The Baker’s cyst is a bulge in the hollow of the knee, usually the result of another knee joint injury or disease. Cyst is the Greek word for cavity or bladder in the tissue. In the case of the Baker cyst, this cavity is filled with fluid.
This is caused by increased metabolic processes in the knee joint, which are the result of healing processes of the actual disease (often arthrosis, rheumatism or other chronic inflammatory processes in the knee). The body cannot remove the fluid afterwards. It accumulates and sinks to the back where it finds no resistance in the form of bone or other harder tissue.
The result is an overpressure in the joint, with more or less pain and restrictions, depending on the size of the Baker cyst. Depending on which structures the cyst presses on – these can be nerves, muscles, blood vessels, etc. Depending on which structures the cyst presses on – these can be nerves, muscles, blood vessels, etc. – the symptoms range from restricted movement and function to numbness, sensitivity and circulatory disorders.
Knee
The knee joint is the largest joint in our body and is formed by the interaction of three bones: the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone) and the patella (kneecap). Since the femur ends round, but the tibia has a flat plateau, there are auxiliary devices such as the menisci that compensate for the inequalities in shape and allow unimpeded joint movement. Nevertheless, the joint is subject to extreme stress, which together with the anatomical structure leads to relatively frequent injuries. Torn meniscus – and torn ligaments in athletes, arthrosis and rheumatism in older patients – are all possible triggers for a Baker cyst.
Sports
A Baker’s cyst can occur more frequently in athletes with chronic overloading and inflammatory processes in the knee joint or with previous injuries. It is important not to continue training into the pressure pain, this only results in more and more fluid being produced and the pressure increases until the thin tissue skin around the cyst finally gives way and bursts.
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