What Causes Knee Problems?

What Causes Knee Problems?
Knee problems can be the result of disease or injury.
Disease
A number of diseases can affect the knee. The most common
is arthritis. Although arthritis technically means “joint
inflammation,” the term is used loosely to describe many different
diseases that can affect the joints. We’ll describe some
of the most common forms of arthritis and their effects on
the knees a bit later in the booklet.
Injury
Knee injuries can occur as the result of a direct blow or sudden
movements that strain the knee beyond its normal range
of motion. Sometimes knees are injured slowly over time.

Problems with the hips or feet, for example, can cause you to
walk awkwardly, which throws off the alignment of the knees
and leads to damage. Knee problems can also be the result of
a lifetime of normal wear and tear. Much like the treads on a
tire, the joint simply wears out over time. We’ll discuss some
of the most common knee injuries later in this booklet, but
first we’ll take a look at the structure of the knee joint.