Understanding Anterior Knee Pain

Anterior knee pain is surprisingly common given that the knee is supposed to be one of the stronger parts of the human body. The “anterior” of the knee refers to its front, around the kneecap area.

Anterior knee pain affects the front of the knee, around the kneecaps. | Family Podiatry Centre | Best Foot Doctor Podiatrist DPM Clinic Singapore Malaysia

There are four ligaments holding the bones of the knees together, and the muscles that allow the knee to move are connected to the bone by tendons. The quadriceps tendon connects the thigh to the kneecap or the patella, and the patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the shin bone.

Symptoms of anterior knee pain include pain in the front or center of the knee, a popping or cracking sensation of the knee when walking or climbing stairs and general instability.

What causes Anterior Knee Pain?

There are many causes of anterior knee pain, depending on which structure is being stressed. The knees are one of the most important parts of the leg, and is a large and complex join connecting the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). The kneecap sits in between them. The areas of bone that are in contact with each other are covered with cartilage, a slippery connective tissue that allows the bones to glide over each other during movement. 

Any one of these parts can be injured simply through daily activity and cause anterior knee pain. More specific causes of anterior knee pain include:

  • Excessive activity
  • Overuse during training
  • Incorrect form or technique during training
  • Improper usage of sports equipment
  • Malalignment issues
  • A weak quadriceps tendon may result in the patella moving around, irritating the cartilage or placing stress on the tendons
  • Change in footwear or training surface

It is important to note that while anterior knee pain is normally caused by overuse and strain, structural issues like bone problems are not entirely out of the question, and anterior knee pain might also be caused by seemingly unrelated problems like your shins being damaged as well. It’s common to end up focusing only on the knees when trying to diagnose the cause of anterior knee pain.

Best Anterior Knee Pain Treatment

At Family Podiatry Centre, our trained podiatrists will be able to pinpoint the root cause of your anterior knee pain and come up with an accurate treatment plan, which may include physiotherapy or shock wave therapy. If your anterior knee pain is getting out of hand, we recommend that you visit a podiatrist to accurately diagnose the problem and see what should be done next.

Written by Kardem Kiter
Written by Kardem Kiter

Based in Singapore, Degree in Podiatric Medicine from the University of Johannesburg. Published in The Foot and member of The Golden Key Honour Society.

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