Knee pain is an incredibly common complaint amongst athletes and individuals of all fitness levels. The repetitive nature of walking, running, and even sitting and standing puts a lot of strain on this hard-working joint, and can often result in inner knee pain. Inside knee pain typically points to cartilage issues; let’s explore what to do about inner knee pain.
What Causes Pain Inside of Knee?
Your knee is one of the most complex joints in your body, with many interworking parts. Bones, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and menisci must all work together in perfect alignment to keep you moving fluidly. When one of these components becomes strained, torn, or injured, it throws the entire system off base, resulting in discomfort and difficulty in moving.
Inner knee pain is often caused by cartilage deterioration or a sports injury, but there are several other possible culprits as well. Pain inside the knee can be caused by:
Osteoarthritis: This degenerative disease breaks down cartilage to the point where bones end up grinding against each other. Without the protective cushioning cartilage provides, this can create serious pressure in your inner knee.
Rheumatoid arthritis: If you experience inside knee pain in the morning that subsides throughout the day, you may have rheumatoid arthritis, which causes joint inflammation.
MCL injury: You’ve probably heard of athletes tearing their MCL–this happens when the ligament that runs alongside your outer knee over stretches.
Knee contusion: Landing hard on your knee or getting hit in the same area can bruise your knee bone and cause pain inside your knee.
Treating Inner Knee Pain
Depending on your exact symptoms, there are several different treatment paths for inner knee pain.
RICE method: RICE–or Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation–is a common home remedy for inside knee pain. Staying off your knee as much as possible after an injury can help it heal, but if severe knee pain persists for more than three days, you may need to seek medical attention.
Steroids and/or medication: Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen work to reduce swelling, while injectable steroids aim to restore mobility.
Physical therapy: Working with a physical therapist helps you learn stretches and strength-building exercises to get your knee back into shape.
Surgery: In extreme cases, knee surgery may be the only option to restore full range of motion.
Treat Inner Knee Pain with IMPACT Physical Therapy
Inner knee pain can be a major disruption to your everyday life, but it doesn’t have to be. The team at IMPACT Physical Therapy is here to manage your symptoms and get you back to your full range of motion without pain. Request an appointment to set up a treatment plan for the pain inside your knee today.
