Knees have an important role in supporting all your daily activities, from standing, walking, to running. However, knee pain when bent can cause disruption of your daily activities. For that, identify the cause of knee pain when bent and how to treat it.
Actually there are various conditions that can cause knee pain when bent. One of them is bursitis, which is inflammation of the bursa, which is a sac filled with fluid that lubricates the joints. This condition can appear suddenly and interfere with your activities.
Various Causes of Knee Pain when Bend?
In addition to bursitis, knee pain when bent can also be caused by several other conditions, such as:
1. Injury
Experiencing an injury to the knee can also be a cause of knee pain when bent. This is because during an injury to the knee, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons can be strained and damaged. If any of these parts of the knee are torn or too strained, then that's when you may experience knee pain when bending.
2. Meniscus tear
The meniscus is a layer of cartilage that protects and stabilizes the knee joint. When you move the knee joint, it is this layer that keeps the femur and shinbone from rubbing against each other.
However, when the meniscus is torn, its function can be disrupted and can cause direct friction between the bones. This can cause pain when the knee is bent. A meniscus tear can occur when you perform a movement that forces your knee to rotate while your foot is firmly grounded, such as a sudden twisting motion while playing futsal, basketball or tennis.
3. Patellofemoral pain syndrome (pain in kneecap)
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a condition when you feel pain in the knee bone (patella). Usually the pain that appears is felt around the knee or the back of the knee. This condition is often caused by a variety of things, including using your knees too much.
The pain will be more pronounced if your knee is under pressure for a long time, for example when going up and down stairs, running, standing, or sitting for too long.
4. Calcification of joints (osteoarthritis)
Osteoarthritis It can also be another cause of knee pain when bent. Inflammation in the joints will cause thinning of the bearing on the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling.
In addition to occurring in the knee area, osteoarthritis It can also appear in other joints, such as the hands, hips, and spine. One's risk to experience osteoarthritis It will get bigger if you are elderly, overweight, and have experienced an injury to the knee joint.
How to Get Rid of Knee Pain when Bend?
In general, the treatment of knee pain when bent should be tailored to the underlying cause. However, you can try the following things as an initial treatment:
1. Rest your knees
Stop all activities that can make your knee hurt more when you bend it. In addition, avoid activities that increase the burden on the knees, such as lifting heavy objects.
2. Cold water compress
Compressing the knee with cold water can also relieve knee pain. Compress the sore knee area for 15-20 minutes and repeat every few hours.
3. Apply a little pressure
To prevent swelling, you can apply a little pressure by wrapping an elastic bandage around the painful area of the knee. However, don't wrap the bandage too tightly as this can block blood flow to the knee, which can make your condition worse.
4. Elevate the sore knee
Elevating the painful knee can be done to relieve swelling in that area. This technique can be done by lying down and positioning your knees on a pillow so that they are higher than your chest.
5. Take painkillers
In addition to doing the methods above, you can also take pain relievers, such as: paracetamol.
You need to know some of the causes of knee pain when bent and the initial treatment as described above. However, if after you have tried some of the ways above but the complaints persist or get worse, immediately consult your condition to a doctor or orthopedic doctor to get the right treatment.