| The knees are the most easily injured part of the | | | | Popping |
| body. The largest and most complicated joint, the | | | | Popping and snapping within the knee is quite |
| knee is used for everything from standing up, sitting, | | | | common, and often not a symptom of any particular |
| to walking, running, etc. It's a weight-bearing joint | | | | problem. When the pops or snaps are painless, there |
| that straightens, bends, twists and rotates. All this | | | | is usually no problem--the bigger concern is when |
| motion increases your risk of acute or overuse knee | | | | these sounds are associated with pain. A pop is often |
| injuries. | | | | heard or felt when a ligament, such as the ACL, is |
| Knee pain accounts for approximately one third of | | | | torn. |
| musculoskeletal problems seen in primary care | | | | Crunching/Grinding |
| settings. This complaint is most prevalent in physically | | | | A sense of grinding or crunching is most often |
| active patients, with as many as 54 percent of | | | | associated with bone grinding against bone once the |
| athletes having some degree of knee pain each | | | | cartilage is worn away. |
| year.1 Knee pain can be a source of significant | | | | Knee arthritis typically affects patients over 50 years |
| disability, restricting the ability to work or perform | | | | of age. It is more common in patients who are |
| activities of daily living. | | | | overweight, and weight loss tends to reduce the |
| Knee pain is an extremely common complaint, and | | | | symptoms associated with knee arthritis. There is |
| there are many causes. It is important to make an | | | | also a genetic predisposition to this condition, meaning |
| accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms | | | | knee arthritis tends to run in families. |
| so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the | | | | Possible Complications of Surgery |
| cause. If you have knee pain, some common causes | | | | Serious complications may occur with any surgical |
| include: | | | | procedure. These include but are not limited to: |
| Knee pain is commonly caused by doing too much | | | | problems with anesthesia, cardiovascular problems |
| too soon when you haven't exercised for a long | | | | including heart attack, vascular problems including |
| period of time - especially high-impact aerobics; | | | | thrombus, bronchopulmonary problems including |
| walking, running or jumping on hard surfaces or | | | | emboli, genitourinary problems, and gastrointestinal |
| uneven ground; excessive running up and down stairs | | | | problems. Certain additional complications related to |
| (When you walk upstairs you are putting pressure on | | | | joint replacement surgery in particular may include but |
| your knees that is equivalent to four times your | | | | are not limited to: bleeding problems, blood clots in |
| body weight, when running up the stairs it can be | | | | the legs and/or lungs, wound healing problems, |
| eight times your body weight). | | | | damage to nerves and blood vessels, limb length |
| Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of knee pain. | | | | discrepancy, bone erosion or abnormal bone |
| The risk increases with age. Osteoarthritis is a form | | | | formation. |
| of arthritis involving degeneration of the cartilage. | | | | Complications may require medical intervention |
| Exercise is vital to maintain strength and flexibility of | | | | including additional surgery and, in rare instances, may |
| muscles supporting the knee, which reduces the | | | | lead to death. Your doctor should discuss these |
| stress on the knee joint. | | | | potential complications with you. |
| Common Knee Symptoms | | | | |