Associated symptoms

Swelling of the knee is a common accompanying symptom of pain. On the one hand, a swelling such as water retention in the knee itself can cause pain, on the other hand, the swelling can also be the expression of an injury in the knee joint. If, for example, inflammation of the kneecap or adjacent tendons and ligaments occurs, the inflammatory reaction causes swelling.

A rupture of a tendon, muscle fiber or ligament can also manifest itself as swelling and pain. This is because such a tear often causes bleeding, which brings additional volume to the knee joint and therefore causes it to swell. Water in the knee is a typical symptom of degenerative diseases.

For example, it often occurs in the case of arthrotic changes in the knee joint. Injury to muscles or the menisci can also cause additional fluid in the knee. The destruction of the tissue causes the fluid to escape from the cells.

This fluid remains in the knee joint and is colloquially called water in the knee. Due to the increased accumulation of fluid, the mobility of the joint is often limited. In addition, pain can occur, especially during movement, as the water is displaced from the joint space and presses on other structures.

These topics may be of interest to you:

Knee Joint Arthrosis
Torn meniscus

An occasional cracking in the knee occurs in many people and is usually not due to serious causes. However, if the cracking occurs regularly during certain movements or is associated with pain, the cause should be clarified. For example, a cracking may be caused by the tendon of a muscle jumping back and forth between two positions when the knee joint is moved.

But it can also be triggered by injured structures, which, for example, block the knee in one movement. When the joint is moved against this resistance, a cracking sound is produced. A restriction of movement in the knee can have many causes.

Frequently, pain is caused by occlusion (e.g. arthrosis) or injuries, for example to muscles, ligaments or menisci, which is why the knee can only be bent or stretched to counteract pain. Water retention can also cause movement restrictions due to the increased volume in the joint. If a proper blockage occurs in the joint, an injured structure such as a torn meniscus is often the cause.

A loss of strength in the knee joint is usually due to muscular problems. For example, overloading the muscles can lead to a temporary loss of strength. Injuries and inflammations also reduce muscle strength.

Less frequently, nerve disorders lead to a loss of strength. Sometimes, pain caused by other structural damage can also lead to reduced mobility and, in the course of time, to a reduction in muscle strength. When climbing stairs, the knee joint is under particular strain.

The front part of the knee joint is particularly affected when walking down stairs. Front knee pain when climbing stairs is therefore quite unspecific. They can indicate structural damage such as a torn meniscus or diseases of the ligaments and tendons.

However, arthrotic changes and cartilage damage can also be indicated by anterior knee pain when climbing stairs. If anterior knee pain occurs after sport, this usually indicates that the joint is overstressed. If the pain has occurred after a fall or collision, the knee should always be examined by an orthopedic specialist for severe damage. If the pain is more likely to be chronic, inflammation of the tendons or muscular overloading may be the cause.