The knee is a joint that supports the entire body’s weight. Although knee pain is often seen as a symptom of old age, it is also widely seen in young people today. Pain occurs when there is wear and tear between the bones of the knee or when the muscles and cartilage that connect them weaken. Here are the 5 main scientific reasons behind knee pain:
Osteoarthritis: This is the most common cause in people over the age of 50. The cartilage, which acts as a cushion to reduce impact where two bones meet, wears down over time. This causes the bones to rub directly against each other, causing severe pain and swelling.
Obesity & Overweight: Overweight is the biggest culprit for knee pain. Every time we take a step, our knees have to bear about 3 to 5 times the pressure of our body weight. In obese people, the cartilage in the knees wears down quickly, leading to chronic pain.
Nutritional deficiency and calcium-vitamin D deficiency: A deficiency of calcium, which is essential for bone strength, and vitamin D3, which helps absorb calcium into the bones, causes joint weakness. When vitamin D is low, severe pain and muscle weakness are experienced in the joints.
Increased uric acid and rheumatism (Gout & Rheumatoid Arthritis): When uric acid increases in the blood, it turns into needle-like crystals and accumulates in the knee joints. This is called gout. Additionally, in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the knee joints, mistaking them for an infection, causing chronic swelling and pain.
Ligament/Meniscus Injury: In athletes and overexerted individuals, injuries to the ligaments that stabilize the knee (such as an ACL tear) and the meniscus can cause pain. This is usually caused by sudden physical movements or falls.
