The Knee joint is an important joint that helps with walking, running, jumping, skipping, sitting, and climbing stairs. It has a crucial function in body weight-bearing. The inner knee, also known as the medial knee, is the inside part of the knee. In other words, it is the part of the knee close to your other knee. The inner knee can be affected by many conditions that can be acute or chronic. Acute knee conditions occur suddenly due to trauma, whereas chronic ones are due to overuse and degeneration. Common causes of inner knee pain are-
The knee joint has many ligaments and bursa, which are injured or undergo wear and tear, leading to pain.
1.Medial meniscus injury- Menisci are the cushioning structure that lines the knee joint and allows frictionless movement of the knee. It is semi-circular in shape. When the medial meniscus tear occurs, it leads to pain in the inner knee. Pain increases on bending the knee or squatting. The person also experiences knee instability.
2. Medial Collateral ligament (MCL) injury-It can occur due to direct trauma or repetitive twisting and turning of the MCL. This type of injury is common in contact sports and occurs with medial meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) injuries.
3. Patellar Tendinitis- It is also known as Jumper’s knee. It is due to inflammation of the patella tendon that connects the knee cap to the shin bone.
4. Osteoarthritis of the knee-It is due to degeneration of the cartilage lining the new knee joint. It occurs due to wear and tear and is more common after 60 years. While ascending and descending stairs, pain is more.
5. Medial Plica Syndrome- Plica is a fold of synovial membrane lining the knee joint. When the medial plica becomes inflamed, it leads to inner knee pain.
6. Bursitis-Bursae are little fluid-filled sacs in the joint which help in frictionless movement. They prevent the rubbing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. In bursitis, the bursa gets inflamed and irritated. It causes pain and hampers the smooth mobility of the joint. One such bursa, called Pes anserine bursa, causes inner knee pain when inflamed.
The treatment in the acute stage includes rest, avoiding any physical activity that strains your joint knee joint, applying ice packs, and using anti-inflammatory medications. These help in controlling inflammation and pain. Any knee pain that lasts more than a week needs to be diagnosed and evaluated. The other treatment options depend on the causative factor. It varies from braces for knee support, physical therapy for strengthening and stretching exercises of the muscles of the knee, corticosteroid injections, and surgery in severe cases like meniscal and ligament injury.
By regularly stretching hams and quads and strengthening by specific exercises, injuries and wear and tear of the knee are preventable. Maintaining a healthy weight avoids any undue weight-bearing stress on the knee joint. Using protective braces while playing contact sports is crucial in injury prevention. Last but not least, is to use footwear that provides good support and comfort is essential.
STAY INFORMED! STAY HEALTHY!
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