Knee Injuries and Disorders Summary Your knee joint is made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and fluid. Muscles and tendons help the knee joint move. When any of these structures is hurt or diseased, you have knee problems. Knee problems can cause pain and difficulty walking. Knee problems are very common, and they occur in people of all ages. Knee problems can interfere with many things, from participation in sports to simply getting up from a chair and walking. This can have a big impact on your life. The most common disease affecting the knee is osteoarthritis. The cartilage in the knee gradually wears away, causing pain and swelling. Injuries to ligaments and tendons also cause knee problems. A common injury is to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). You usually injure your ACL by a sudden twisting motion. ACL and other knee injuries are common sports injuries. Treatment of knee problems depends on the cause. In some cases your doctor may recommend knee replacement. NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Specifics ACL Injury Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Baker’s Cyst Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Hyperextended Knee: Cause of Serious Injury? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) American Academy of Family Physicians Patellar Tendinitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome American Academy of Family Physicians Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (PVNS) American Academy of Family Physicians Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Torn Meniscus Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Array ACL reconstruction Anterior crucate ligament (ACL) injury Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury — aftercare Anterior cruciate ligament repair – slideshow Anterior knee pain Baker’s cyst Broken kneecap – aftercare Collateral ligament (CL) injury — aftercare Getting your home ready – knee or hip surgery Knee arthroscopy Knee arthroscopy – slideshow Knee MRI scan Knee pain Knee Problems American Academy of Family Physicians Meniscus tears — aftercare Osgood-Schlatter disease Tibial osteotomy – slideshow Treatments and Therapies ACL Reconstruction Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Knee Arthroscopy American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons MedlinePlus: Knee Replacement National Library of Medicine Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee American Academy of Family Physicians Encyclopedia ACL reconstruction – discharge Iliotibial band syndrome — aftercare Knee arthroscopy – discharge Knee CT scan Knee microfracture surgery Kneecap dislocation – aftercare Meniscal allograft transplantation Osteotomy of the knee Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury — aftercare Videos and Tutorials ACL Repair OR-Live Knee Arthroscopy for Treatment of a Meniscus Tear OR-Live Knee Pain and the Weekend Warriors OR-Live Teenagers Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries Nemours Foundation Jumper’s Knee (Patellar Tendonitis) Nemours Foundation Knee Injuries Nemours Foundation Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injuries Nemours Foundation Meniscus Tears Nemours Foundation Osgood-Schlatter Disease Nemours Foundation Osgood-Schlatter Disease American Academy of Family Physicians Preventing Knee Injuries American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Runner’s Knee Nemours Foundation Diagnosis and Tests Arthrography Array Knee MRI Array Water on the Knee Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Athlete’s Nightmare: Tearing the ACL Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Articular Cartilage Disorders National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Knee Injuries National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Patella Disorders National Institutes of Health Find an Expert Find a Doctor American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Living With Knee Bracing: What Works? American Academy of Family Physicians Knee Conditioning Program American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons MedlinePlus: Mobility Aids Health Check Tools Knee Injury DSHI Systems Knee Pain DSHI Systems Knee Stiffness DSHI Systems Start Here Knee Pain (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Knee Problems National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases What Are Knee Problems? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Statistics and Research Long-Term Data Reveal Rate and Risk Factors for Subsequent Surgeries Following Initial ACL Reconstruction National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Physical Therapy to Treat Torn Meniscus Comparable to Surgery for Many Patients National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Children Osgood-Schlatter Disease Nemours Foundation Osgood-Schlatter Disease (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Journal Articles Knee injuries and disorders Meniscal injuries Latest News Birth Control Pills Linked to Fewer Severe Knee Injuries in Teen Girls HealthDay Tai Chi: Rx for Arthritic Knees HealthDay
