Your knees are some of the most important joints in your body. They support a lot of your body weight and provide movement in your legs for a wide range of activities like walking, running and jumping. If you have constant knee pain when walking, it might be related to a serious condition that requires professional treatment.
Five conditions that cause knee pain when walking
- Arthritis — Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in your joints to break down your cartilage. Without the cartilage, friction increases in the joints, which is painful and limits your range of motion. Damaged cartilage can also break off and form loose debris that snags the movement of your joints. It can be painful and difficult to walk when you have arthritis in your knee.
- Tendinitis — Tendinitis is an inflammation of one of your tendons that develops due to irritation of the tendon. This irritation is often the result of overexertion in physical activity. Tendinitis can affect one or more tendons in your knee, causing pain when walking.
- Bursitis — Bursitis is the inflammation of your bursae, which are small sacs of fluid that keep the tendons from rubbing against the bones in your joints. Overexertion can cause inflammation in the bursae in your knee that is painful and limits your range of motion.
- Torn meniscus — The menisci are flat, half-disc-shaped pieces of cartilage in your knees. They protect the bones in the knee against shock from impacts and from friction. Over-twisting the knee or receiving a direct impact to the knee can cause one or multiple menisci to tear.
- Iliotibial band syndrome (IT band syndrome) — The IT band is a long, tough ligament that runs from your hips to your knees on the outside of each leg. Overexertion can cause the IT band to rub against the thighbone, which can cause pain around the knee.
Visit SOL Physical Therapy + Performance today for knee pain treatment
Is long-lasting or frequently recurring knee pain preventing you from walking, running and other activities? Our physical therapists at SOL Physical Therapy + Performance can help you reduce and prevent knee pain. Contact our team today for more information about knee pain when walking or to schedule an initial appointment.
