Knee pain is a common complaint heard by physical therapists. A variety of factors can contribute to knee pain from runner’s knee and meniscus tears to sprained ligaments and tendinitis.

The most common knee injuries are those involving the “unhappy triad.”

• The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
• The medial collateral ligament (MCL)
• The medial meniscus (MMT)

Of these three, ACL injuries are the most common, typically damaged because of side-to-side movements. Even a slightly awkward placement of the foot can put too much stress on the ACL, causing a sprain or a tear.

The knee has two other ligaments outside of the Unhappy Triad: the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). PCL injuries are not common. LCL injuries usually occur with a sharp blow to the outside of the knee, and can be extremely painful.

My Knee Hurts When I Walk or Run

If you experience pain when walking or running, you may have what’s called, “runner’s knee.” Runner’s knee is not a specific injury and it’s not just for runners, anyone can suffer it. Several factors can trigger runner’s knee including:

• Overuse
• Feet problems
• A hit to the knee
• Your bones are misaligned
• Chondromalacia patella

My Knee is Swollen

If your knee is swollen, this means you have excess fluid accumulating around the joint. This can be from an injury, overuse or as a result of an underlying medical condition.
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