCL injury or tears usually only occur when an extreme amount of anterior force is applied to the proximal tibia when the knee is flexed. For example, falling forward on a flexed knee or vehicular accidents can cause this type of injury. PCL injuries are common in athletes that play sports like football, skiing, and baseball.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Inside the knee, the medial meniscus lies between the femur and the tibia. Damage or disease of any of these structures can lead to pain inside the knee. Some possible diagnoses are as follows.<\/p>\n Sometimes the meniscus can tear and a piece of it may chip off and float within the joint space, irritating the joint and causing it to swell. The joint may become tight or stiff, worsening any pain or symptoms, particularly when the knee is moved.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Various muscles attach to the femur and the tibia. Pain in the outside of the knee can be caused by inflammation in any of these muscles, including the hamstrings and iliotibial band. Pain outside the knee can also be due to the structures in the lateral side of the knee, like injury to the lateral meniscus or the lateral collateral ligament, that refer the pain to the outside of the knee. Some possible diagnoses are as follows.<\/p>\n For example, they can develop as the cartilage frays over time or from a large rotational shearing force on the knee, such as a twisting motion or traumatic injury. The pain is usually experienced in the outside of the knee, especially along the joint line where the lateral meniscus is located.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tibial plateau fractures are classified into six types based on two-dimensional images using the Schatzker classification. This is important to guide surgical treatment, the path the surgeon will take either anteriorly or posteriorly and to determine where the hardware should be applied to achieve stable fixation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Posterior corner injuries are classified into three grades based on the extent of damage to the lateral structures or the degree of posterolateral rotatory instability.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Studies show that certain risk factors increase the chances of knee pain (1). The risk factors for knee pain include the following:<\/p>\n You can protect your knees with a few steps, including the following:<\/p>\n Knee pain is diagnosed using different examination techniques and modalities. They are listed below:<\/p>\n There are a wide variety of treatments for knee pain. Some of them are included below:<\/p>\n The first step in the management of knee pain is oral analgesics, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Capsaicin cream and topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also an option. If the initial pharmacotherapy is ineffective, then opioid analgesics may be prescribed. <\/p>\n However, there is a considerable risk of developing tolerance to opioids which leads to drug dependence. These medications are prescribed in conjunction with other treatments for the knee like physical therapy and braces or knee supports.<\/p>\n Exercise-based physical therapy has a twofold role when it comes to knee pain. First, it can ease the pain in the knee joint, and second, it can prevent it from getting worse as it builds the muscles supporting the knee joint. Physical therapy is part of the non-operative rehabilitation program and involves distinct phases.<\/p>\n The first phase uses exercises to reduce pain and swelling, improve the balance between the vastus muscles, restore normal gait, and decrease the loading of the joint. <\/p>\n The second phase involves improving postural control and coordination of the lower leg, increasing the strength of the quadriceps strength and hip muscle strength, and restoring the function of the knee. Finally, suitable regular physical exercises are encouraged to maintain good knee function.<\/p>\n Knee braces, sleeves, and supports are also used when there is knee pain. These braces prevent the flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction of the knee. <\/p>\n They are usually made of neoprene and are used in conjunction with other therapies to prevent any worsening of knee pain. They prevent valgus strains that turn the knee inward and so are often prescribed for medial collateral ligament injuries.<\/p>\n Depending on what is causing your knee pain there are many surgical treatment options. These could be via arthroscopy or open surgical techniques. The surgery could be joint sparing, where the native joint is preserved, or joint replacing procedures, where the joint is either partially or completely replaced.<\/p>\n Osteotomies, where an incision is made in one of the lower bones, are done when there is a misalignment of the bones or osteoarthritis. Cruciate ligaments can be either reconstructed or removed. Injuries to the menisci can be repaired or they may be removed.<\/p>\n The list of surgical options is exhaustive depending on which structure of the knee is diseased or damaged.<\/p>\n Apart from surgery, there are non-surgical treatment options like injections to the knee and Regenexx. They are explained briefly below:<\/p>\n Injections to the knee with corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid are given to those who are not candidates for surgery or those who want to avoid surgery altogether. They are injected into the joint space to reduce inflammation and pain. <\/p>\n They are remarkably effective and can last for about two weeks to 24 weeks. Hyaluronic acid is a method of visco-supplementation where it acts as a lubricant between the joints, and the effect peaks at about 8 weeks.<\/p>\n Regenexx treatment<\/a> for the knee includes image-guided injections into the knee joint with platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow concentrate. All these concentrates and cells are taken from your own body to reduce the risk of reactions and donor-related infections. <\/p>\n This is an exceptionally suitable alternative for those who want to avoid surgery, complications, and months of rehabilitation. Regenexx therapies are same-day procedures and, since they involve the use of stem cells which can differentiate in the body, they can be used to treat a variety of conditions. <\/p>\n This includes treatment of damaged cartilage, bones, ligaments, and tendons.<\/p>\n It is important to investigate what is causing your knee pain. If you ignore it, knee pain can get worse, and the knee joint may face recurring inflammation. This can further destroy the structures within the joint. <\/p>\n If your knee pain has not resolved with rest, ice, compression, elevation, pain medications, and other conservative treatments, then you need to seek medical help. <\/p>\n The knee pain location chart may have already given you an idea of what is causing your knee pain, but you need to seek help from a medical professional for assessment and ongoing care.<\/p>\n At Centeno-Schultz Clinic, our board-certified doctors are keen on considering non-invasive, non-surgical knee treatments to preserve your natural joints. We take an extensive history and physical examination then review all peritient imaging. Taken together, we come up with a comprehensive treatment plan unique to your condition. <\/em><\/p>\n Get a Free Guide on Regenexx\u2019s smart strategies for knee treatments.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n References<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The knee joint is the largest compound synovial joint of the human body. The joint has bones, cartilage, muscles, and bursae that are held together by ligaments and tendons. Damage to any of these structures can give rise to knee pain. The location of knee pain can be very telling, and can help narrow down […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":403632,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"acf":[],"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403624"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=403624"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":403631,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403624\/revisions\/403631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/403632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=403624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=403624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=403624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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Pain At The Back Of The Knee<\/h2>\n
Possible Diagnoses<\/h3>\n
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Pain Inside The Knee<\/h2>\n
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Pain Outside The Knee<\/h2>\n
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Risk Factors Of Knee Pain<\/h2>\n
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Tips To Take Care Of Your Knees<\/h2>\n
Diagnostic Process For Knee Pain<\/h2>\n
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Medical Treatments For Knee Pain<\/h2>\n
Medications<\/h3>\n
Physical Therapy<\/h3>\n
Bracing<\/h3>\n
Surgery<\/h3>\n
Non-Surgical Therapy<\/h3>\n
Knee Injections<\/h4>\n
Regenexx<\/h4>\n
Consulting A Professional For Knee Pain<\/h2>\n
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