Knee pain is a typical complaint among the elderly, but it is also affecting many young adults today. The reason why knee pain is so common is that it is led by a number of unavoidable factors apart from other preventable causes. This article discusses the conditions that can cause knee pain in young adults, along with their treatment.
Causes of Knee Pain in Young Adults
Knee pain in young adults is commonly linked to overuse injuries. Pain, stiffness, and other symptoms can develop quickly when muscles, ligaments, or tendons are overstressed. Overuse injuries such as tendonitis and bursitis are typically connected with intense activities.
However, they can also develop in individuals who are quite inactive but increase their activity all of a sudden. While these injuries are rather common in young adults, they aren’t the only causes of knee pain.
Patellofemoral Syndrome
In young adults, patellofemoral syndrome is a common source of knee pain. It’s commonly caused by a muscular imbalance that hampers support and movement of your knee joint. Weak thigh muscles, as well as extremely tight muscles or tendons around the knee, can alter the way the knee works, producing strain and pressure inside the joint.
These areas can become irritated and inflamed over time, and you may experience pain around the kneecap and in the front of the knee before you know it. Such people may experience pain or stiffness while kneeling, crouching, or ascending stairs. A grinding or grating sensation inside the knee, called Crepitus is also experienced by some people.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis of the knees can strike as early as your twenties, particularly if you’re an athlete or obese. Arthritis develops when the protective layer of cartilage inside the knee joint wears away.
Because of the excessive wear and tear inside the joint, athletes who do a lot of high-impact activities are more prone to arthritis. Repeated knee injuries can damage the cartilage, increasing the risk of developing arthritis.
Obesity has a similar effect on the knees. Carrying all that weight puts additional strain on the cartilage layer, causing it to deteriorate and break down more quickly.
Other causes
Meniscal tear: When a knee injury causes the cartilage to slit, it is called a meniscal tear. Cartilage is a tough and flexible tissue that covers the end of bones. Causes of meniscal tear can be a sudden twist or advancement of age.
Bone tumor: When cells divide abnormally and excessively, they can form a lump of tissue. This lump is called a tumor. The presence of a bone tumor can lead to extreme knee pain and needs to be treated immediately.
Also Read: https://healinghospital.co.in/are-ex-athletes-at-a-higher-risk-of-joint-pain-later-in-life/
Treatment of Knee Pain in Young Adult
Knee pain in young adults can mostly be treated with conservative measures such as the RICE method.
R=rest
I=icing for 10-15 minutes every day
C= Compress an elastic bandage to your knee.
E= Elevate the affected knee above the heart level if there is swelling.
You can also take various medications at this point, like NSAIDs with a PPE blocker. Later on, you can begin exercise therapy, which can minimize your risks of developing knee pain and protect you from repetitive knee damage.
The majority of knee pain in young adults can be managed with simple nonsurgical therapies. However, some cases, particularly those involving soft-tissue tears and bone fractures may necessitate surgery. Unless surgery is the sole option, you and your orthopedic doctor should examine all other therapy choices.
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