Knee Pain: Understanding the Knee and Finding Relief

By Albert Garney, CPO

Knee pain is a common occurrence that can cripple your quality of life or can affect your day-to-day routine. Knee issues can be more extreme than others and many have searched for solutions. To manage your knee pain it is important to understand the components of the knee and how each one operates in conjunction with one another.

The knee joint is the largest joint in the body with a complex set of components that collaborate to allow movement. The most basic components of the knee are the bones and ligaments. A ligament is a strong tissue that connects bone to bone. The three main bones of the knee are the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and the patella (knee plate). The knee is held together by two sets of ligaments.

The collateral ligaments are located on the sides of the knee; the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is on the inside while the lateral collateral ligament is on the outside (LCL). This set of ligaments controls the sideways motion of the knee. The other set of ligaments are the cruciate ligaments, located inside the knee joint, behind the patella. They form an X inside the knee joint, with the anterior cruciate ligament connecting in front and the posterior cruciate ligament in back.

Pain management for knee issues is addressed by transferring body weight of the injured knee to the thigh thus dispersing the weight to the calf section. The knee hinges within the brace provides stability to a weak knee. Restricting or eliminating non-functional motion of the knee will reduce pain and discomfort. Knee bracing comes in a variety of designs to address multiple knee pain issues. These options include off the shelf bracing or custom bracing.

Contact a certified orthotist or prosthetist and learn how they can help you improve your quality of life by discussing your options for treatment.