Knee

In active people, overuse of the ligaments and tendons or inflammation of the bursa often lead to knee problems. Injuries to the meniscus, cruciate ligament or cartilage damage are also causes of knee problems. In older people, signs of wear and tear such as osteoarthritis are usually responsible for knee problems.

On the one hand, overloading during sport can lead to problems. Quick changes of direction and hard landings after a jump put a particularly high strain on the tendons, ligaments, meniscus and cartilage of the knee. On the other hand, weight also plays a role. You have to imagine that when you are standing, you are putting twice your body weight on your knee. When walking down stairs, the load on the knee joint is even six times the body weight. This means that the more weight, the greater the load on the knee. However, how much a knee can withstand is very individual.

Although sport can be a risk factor, it is generally very healthy, as the muscles around the knee are trained and thus stabilise the knee. Sports with guided movements are particularly easy on the joints. These include cross-country skiing in classic style, swimming, cycling or fitness training on equipment. A healthy, varied diet also makes a significant contribution to the prevention of knee problems. It is important for both the cartilage and the synovial fluid.

As soon as the ligaments or the inner structure of the knee joint are overstretched, they react with pain or swelling. The pain is perceived very differently and ranges from dull, burning, stabbing to pulling. Pain can occur during movement, during exertion or at rest. A distinction is also made between acute knee pain, which occurs suddenly, and chronic knee pain, which only develops over time. The localisation and type of pain always give us an indication of what the problem might be. Swelling, often combined with instability of the knee, is a possible sign that something is wrong with the ligaments.

The following applies: If knee instability and knee pain dominate everyday life, it is time to clarify and treat these complaints in order to avoid possible consequential damage.

These are two different problems. However, both are preceded by overuse of a ligament. In the case of so-called jumper's knee, it is the ligament of the kneecap that has been overloaded by repeated jumping or abrupt changes of direction. This overloading causes tiny injuries to the tendon at the lower edge of the kneecap. New connective tissue forms nearby, nerves and blood vessels sprout and cause the typical load-dependent pain.

Runner's knee - as the name suggests - mainly affects long-distance runners. The pain that occurs on the outside of the knee is also caused by tendon problems. The tendon plate comes from the pelvis and runs along the side of the thigh to the tibial plateau. Normally, it glides past the knee joint without any problems. With runner's knee, however, it repeatedly rubs against the prominent bones - this strains the tissue and can cause inflammation.

The first thing to do is to have the knee problems carefully investigated. Depending on the cause, good results can be achieved with conservative measures, i.e. medication, physiotherapy and breaks in training. However, if the pain persists and the quality of life suffers due to the discomfort, surgery should be considered.

The following also applies here: if the quality of life is severely restricted due to knee osteoarthritis or if everyday life is dominated by pain and uncertainty, you should consider a knee prosthesis. An artificial knee joint can restore freedom from pain and mobility. An artificial joint usually lasts 10 to 15 years. The lifespan of an artificial joint can be limited by the following factors: Obesity, activity, increase in osteoporosis, infections, allergies, instability of the joint and due to accidents.