Knee complaints and solutions for young people

Author Dr. Szabolcs Gáspár | 2020.09.15.

Knee complaints affecting young people

Knee pain is a problem that affects people of all ages, and unfortunately it is also becoming more common among young people. In young people, the most common cause of knee pain is sports injury, accident or extreme exertion. A sudden wrong movement, a strong blow or even a repetition of an incorrect movement can have serious consequences for the knee.

Most common causes of knee pain?

One of the most common knee injuries a sprain or dislocation, where the knee suddenly twists. This can cause damage to the knee ligaments and tearing or detachment of the meniscus, the crescent-shaped cartilage plate inside the knee joint. In the event of such an injury, pain is immediate, causing limited mobility and requiring prompt medical attention and treatment. Characteristic pain and a clicking sound on movement aid diagnosis, but the specialist may also order imaging to assess the injury accurately. Injuries to the meniscus can be treated surgically, but for knee ligaments, an orthopaedic specialist will decide on the appropriate treatment depending on the extent of the injury and the condition of the muscles surrounding the knee. In some cases, conservative treatment can repair the knee ligament, but in the case of a sports injury, surgery is usually the only long-term solution.

Knee pain: a sports injury from running?

A common sports injury is also known as „running knee“. Unlike previous knee injuries, this problem is not a sudden trauma but a slightly slower degeneration. The pain in this case comes on exertion and increases, but can also become more persistent over time. It is caused by long-term, inadequate loading of the knee joint, which leads to tendonitis and cartilage damage in the knee. Inflammation is associated with swelling and characteristic pain. Conservative therapy is recommended: anti-inflammatory medication, rest, cartilage-strengthening preparations, physiotherapy. After recovery, special attention should be paid to the quality of the load, and it may be worthwhile to obtain a special insole tailored to the individual.

Inflammation of the knee joint

The bony prominences in the knee joint are covered by so-called bursas, or bursal caps, which can also become inflamed as a result of minor trauma or an injury. This causes the bursa to fill with fluid and a tightening pain.

The first step in treatment is the professional removal of joint fluid, followed by conservative pain and anti-inflammatory therapy. It is important to clarify the origin of the bursitis and to eliminate any remaining underlying cause.

Knee pain: knee arthritis at a young age

Although arthritis may not seem to be a common complaint in young people, it is worth mentioning in this context. Arthritis can be caused by autoimmune disease which affects people of all ages, so unfortunately, an increasingly common disease among young people. Of autoimmune origin rheumatoid arthritis attacks the joints, causing severe pain, restriction of movement and inflammation in the knee joint. Treatment is more complex than for „normal“ knee arthritis because the problem is caused by an immune system malfunction. Specific medication, lifestyle changes and personalised exercise therapy are needed to control the disease.