The location of knee pain can say a lot about its possible causes. For example, a healthcare provider may consider certain diagnoses if the pain is on theinside of the knee versus the outside. Likewise, they may rule certain causes in or out if the pain is felt under the kneecapwhile bending the kneeor at the top of the knee when walking up stairs.
To better understand why the location of knee pain can be so telling, it helps to learn about thestructures of the kneeand the various conditions that can affect them.
This article takes a concise look at the anatomy of the knee joint and describes the processes and conditions that cause pain in the different aspects (parts) of the knee.
Knee Pain Causes and When to See the Doctor
Knee Pain Location ChartTop of the kneeBursitis, chondromalacia, knee osteoarthritis, patella tracking syndromeBottom of the kneeOsgood-schlatter disease, osteochondtritis dissecans, patellar tendonitis, patellofemoral instabilityInner kneeBursitis, knee osteoarthritis, medial collateral ligament injuries, medial meniscus tearOuter kneeKnee osteoarthritis, iliotibial band syndrome, lateral collateral ligament injuries, lateral meniscus tearMiddle of the kneeAnterior cruciate ligament tear, tricompartment osteoarthritisBack of the kneeBaker’s cyst, posterior cruciate ligament injuries
Front View of Normal Knee Joint
The structure of a normal knee joint.Stocktrek Images/Getty Images
The knee is one of the most complex joints in the human body. The knee joins thefemur(thigh bone) with thetibia(shin bone). Adjacent and attached to the tibia is thefibula. The kneecap itself is known as thepatella.
Between the femur and tibia are two C-shaped pieces of cartilage, called themeniscus, that function as shock absorbers. There are also fluid-filled sacs, calledbursae, between the bones of the knees that ensure smooth movement.
The knee bones are connected with fibrous bands of tissues known asligamentsthat provide the knee with stability. The ligaments that support the knee include the following:
Tendonsconnect the knee bones to the muscles of the leg to move the knee joint.
Pain Located at the Top of the Knee
Pain at the top of the knee, particularly pain felt when walkingdown a flight of stairs, is often the result of:
Pain Located at the Bottom of the KneeBSIP/UIG / Getty ImagesPain at the bottom part of the knee is commonly associated with four conditions:Osgood-Schlatter disease: This is a condition common in children in which the tendons of the knees pull on the knee’s growth plate during rapid growth spurts.Osteochondritis dissecans: This is an uncommon disorder that causes the knee meniscus to loosen and, in some cases, detach from the bone.Patellar tendonitis: This is the inflammation of the tendon of the kneecap, also known as “jumper’s knee,” that commonly occurs in athletes who jump or run.Patellofemoral instability: This is a condition, once known as traumatic patellar dislocation, in which the patella gets moved out of the groove that connects it to the bottom of the femur.
Pain Located at the Bottom of the Knee
BSIP/UIG / Getty Images
Pain at the bottom part of the knee is commonly associated with four conditions:
Pain Located in the Inner Knee
Hero Images / Getty Images
Pain on the inside (medial aspect) of the knee can occur for a number of different reasons, including:
Pain Located in the Outer Knee
Pain Located in the Middle of the KneePain in the middle (anterior aspect) of the knee, including under the kneecap, may be the result of the following conditions:Anterior cruciate ligament tear: Also known as an ACL tear, this is an injury that can occur during sports, motor vehicle collisions, severe falls, and work-related injuries.Tricompartment osteoarthritis: This is a form of osteoarthritis in which all three compartments of the knee (medial, lateral, and patellofemoral) have arthritis.
Pain Located in the Middle of the Knee
Pain in the middle (anterior aspect) of the knee, including under the kneecap, may be the result of the following conditions:
Pain Located at the Back of the Knee
How do I know if my knee pain is serious?According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, you should seek medical care if:You have severe knee pain.You hear a popping sound or feel your knee give out at the time of an injury.You cannot move your knee.You start limping and cannot bear weight on the knee.You have knee swelling after a blow to the knee.
How do I know if my knee pain is serious?
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, you should seek medical care if:You have severe knee pain.You hear a popping sound or feel your knee give out at the time of an injury.You cannot move your knee.You start limping and cannot bear weight on the knee.You have knee swelling after a blow to the knee.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, you should seek medical care if:
Summary
The cause of knee pain depends on the location of the knee pain and can encompass everything from an injury to an infection to an autoimmune disease like arthritis.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Saavedra MA, Navarro-Zarza JE, Villasenor-Ovies P, et al.Clinical anatomy of the knee.Reumatol Clin.2012 Dec-2013 Jan;8 Suppl 2:39-45. doi:10.1016/j.reuma.2012.10.002Bunt CW, Jonas CE, Chang JG.Knee pain in adults and adolescents: the initial evaluation.Am Fam Physician. 2018 Nov 1;98(9):576-85.Sutter Health.Help for arthritic knees.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Common knee injuries.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Saavedra MA, Navarro-Zarza JE, Villasenor-Ovies P, et al.Clinical anatomy of the knee.Reumatol Clin.2012 Dec-2013 Jan;8 Suppl 2:39-45. doi:10.1016/j.reuma.2012.10.002Bunt CW, Jonas CE, Chang JG.Knee pain in adults and adolescents: the initial evaluation.Am Fam Physician. 2018 Nov 1;98(9):576-85.Sutter Health.Help for arthritic knees.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Common knee injuries.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Saavedra MA, Navarro-Zarza JE, Villasenor-Ovies P, et al.Clinical anatomy of the knee.Reumatol Clin.2012 Dec-2013 Jan;8 Suppl 2:39-45. doi:10.1016/j.reuma.2012.10.002Bunt CW, Jonas CE, Chang JG.Knee pain in adults and adolescents: the initial evaluation.Am Fam Physician. 2018 Nov 1;98(9):576-85.Sutter Health.Help for arthritic knees.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Common knee injuries.
Saavedra MA, Navarro-Zarza JE, Villasenor-Ovies P, et al.Clinical anatomy of the knee.Reumatol Clin.2012 Dec-2013 Jan;8 Suppl 2:39-45. doi:10.1016/j.reuma.2012.10.002
Bunt CW, Jonas CE, Chang JG.Knee pain in adults and adolescents: the initial evaluation.Am Fam Physician. 2018 Nov 1;98(9):576-85.
Sutter Health.Help for arthritic knees.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Common knee injuries.
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