Side Knee Pain

This article explains the causes of side knee pain and suggests preventive measures to be taken to prevent it.

Knee is one of the most important joint of our body which helps in walking, running, climbing, etc. It is the largest joint of the body which carries the weight of the body while the body is in vertical position. The tendons and the ligaments in the knee joint provide a smooth movement and bear the jerk of the body while running. These are hence the most vulnerable to wear and tear and injury which causes pain may be medial or side knee pain.

The tissues surrounding the knee joint gets damaged due to normal wear and tear happening due to aging or may be due to an injury to the joint. Knee joint problems arise due to several factors aging, being overweight are some of them. There may be different types of knee problem which affect the joint. These may be medial knee pain, meniscus tear, patellar dislocation where the front part of the knee called the knee cap gets dislocated due to injury. Side knee pain is common with athletes where the ligament supporting the knee gets damaged.

Side knee pain results in swelling of the joint which may worsen if not taken care of. To calm the swelling in the joint ice should be applied and the knee should be laid in rest. Avoid putting any kind of pressure on the joint.  Medical assistance is necessary in severe cases where drugs are used to reduce the pain and swelling of the joint. Besides these medications one of the best ways that doctors suggest to prevent side knee pain is to follow some stretching exercise before performing strenuous activity. Braces should be used while playing occasionally to provide support to the knee.

Side knee pain is now a common complaint in young athletes who overuse their knee and face problems in young age. One tip which they should remember is to always warm up before playing. It helps the joint to absorb the jerks of the body. Due to lack of such guidance generally athletes hurt their knees and bear its consequences in the long run of their careers. The natural function of knee is to absorb the jerks of the body and bear the weight while walking, running etc. but it still needs care.

In children side knee pain may occur due to some overgrowth of the bones near the knee or due to some metabolic disease. If the meniscus in children is not properly developed it also causes the side knee pain in children. Knee pain may also happen because of some problems in nerves where the pain from lower portion of body is felt at knees.

Side knee pain may also occur in some of the diseases like arthritis where the joint is swollen because of the damaged cartilage, or tendonitis where the tendons supporting the knee are damaged. Since knees are an important point of our body and the most susceptible joint for injury any pain should be reported immediately to the experts. There cannot be question of waiting and watching in case of knee as prolonged knee pain can worsen the situation and render the person unable to walk.