Knee pain is a troublesome problem for a huge number of Americans. Of all Americans reporting chronic pain, 19.5% reported chronic knee pain. As a complex joint, many different types of pain and conditions can affect the knee. One of the most sensitive and often mysterious is chronic posterior knee pain known as: pain behind knee.
What causes this pain and what can be done about it? In this post we will share some answers and offer a solution to this sometimes serious problem.
Causes of Pain Behind Knee
Some common causes of pain originating in the back of the knee include:
- Baker’s Cyst
- This is the inflammation of a fluid filled sack behind the knee called the popliteal bursa, and probably the most common source of pain in this area.
- Arthritis
- The inflammation of compromised joints from the wearing away of protective, cushioning cartilage on the ends of the bones produces a grinding effect called osteoarthritis. This makes movement of the joint painful. Rheumatoid arthritis could also be a cause of joint pain.
- Posterior Meniscus Injury
- The ring of cushioning cartilage in the knee, called the meniscus, could be slightly damaged in the posterior (back) region.
- Hamstring Injury
- A minor tear or over-stretching of the hamstring muscle in the back of the leg could be causing pain and inflammation behind the knee as the muscle attaches around this area.
- Weak or Imbalanced Muscles
- Read more on how these affect knee pain on our page here.
If Left Untreated…
If pain is left untreated in this area, not only will the condition continue to develop and worsen the pain, but there could be more serious consequences. Mobility could become restricted, limiting your ability to walk, run, sit, or stand. Often, bending of the knee and keeping the knee straight for longer periods of time (think sitting on the sofa with your feet on the coffee table in front) will become very painful. Without proper treatment, issues like arthritis could continue to worsen, deteriorating the joints even more. When the knee joint is compromised, risks of falling and balance loss develop. The locking and buckling of the knee can prove both painful and dangerous when standing. Surgery may even be required, if rehabilitation after a meniscus or cartilage injury isn’t used through physical therapy first. It’s always best to avoid invasive surgery when possible.
But There’s Hope!
There are many options now for treating pain behind the knee through physical therapy, depending on the cause of the problem. Our team here has thorough knowledge and experience with the treatment of pain behind knee and other knee issues. See some of our patient testimonials on YouTube HERE.
Click here to see more of the knee therapy we offer!
With our state of the art treatment room and knowledgeable staff, resolving your pain behind knee quickly and safely.
We can help get to the root of the problem and set you on the right path toward healing and pain-free living. We treat knee pain and posterior knee pain (pain behind knee) each and every day with a very high success rate. Do not delay, the longer you wait the more serious your posterior knee pain (pain behind knee) can become.
Call now to schedule an appointment!
-Written by Becca Chamberlain, LMT, RYT
