Knee Symptoms

Here we will look at the most common knee pain symptoms and knee injuries symptoms and how to use them to work out what is wrong. We will then go on to look at the best way to treat your knee pain and stop it from coming back.

Common Knee Pain Symptoms

1. Knee Pain Symptoms By Activity

There are certain activities that often cause problems if you have a certain underlying knee injury or condition and you may have one or more of the following knee pain symptoms:

• Knee Pain From Running
• Knee Pain On Stairs
• Knee Pain At Night
• Knee Pain When Squatting
• Knee Pain Kneeling
• Knee Pain When Sitting

2. Specific Knee Symptoms

It may be that experience other knee symptoms alongside pain such as:

• Noisy Knees e.g. popping, clicking, grinding
• Knee Locking
• Swelling & Inflammation
• Burning Knee Pain
• Sharp, Catching Pain
• Bony Lump On Knee
• Leg & Calf Muscle Cramps
• Giving Way & Instability
• Severe Knee Pain
• Stiffness & Reduced Movement

Let's start by thinking about knee pain symptoms associated with particular activities and what they might mean.

1. Knee Pain On Stairs

2. Knee Pain At Night

3. Knee Pain Bending

Knee pain bending is a common knee pain symptoms. A great deal of force goes through the knee when we do any activities with a bent knee.

There may be a problem inside the knee joint or in one of the surrounding soft tissues, or there may be a problem with how the different knee structures are moving in relation to each other.

knee pain when bending is a relatively common condition, affecting up to 40% of adults at some point in their lives.

You can find out about the most common causes and how to treat the associated knee symptoms in the Knee Pain When Bending section.

4. Knee Pain From Running

5. Pain When Squatting

Problems with squatting down is one of those knee pain symptoms that can affect people numerous times a day - putting your socks on, tying your laces, picking something up off the floor, the list goes on.

Forces up to 7x bodyweight go through the knee when we squat so it's no wonder knee pain with squats is such a common problem.

Knee pain symptoms when squatting can include sharp, stabbing, or burning pain in the front or back of the knee, tenderness around the joint, swelling, and difficulty straightening or bending the leg.

Most cases are due to a combination of inflammation, knee damage, muscle weakness and poor technique.

Find out how you to beat this common knee pain symptom in the knee pain when squatting section.

6. Knee Pain When Sitting

Some knee symptoms get worse with prolonged inactivity e.g. office workers sitting for long periods.  The pain may start while sitting or you may not notice it until you actually get up.

Common causes of knee pain when sitting are:
Patellofemoral Syndrome: causes pain and stiffness at the front of the knee
Arthritis: changes in the bone caused by wear and tear or inflammation
Osgood Schlatters: common in adolescents, particularly after a growth spurt. 

7. Difficulty Kneeling

Now let's have a look at the most common knee symptoms that go alongside knee pain.

1. Noisy Knees

2. Knee Swelling

Another common knee injuries symptom is swelling and inflammation. 

Virtually any knee problem may be accompanied by swelling. There may be

• Sudden Knee Swelling: which is usually caused by a specific injury, comes on very quickly and may be quite profuse
• Gradual Knee Swelling: which is usually due to a more chronic knee problem, comes on gradually over a few days or weeks and may well fluctuate

Knee swelling may well affect the whole joint or may be restricted to certain locations, e.g. swelling behind the knee or swelling on the side of the knee, depending on the underlying cause.

In the knee swelling section we look at the most common causes of swelling, what they mean, commonly associated knee pain symptoms and how to treat them.

3. Knee Locking

4. Giving Way & Instability

The knee giving way it a rather unpleasant and disconcerting knee injury symptom. This is when the knee buckles underneath you without you being able to control it. You may feel unsteady or even stumble or fall to the ground.

Knee giving way usually indicates:

• Ligament Injury: usually caused by twisting, a force through the knee or the knee bending backwards too far 
• Meniscus Tear: often makes the knee feel unstable and can occasionally cause the knee to give way

5. Knee Stiffness

Knee stiffness is another common knee pain symptoms. Knee stiffness may develop suddenly or gradually and often fluctuates. 

It could be due to an injury, overuse, or even just your age and is often linked with inflammation.

In the stiff knee section, we look at common causes of knee stiffness, how to make an accurate knee pain diagnosis, and the most effective treatment options.

6. Sharp Knee Pain

7. Burning Knee Pain

Another unpleasant knee pain symptoms is burning knee pain, where the knee feels like it is on fire.

Burning knee pain is a fairly common condition. According to some studies, up to 25% of adults may experience knee pain due to the natural wear and tear that comes with age.

Other common causes of burning knee pain include injury or overuse of the joint.

So if your knee feels like it is on fire, visit the burning knee pain section to find out about the possible causes, associated knee symptoms and how to treat them.

8. Severe Knee Pain

Severe knee pain can be extremely concerning and unpleasant. It is often accompanied by other knee pain symptoms such as swelling, instability, redness and an obvious deformity. The pain may come on very suddenly or gradually over time and symptoms may fluctuate.

In this section we look at the most common causes of severe knee pain, how to work out which one you are suffering from and how to treat it. 

10. Bony Lump 

One of the less common knee pain symptoms is a bony lump. Lumps can occur anywhere around the knee but are most common just below the knee cap.

A bony lump here is a classic sign of Osgood Schlatters, a condition that typically affects teenagers and young adults particularly after a growth spurt. Tension on the tendon damages the bone, which often results in a hard lump on the shin.

Find out more about the common causes, knee symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options in the Osgood Schlatter section.

11. Location of Knee Pain

When To See Your Doctor

Some knee pain and injury symptoms may be a sign that there is something serious going on. See you doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following knee symptoms:

• You are unable to take any weight on your leg
• Your knee is giving way / collapsing when you stand or walk
• Your knee movement is markedly reduced
• There is severe knee swelling
• You are in severe pain
• There is an obvious deformity of your leg
• You knee pain is accompanied by redness, swelling and you are feeling unwell/have a fever
• You notice any changes in bladder/bowel function, vision or sensation in your leg
• You have had any unexplained weight loss

If you are at all worried about your knee symptoms, even if you don't have any of the ones listed above, do get checked out by your doctor. 

Knee Pain Symptoms Summary

The most common knee pain symptoms are:

• Swelling: Sudden knee swelling usually indicates a knee injury, gradual knee swelling usually indicates an underlying knee condition
  
  
• Instability Or Weakness: If your knee actually collapses under you, it is likely due to a ligament tear or meniscus tear. Weakness is one of the most common knee pain symptoms with almost any knee problem and responds well to strengthening exercises
  
  
• Popping/Clicking/Grinding Noises: Strange knee noises are a common knee injury symptom at the time of injury, often indicating a ligament injury. Ongoing clicking or grinding noises are a common chronic knee pain symptom often associated with arthritis or meniscus degeneration
  
  
• Reduced Knee Movement: Stiffness is a common knee pain symptom. There may be something physically blocking the movement e.g. meniscus tear, there may be muscle weakness limiting movement or pain may be the limiting factor. Find out more in the stiff knee article
  
  
• Redness and/or Warmth: If the knee feels warm to touch and is red, it may indicate a serious problem such as an infection or DVT - see you doctor immediately

Page Last Updated: 07/02/23
Next Review Due: 07/02/25

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References

1. Clinical Journal of Pain: The influence of knee pain location on symptoms, functional status and knee-related quality of life in older adults with chronic knee pain. June 2016