Knee pain
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Has pain limited your ability to enjoy activities? Meet one-on-one with an Asante orthopedic specialist to assess your bone, joint and muscle health — the first step toward returning to an active lifestyle.
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Knee pain can occur at any age, for a variety of reasons. Knee pain may come on gradually, or all at once due to an injury or traumatic event. If you are experiencing knee pain, one of our trained physicians can assess your symptoms and diagnose the problem, working with you to create a treatment plan that works for your specific goals and lifestyle.
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Conditions we treat
Torn meniscus
A torn meniscus occurs when the c-shaped piece of cartilage in the knee between the femur (thighbone) and the tibia (shinbone) suffers either a traumatic tear, or a degenerative tear. A traumatic tear most often affects athletes, and occurs when the patient makes an abrupt turn, pivoting the knee while keeping the foot planted. A degenerative tear occurs due to wear over a long period of time, and most often affects older patients. Symptoms of a torn meniscus include difficulty walking and extending the knee, pain, swelling, and a “popping” sensation.
ACL tear
ACL tears can range in severity from partial tears to complete tears. Treatment for an ACL tear typically involves physical therapy and/or surgery to repair or reconstruct the damaged ligament.
Chondromalacia
Chondromalacia is a condition that affects the cartilage on the underside of the patella. In a healthy knee, the cartilage on the underside of the patella enables the patella to glide smoothly over the knee when the joint is bent. In those with chondromalacia, the cartilage on the underside of the patella becomes soft and begins to break down, causing the kneecap to rub against one side of the knee joint, leading to pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the knee.
Treatment for chondromalacia may include physical therapy, exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee, and the use of medications or injections to reduce pain and swelling. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair or remove damaged cartilage.
The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the strong bands of tissue that connects your femur (thighbone) to your tibia (shinbone), and helps to stabilize the front and back motion of the knee. ACL injuries most commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops or changes in direction such as soccer, basketball, football and downhill skiing.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as “runner's knee,” is a common condition that causes pain in and around the patella (kneecap). It is typically caused by repeated stress on the patella and the surrounding joint, leading to inflammation and irritation of the tissues. It is called “runner’s knee” or “jumper’s knee” because it is commonly seen in athletes.
Symptoms of patellofemoral pain syndrome include pain behind or around the patella, particularly when walking up or down stairs or hills, sitting for long periods of time with the knees bent or after participating in physical activity. The pain may be a dull ache or a sharp, stabbing sensation, and it may be accompanied by swelling or tenderness in the area.
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition that affects the growth plate at the top of the shinbone (tibia). It is a common cause of knee pain in children and adolescents who are going through growth spurts, and is triggered by the repetitive stress of the quadriceps muscles (the muscles in the front of the thigh) on the growth plate at the top of the tibia. This can lead to inflammation and pain in the area, particularly when the child is participating in activities that involve running, jumping or kneeling.
Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease include pain and tenderness at the top of the shinbone, swelling in the area and difficulty participating in physical activities. The pain may be worse after exercise and may improve with rest.
Iliotibial band syndrome
Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is a common overuse injury that affects the iliotibial band, a thick band of tissue that runs along the outside of the thigh from the hip to the shin. The iliotibial band helps to stabilize and move the knee joint, and ITBS occurs when the band becomes inflamed or irritated.
Symptoms of ITBS include pain on the outside of the knee, hip, or thigh, difficulty bending the knee, and a snapping or popping sensation when moving the leg. The pain is often worse when climbing stairs, running downhill, or during other activities that put a significant amount of strain on the iliotibial band.
Treatment options
Cartilage restoration
Knee cartilage restoration is a surgical procedure used to repair or replace damaged cartilage in the knee joint. There are several different treatments that your physician may recommend depending on your specific case, including microfracture, osteochondral transplantation, autologous chondrocyte implantation, or debridement and lavage. The specific treatment chosen will depend on the severity of the damage to your cartilage.
There are several types of injections that can be used to treat knee pain. These may include corticosteroid injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, hyaluronic acid injections and stem cell injections.
Asante’s Sports Medicine team includes a range of experienced orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists who provide full-service care for the treatment and injuries that occur during sports and physical activity. We offer a range of treatments for knee pain, including physical therapy, rehabilitation exercises, medications, and minimally invasive surgeries.
A knee replacement is a surgical procedure to replace a knee joint that is worn out or injured with an artificial joint. During the surgery, one of our expert surgeons will make an incision on the front or side of the knee and clear the damaged bone away. The surface of the knee will then be prepped and shaped to hold the new joint, and the new joint will be aligned and secured to the femur (thighbone), patella (kneecap), and tibia (shinbone).
Depending on the severity of your knee pain, surgery may be recommended as a viable treatment option. Among the surgeries recommended for Asante patients with ongoing knee pain are ACL reconstructive surgery, osteoarthritis surgery, minimally invasive reconstructive surgery, and meniscus and multi-ligament injury surgery.
Asante offers a full range of surgical and sports medicine services. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Asante Physician Partners Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine in Ashland provide advanced procedures in joint replacement and spine surgery, often in a same-day setting.
