Anterior Knee Pain

What is anterior knee pain?

More simply known as “a pain in the front of the knee”, Anterior Knee Pain (AKP) is a frequent problem in active and sporting individuals. It is not a diagnosis but merely an umbrella term to describe the location of the symptoms and there are several anatomical structures pertinent to this area which can be the cause of the pain. In this blog our Chartered Physiotherapist Rebecca Wyatt outlines the basic anatomy of the knee and some problems which can occur in this area, as well as reasons why the pain may have occurred in the first place.

What tendons are in the knee?

The knee joint is simple and known as a hinge joint whereby the active movements are flexion and extension (bending and straightening.) It is composed of three articulating bones- the femur, tibia and patella. Movement at the knee is produced by large muscle groups which directly attach on to these articulating bones at different points. These muscles include the Hamstrings group, located at the back of the thigh which acts to flex the knee and the Quadriceps group, located on the top of the thigh. The Quadriceps muscles extend the knee; this occurs through the composition of the group having four muscles which conjoin to make a tendon that passes over the top of the patella and attaches on to the tibia. This is known as the patella tendon and it is frequently a site for pain and symptoms in the knee. In addition, at the front of the knee there are several other structures which can lead to knee symptoms. The picture below identifies these structures:

 

Anterior Knee Pain

 

As shown in the picture above, the menisci (cartilage on the surface of the tibia) can be a source of knee pain. An acute tear and inflammation in this structure can lead to knee pain and reduced movement but often the pain is localised to either side of the patella tendon. Beneath the patella tendon sits a bursa (fluid filled sac) and fat pad which are not shown on the above diagram.

Types of problems which can occur

The following list outlines possible problems which can lead to pain in the front of the knee joint:

  • Patella tendinitis (acute inflammation of the patella tendon)
  • Patella tendinopathy (more chronic, long term pain and inflammation within the patella tendon)
  • Fat pad impingement
  • Bursitis (commonly occurs from a direct blow to the knee or poor biomechanics)
  • Tears in the patella tendon (normally from traumatic incident)
  • Patella fractures
  • Osteoarthritis (degenerative changes on some or a combination of all the bony articular surfaces)

Why might anterior knee pain occur?

Anterior knee pain occurs for many reasons. Some people unfortunately suffer with degenerative changes within the knee joint which leads to osteoarthritis a pain. This can happen to anyone as part of the ageing process or to those who have worked in jobs / sports which has place a lot of stress on the knees, for example plumbers who kneel a lot. Pain in the patella tendon often occurs due to a combination of poor biomechanics and weakness in muscles contributing towards supporting the lower limb. This can then lead to increase force being placed through the patella tendon which with repetition and over time can lead to pain.

A Chartered Physiotherapist can assess for and treat all of the above knee problems. Your pattern of symptoms, activities which aggravate the symptoms and how long you have had the problem are all important things a physio will ask in your first session. Then your lower limb posture in static positions and during specific movements will be assessed as well as the length and strength of the large muscle groups in the lower limb which can impact on the knee.   A specific palpation (also known as a poke and prod) of the knee will follow with special tests to rule out cartilage and cruciate ligament problems. Depending on the findings your physiotherapist will then explain the current problem and devise a treatment plan to address it.

If you are currently struggling with anterior knee pain or indeed any pain in your knees then our team of skilled physiotherapists are here to help. You can contact us at the clinic on 01202 725 090 or on info@lilliputhealth.co.uk