A ligament injury or a condition known as patellofemoral pain syndrome could also be to blame.
But people with chondromalacia patella experience increased amounts of rubbing and friction.
This extra friction occurs due to this cartilage breakdown, and it can irritate your joint.
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This condition can also cause soreness below, inside, or outside your patella as well.
When this happens, damage to one or several of them can develop, referred to as arthritis.
However, several other symptoms can help you distinguish between the two conditions.
Signs of knee OAinclude:
Osteoarthritis typically occurs in middle- and older-aged individuals.
This stiffness can cause the first few steps of the day to be sore and challenging.
Who Develops Arthritis?
Anyone can develop arthritis, but multiple different factors can put you at a greater risk.
These include:
Ligament Injuries
There are four different ligaments in the knee that can be injured.
These include:
Symptoms of a Ligament Injury
Ligament injuries can cause pain when walking up stairs.
It can be hard to tell the difference between a ligament injury and another punch in of knee injury.
Often, these symptoms will appear immediately after an incident such as a sports accident or car crash.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome describes dull pain that occurs around the kneecap.
You may also experience:
These symptoms are similar to some other causes of knee pain.
This is why it is important to see a healthcare provider if you experience any pain in your knee.
In addition, they will review your medical history and all of your symptoms.
The suggestions below may help relieve the pain you feel when going up stairs.
Chondromalacia patella is common in people who participate in repetitive activities like running.
Therefore, chondromalacia can often be “cured” with rest and physical therapy.
Your therapist may also work with you to modify your running or biking form to reduce your knee pain.
Like chondromalacia, you might improve arthritis pain using theRICEprinciple (rest, ice, compression, elevation).
Instead, try riding a stationary bike with minimal resistance or going for a short walk.
These activities can help loosen up a stiff knee and improve your overall soreness.
Physical therapy strengthens your supporting hip and knee muscles and improves overall flexibility.
Unfortunately, in some cases, conservative treatment is not effective in relieving your symptoms.
In that case, surgery may be necessary.
Surgery for knee arthritis may involve a partial or total knee replacement.Outpatient therapyis needed afterward.
You should wear a knee brace during activity and limit those activities that put strain on the knee.
Some ligament injuries require surgery.
The most important treatment for patellofemoral pain syndrome is rest.
Additional treatment for patellofemoral pain syndrome includes pain management, RICE, and strengthening exercises.
Knee pain can also be due to a ligament injury or a condition called patellofemoral pain syndrome.
A healthcare provider diagnoses these conditions through imaging techniques, like X-rays and MRIs.
Exercise, proper nutrition, and reducing inflammation are the best ways to strengthen those muscles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (2nd edition).
2019;0(0):6-6. doi:10.21037%2Fatm.2019.04.08
