Cartilage damage is among the most common causes of knee pain. Age, gender, race, genetic factors, as well as weight, sedentary life such as office workers, weakness in leg muscles, structural disorders in the feet, knees and hips such as flat feet, facilitate the formation of cartilage damage. The knee joint consists of 3 bones. These are the thigh, calf, and kneecap bones. The cartilage structure covers these bone ends, thus providing a flat joint surface. It creates a flexible, slippery surface. It provides easy movement with joint fluid. Sounds when going up and down stairs, sitting and getting up can be a sign of cartilage damage. It is painless at first. As the cartilage damage increases, the cartilage tissue becomes thinner and disorders in the bone structure occur. Joint pain that increases with activity and goes away with rest, swelling, limitation of movement are typical findings. Difficulty begins in daily activities and quality of life decreases.
Anamnesis, examination findings in planning the diagnosis and treatment of knee pain
imaging methods are important. The treatment is planned according to the cause of the pain, the age of the patient, the severity of the complaints, the loss of function, and the patient’s expectation. Conservative treatment is applied in the early period. Losing weight, avoiding heavy and long standing work, regulating activities (climbing up and down stairs, getting away from going up and down the slopes), exercise treatments to strengthen the thigh muscles, painkillers (NSAID) drugs, cold-hot applications and pain control and joint
provides range of motion. If the complaints continue, physical therapy is applied. In treatment, kinesioband, knee joint injections, PRP can also be applied. As a result, joint sounds coming from our knees during our daily movements may herald cartilage damage. And it is important to consult a doctor for pain that lasts longer than 2-3 weeks. Listen to your joints, stay healthy..
DR. FILIZ GENGOR
PHYSICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION SPECIALIST
TINAZTEPE GALEN HOSPITAL
