Arthritis Pain in Knee

Written By: Chloe Wilson, BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy
Reviewed by: KPE Medical Review Board

Arthritis pain in knees is one of the most common knee problems.

Indeed, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the US, and affects millions of people worldwide.

Arthritis simply means "inflammation of the joint" and is characterised by degenerative changes in the bones and cartilage in the knee joint.  

Knee arthritis may affect the knee joint between the thigh and shin bones, or the patellofemoral joint between the kneecap and the front of the knee. In some cases, knee arthritis will affect both joints.

Here we will start by looking at what is actually going on in the knee with arthritis and the different types. Then as you continue through the arthritis pain in knee section you will find lots of information such as the

• Common Causes: and risk factors for knee arthritis
• Common Symptoms: and how they vary
• Arthritis Stages: how it progresses
• Treatment Options: including exercises, injections, braces and natural remedies.

There are two different types of knee arthritis caused by either wear and tear or inflammation.

The knee joint is made up of three bones, the femur (thigh), tibia (shin) and patella (kneecap) which form 2 separate joints:

• Tibiofemoral Joint: knee joint
• Patellofemoral Joint: kneecap joint

The ends of the knee bones are covered by thick layers of cartilage. 

There are two main types of arthritis in the knee:

1. Osteoarthritis: where there is degeneration of the bones
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis: where there is inflammation in the joint

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In a normal, healthy knee joint, there is a reasonable sized gap between the bones (tibia and femur) due to a thick layer of cartilage and lubricating fluid. 

The surface of the bones is nice and smooth and as the knee bends and straightens, the joint moves easily and painlessly due to the cushioning from the cartilage. 

With osteoarthritis of the knee, a few things happen. The cartilage thins and as a result the bone underneath begins to thicken and lays down new bone to try and protect itself. 

These spurs stick up so the joint surfaces are no longer smooth but are all bumpy. They are known as osteophytes or knee bone spurs.

As a result of these changes, there is less space between the bones. This means that as you use the knee, you can get bone rubbing on bone, causing arthritis pain in knee joints. The bone spurs can also limit the amount of movement in the knee leading to stiffness, a really common problem in knee arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis pain in the knees is less common and is categorised as a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder:

• Chronic = long term
• Systemic = throughout the body
• Inflammatory = swelling

Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation as well as excess fluid in the joints and often leads to destruction of the cartilage. Joints become swollen, painful and warm, and movement is limited by resultant stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis is less common than knee osteoarthritis and its incidence is actually declining. Rheumatoid arthritis currently affects around 1% of the world’s population and is three times more prevalent in women than men.

Kneecap arthritis affects the patellofemoral joint, where the kneecap meets the thigh bone. The patella sits in the patellar/trochlear groove on the front of the femur and glides up and down as the knee moves.  

In patellofemoral arthritis, there is damage to the cartilage on the back of the kneecap and the cartilage lining the patellar groove. Pain tends to be felt at the front of the knee can is worse with activities such as climbing stairs, getting up from sitting and squatting. LEARN MORE >