Knee Pain and Its Causes
Because of its complex range of motion and the weight that’s often distributed through the joint, the knee is vulnerable to injury.
What Your Knee Pain May Indicate Based on Its Location
| Location | Possible Causes |
|---|---|
| Above Knee |
|
| Kneecap |
|
| Inner Side |
|
| Outer Side |
|
| Below Knee |
|
| Behind Knee |
|
Pay attention to the precise location of your pain can help you narrow down its causes. To learn more about your knee pain, check out our FAQ section below.
Getting Medical Help
Be sure to talk with a doctor if your knee pain is accompanied by major swelling, significant pain, or fever. In addition, any long-term knee pain should be checked out by a doctor, since it can be a symptom of an underlying health issue.
Diagnosis
To diagnose your knee pain, a medical professional will perform a physical exam and order imaging tests, for example, X-rays or an MRI scan.
Frequently asked questions about knee pain
Let’s go over some of the questions that people with knee pain often ask doctors.
How can you tell what kind of knee pain you have?
Pay attention to the pain location, its type (sharp or dull), intensity, if it’s accompanied by any other symptoms, and whether you have it all the time or only during a specific activity (for example, bending).
Can you diagnose the cause of your own knee pain at home?
If your pain isn’t significant, you can try to diagnose and treat it at home by paying attention to the specific symptoms you have. However, if home treatments don’t seem to work, make sure to consult with a medical professional.
How do you know if your knee pain is serious?
If you have significant pain and swelling, fever, or other alarming or long lasting symptoms, your pain should be evaluated by a medical professional.
Summary
The precise location of your knee pain can help you narrow down the potential cause. In addition to its location, paying attention to its intensity, type, and other symptoms can help you figure out the cause.
However, regardless of the cause, any of the following types of pain should be evaluated by a medical professional:
- significant
- not improving
- worsening
- accompanied by swelling or fever
- makes you unable to bear weight
- impacts your daily activities
Knee Pain Location Chart and Possible Causes
The location of knee pain can indicate various possible causes. This chart will provide details of the location and causes of knee pain to help individuals better understand conditions that may cause pain in different parts of their knee.
Knee Pain Location Chart
Possible Causes of Knee Pain
- Top of the knee: bursitis, chondromalacia, knee osteoarthritis, patella tracking syndrome
- Bottom of the knee: Osgood-schlatter disease, osteochondtritis dissecans, patellar tendonitis, patellofemoral instability
- Inner knee: bursitis, knee osteoarthritis, medial collateral ligament injuries, medial meniscus tear
- Outer knee: knee osteoarthritis, iliotibial band syndrome, lateral collateral ligament injuries, lateral meniscus tear
- Middle of the knee: anterior cruciate ligament tear, tricompartment osteoarthritis
- Back of the knee: baker's cyst, posterior cruciate ligament injuries