What is gout? Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis, caused when the body’s immune system attacks the tissues of joints instead of viruses and other foreign substances. If you’re experiencing redness and swelling in your knee that comes on suddenly, you may be dealing with gout. Learn more below about what gout looks like, how you get gout, and what you can do to reduce your symptoms and begin the healing process.
If you’re in the Chicago area, IMPACT Physical Therapy & Sports Recovery has 8 convenient clinics—in South Loop, Lakeview, Orland Park, Naperville, Hinsdale, Oak Lawn, Norridge, and Champaign—where our licensed therapists can help you find relief from knee gout.
Gout is more common in the fingers and toes, but it can also show up first in the knee joints. What does gout look like if you have it in your knee? It’s a good idea to visit your doctor for an evaluation if you have the following symptoms:
In addition to swelling and redness, people often describe gout in the knee as feeling like a sharp, stabbing pain or a constant burning sensation inside the joint. The knee may feel extremely tender, even to the weight of a bedsheet, and some patients report that the pain worsens at night or first thing in the morning. Early warning signs can also include stiffness, warmth around the joint, or limited range of motion before a flare fully develops.
Note that the above symptoms can also indicate an infection, so you should visit a medical professional promptly to rule out this possibility. Gout in the knee joint is typically diagnosed after an inspection, blood tests to determine urate levels, and an assessment of your family history and risk factors. A sample of fluid from the affected joint can also be inspected for urate crystals.
IMPACT has 8 convenient locations across Chicagoland and Champaign. Get expert care for knee gout close to home.
Although most people associate it with diet alone, how you get gout is usually more complicated than that. Gout in knee joints or other soft tissue is actually caused by too much uric acid in the blood plasma. Excess uric acid accumulates in the form of tiny monosodium urate crystals on the soft tissue lining of joints. When the joint moves, the crystals rub against the tissues and cause inflammation.
There are a number of risk factors for high uric acid levels aside from diet, including:
How do you get gout through diet, and what foods should you avoid to lower your risk? Eating foods high in purines is known to raise uric acid levels. Your physician may recommend avoiding high-purine foods such as organ meats, bacon, turkey, veal, venison, and some fish, seafood, and shellfish.
Knee gout flare-ups can significantly disrupt daily life for many of our Chicagoland patients. What causes these flare-ups, and why do they occur?
Gout in the knee develops when uric acid crystals settle inside the joint, irritating the soft tissue and causing inflammation. While high uric acid levels are often linked to diet, knee gout flare-ups are frequently triggered by other factors as well. Dehydration, sudden weight changes, joint injuries, or stress on the knee can all increase the likelihood of a flare. Genetics, kidney function, and certain medications also play a role. Understanding your personal triggers—whether related to health conditions, lifestyle, or joint stress—can help you manage symptoms and reduce painful flare-ups.
The prevalence of gout—in knee joints, fingers, toes, and other soft tissues—has surged in the last two decades, especially among younger people. However, more treatment options exist than ever before, and a combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle changes is effective for most people. Severe cases may require aspiration to remove fluid from the joint tissue or a steroid injection to reduce swelling.
From joint pain to arthritis and gout management, our physical therapy services are tailored to your needs.
A typical gout flare in the knee can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks, depending on severity and how quickly treatment begins. Without treatment, flares may linger longer or return more often. Over time, repeated untreated flare-ups can lead to permanent joint damage, which is why early medical care and ongoing management are essential.
Your physician may recommend that you take action on your own to reduce the symptoms of gout in your knee joint tissue by:
Physical therapy is helpful for gout in several ways. First, treatments performed by a physical therapist can reduce inflammation and pain. These options include:
Once inflammation and pain are under control, physical therapy exercises, stretches, and manual treatments can be employed to rebuild strength and flexibility. These include:
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Patients often ask about living with knee gout and how physical therapy can help. Here are answers to the most common questions we hear in our clinic:
Physical therapy doesn’t cure gout, but it can significantly reduce pain, improve mobility, and shorten recovery time.
The condition itself can be managed successfully with lifestyle changes and treatment, but repeated flares may cause long-term damage if left unchecked.
If knee pain appears suddenly, is severe, or is accompanied by fever or spreading redness, seek medical help immediately to rule out infection.
After you’ve been diagnosed by a physician and determined how you got gout, IMPACT Physical Therapy & Sports Recovery can help reduce your symptoms and promote faster healing. Request an appointment or to learn more today, or book an appointment at one of our locations in Chicagoland or Champaign-Urbana for gout in your knee joints. With 8 convenient clinics across Chicagoland and Champaign—including South Loop, Lakeview, Orland Park, Naperville, Hinsdale, Oak Lawn, Norridge, and Champaign—you’re never far from expert care. A licensed physical therapist will design a treatment plan to help you get back to your favorite activities sooner.
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