What overuse problems are common in the knee?

A run-through of common overuse conditions of the knee.

First published in 2013, and reviewed August 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

 

  • What overuse problems are common in the knee?

  • Carpet-fitter's Knee
  • Jumper's knee

    • When there has been repetitive stress, the knee structures may start to fail despite there having been no single major injury:

     

    Nature of overuse injury

    Stress fracture

    A stress fracture is a bone break that can result from repetitive stress on the bone. The patella (kneecap) for example can break in athletes without there having been any specific injury.

    Traction apophysitis

    The bone where a tendon attaches can become stressed with repetitive strain, and it and its attached tendon can break off from the main part of the bone.

    Tendinosis

    With repetitive stress the inside of a tendon can degenerate ('mucoid degeneration)' and render the tendon weak and painful.

    Bursitis

    The knee has a number of lubricating pockets, the surfaces of which slide over one another during movement. With overuse these pockets or 'bursae' can become inflamed and painful and fluid can collect inside them to form a swelling. Examples include housemaid's knee, clergyman's knee, and carpet-fitter's knee.

     

    These are the more common overuse problems:

    Osgood Schlatter's Disorder
    		 Painful knobbly lump under the kneecap (tibial tubercle) in active young people. Usually associated with jumping activities.

     
    Ilio-tibial friction band syndrome
    		 Pain on the outer aspect of the knee joint, associated with a snapping sensation as the ligamentous restraints of the ilio-tibial band snap over a bony eminence.

     
    Patellar tendinitis
    		 Tendon damage just above the kneecap.

     
    Quadriceps tendinitis
    		 'Jumper's knee'. Pain just under the kneecap in the tendon. Worse after jumping activities. Due to a breakdown of the material right inside the tendon.

     

     

    Author

    Dr Sheila Strover

    Clinical Editor

    Dr Sheila Strover is the founder and Clinical Editor of the KNEEguru website.

    Her medical studies were completed at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa - BSc(...read more

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