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Knee Pain - Knee pain can occur in all kinds of situations – for example when you get out of bed in the morning, get out of the car after a long drive, or even while you’re taking a short walk. What’s more, those who experience knee pain aren’t always aware of what’s causing it. Seemingly unexplainable knee pain is often caused by excessive or inappropriate mechanical stress brought about by athletic or professional activity, or even simply age. However, normal everyday movements can also lead to excessive mechanical stress. Sometimes people don’t realize that their knee pain has been caused by a fall or incorrect movement because they don’t notice the pain until some time after such an event has occurred. When pain only gradually becomes noticeable, and its causes are unclear, many of those affected wonder what they should do and whether they should see a doctor. In many cases, pain can be eliminated by taking measures to protect the knee for a while. Depending on the actual cause of knee pain, certain types of treatment may nevertheless become necessary. Such treatment options include pain medication, physiotherapy, and surgery. At the same time, wearing supports often helps reduce knee pain and stabilize the knee.

Cruciate Ligament Tear – Even just a minor but abrupt change in direction while moving can lead to a cruciate ligament tear – it can happen more quickly than most people think. A typically dangerous situation in this regard can occur when a person playing basketball or handball has to make a quick evasive maneuver and change direction, for example. Cruciate ligament tears usually occur in a sports setting, but it’s also possible to tear the cruciate ligament during everyday activities. Symptoms include swelling, pain, and functional instability of the knee joint. Treatment options vary depending on which of the two cruciate ligaments is injured, and whether there are other injuries to the knee. In many cases, cruciate ligament tears can be treated with physiotherapy, supports or orthoses, targeted muscle-toning exercises, and pain medication. However, surgery is not uncommon either.

Irritation in the Patellar Tendon – Whether it’s volleyball, basketball, or football – rapid start/stop movements, abrupt changes in direction, and quick jumps put a lot of mechanical stress on the knee joints. Pain experienced in the knee joints may indicate irritation of the patellar tendon. The pain associated with inflammation of the knee tendon is felt on and below the kneecap. Excessive strain on the knee can lead to tiny injuries and fraying at the origin of the patellar tendon at the lower end of the kneecap. Any type of occupational activity that requires one to work with bent knees for a long period of time also often leads to irritation of the patellar tendon. Various treatment options exist here. For example, certain medications and medical supports can relieve pain and promote the healing process. Chronic irritation of the patellar tendon is also known as “jumper’s knee.” This can lead to pain in the front of the knee during movement. If stress then continues to be placed on the knee, the tendon can tear either partially or completely.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee/Gonarthrosis – Why is it that many people experience pain in their knees, especially after long periods marked by a lack of movement – for example after working in the office all day? Gonarthrosis, which is a joint disease, is one possible cause of such discomfort. This degenerative disease often develops as people get older, as excessive strain leads to wear on the cartilage in the knee joint over the years. Initial movements after long periods of lying down or sitting then become painful, but this pain dissipates after a short time. As the disease progresses, however, pain in the knees intensifies and begins to significantly restrict a person’s ability to move normally as they go about their daily activities. Although osteoarthritis cannot be cured, there are various ways to treat it so that pain levels are reduced and the progression of the disease is slowed. Wearing a knee support, for example, relieves the strain on the knee and stabilizes it.

Unhappy Triad – Unhappy triad is a knee injury that results from a chain of separate injuries in the knee joint. As the name suggests, there are three types of injuries involved here – an injury to the medial collateral ligament, the meniscus (a cartilage in the joint), and the cruciate ligament. This combined injury usually occurs when the knee is twisted, something that happens particularly often when skiers get snagged in their skis. Treating an unhappy triad is a difficult process, whereby the exact course of treatment depends on several factors, such as the severity of each injury. Knee orthoses are used here, as they stabilize and reduce pressure on the knee joint during the healing process.Unhappy triad is a knee injury that results from a chain of separate injuries in the knee joint. As the name suggests, there are three types of injuries involved here – an injury to the medial collateral ligament, the meniscus (a cartilage in the joint), and the cruciate ligament. This combined injury usually occurs when the knee is twisted, something that happens particularly often when skiers get snagged in their skis. Treating an unhappy triad is a difficult process, whereby the exact course of treatment depends on several factors, such as the severity of each injury. Knee orthoses are used here, as they stabilize and reduce pressure on the knee joint during the healing process.

Pain in the Kneecap - Do you experience pain in your knee, especially behind the kneecap, when you use stairs or participate in sports, for example? If so, the cause could be a change in cartilage structure, an imbalance in muscle structure, or a misalignment of the kneecap. These conditions can lead to “anterior knee pain” – so-called despite the fact that the pain seems to be coming from behind the kneecap. Anterior knee pain is experienced mainly by pubescent boys and girls and young women. Symptoms sometimes disappear and then reoccur after months or years – but in some cases they simply never go away. Surgery is rarely necessary, however. Instead, such knee pain is generally treated with physiotherapy and pain medication. The use of orthopedic supports or orthoses can also alleviate pain and ensure that the knee functions properly.