Overuse of the knee can occur due to repeated strain, such as intense sports activities, prolonged standing, or heavy physical labor. In many cases, improper muscle control prevents the knee from moving correctly. This repeated incorrect pressure can lead to irritation of the knee joints, tendons, and muscles, causing pain and discomfort.
Overuse can also result from prolonged inactivity. Every joint is designed to move. Sitting for too long can cause the kneecap to press against the thigh bone, leading to irritation on one or both joint surfaces. Similarly, standing for extended periods can lead to irritation at the joint surfaces between the thigh bone and the shin bone. In both cases, movement is key to relief, and one of the best ways to achieve this is cycling. Cycling allows for a full range of motion without placing excessive pressure on the knee.
Both overuse and underuse of the knee can contribute to osteoarthritis later in life. Osteoarthritis is a joint disorder where cartilage gradually deteriorates. Cartilage requires a balanced amount of stress to remain healthy—too much wear accelerates its breakdown, leading to arthritis. Unlike muscles, cartilage lacks direct blood supply and is nourished by joint fluid (synovial fluid). Movement helps distribute this fluid throughout the joint. A lack of movement can reduce cartilage nutrition, leading to its degradation. Additionally, inactivity weakens muscles, compromising stability and shock absorption, thereby increasing joint stress.
For overuse injuries, treatment focuses on restoring knee functionality:
After a knee trauma, inflammation often develops. Symptoms include swelling, warmth, redness, and pain. The primary treatment goal is to reduce inflammation.
The RICE method—Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation—helps alleviate pain and swelling in both overuse and traumatic injuries. This method can be applied immediately at home after a knee injury and is useful for other joints as well.
While resting the knee, movement remains essential. Gentle bending and extending exercises can be done by laying the leg flat on a surface and sliding the heel towards the body before extending the leg back down. However, standing and twisting on the injured knee should be avoided.
Many traumatic injuries can be treated conservatively with physiotherapy, but in cases where high-performance sports or other demanding activities are the goal, surgical intervention may be necessary to restore full function.
