Knee Injuries and Disorders

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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

Start Here

Knee Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Direct Arthrography (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Knee MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Knee Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
X-Ray Exam: Knee (Nemours Foundation)

Treatments and Therapies

ACL Injury: Diagnosis and Treatment (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Knee Arthroscopy (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Knee Replacement: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Living With

Knee Bracing: What Works? (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Knee Rehabilitation Exercises (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Specifics

ACL Injury (American Academy of Family Physicians)
Baker Cyst (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Osteochondritis Dissecans (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Patellar Tendinitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Swollen Knee (Water on the Knee) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Images

Anterior cruciate ligament repair - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Knee arthroscopy - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Test Your Knowledge

Knee Pain Myths & Facts Quiz (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

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: Menisci, Tibial (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Patella Disorders (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

Find a Doctor in American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Children

Osgood-Schlatter Disease (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
Osteochondritis Dissecans (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Jumper's Knee (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Knee Injuries (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injuries (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Meniscus Tears (Nemours Foundation)
Osgood-Schlatter Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Osgood-Schlatter Disease (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Runner's Knee (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

ACL reconstruction (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Anterior crucate ligament (ACL) injury (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury -- aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Anterior knee pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Baker cyst (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Broken kneecap - aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Collateral ligament (CL) injury -- aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Getting your home ready - knee or hip surgery (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Knee arthroscopy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Knee MRI scan (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Knee pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Meniscus tears - aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Osgood-Schlatter disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish