Chondromalacia: Relieve Pain Behind the Knee

Are you suffering from constant pain behind the knee? Does it hurt when you move your knee? If yes, then you may have chondromalacia, an abnormal softening of your knee cartilage.

Many types of athletes most commonly suffer from pain behind the knee, including:

• Runners
• Skiers
• Cyclists
• Soccer players

A runner so often gets pain behind the knee that chondromalacia is also known as Runner’s Knee.

Frequently Asked Questions on Pain Behind the Knee

So what is actually causing the pain behind the knee?

Pain behind the knee due to chondromalacia occurs when the kneecap rubs against the lower end of the femur – the thighbone – instead of gliding smoothly over it. This repetition roughens the cartilage underneath the kneecap, causing pain behind the knee.

How damaging is pain behind the knee?

Pain behind the knee due to chondromalacia can result in a slight abnormality of the cartilage surface, to a surface that has been completely worn away to the bone. Traumatic cases of chondromalacia occur when a blow to the kneecap actually tears off a piece of articular cartilage or bone.

What factors can cause pain behind the knee?

Pain behind the knee and the softening of the kneecap’s articular cartilage can be caused by any of the following factors:

• Trauma can cause pain behind the knee.
• Overuse can cause pain behind the knee.
• Muscle weakness can contribute to pain behind the knee.
• Mal-alignment can cause pain behind the knee.
• Age is a factor to consider when evaluating what caused the pain behind your knee.
  • Young people who develop pain behind the knee can usually blame trauma or overuse; if pain behind the knee appears in someone older, this person may also have osteoarthritis.
• Tight hamstrings, tight heel cords and tight quadriceps also contribute to pain behind the knee.

Is there anything that will make the pain behind my knee feel even worse?

Yes, participating in some activities can cause the behind your knee to worsen, including:

• Walking up or down stairs can worsen pain behind the knee.
• Walking on a hill can contribute to increased pain behind the knee.
• Taking part in any activity that forces the knee to bear weight as it’s straightened can add to pain behind the knee.
• Running and sports activities can also cause more pain behind the knee.

What do doctors recommend to treat pain behind the knee?

Pain behind the knee can be treated with rest and ice to reduce swelling. In addition, doing the following will also help ease pain behind the knee due to chondromalacia:

• Engaging in low impact exercises that strengthen muscles, particularly within the quadriceps, can ease pain behind the knee.
• Swimming, riding a stationary bike or engaging in other low-impact exercises can help relieve pain behind the knee.
• Stretching and strengthening the hamstrings and quadriceps can ease pain behind the knee.
• Using a knee brace provides stable relief from pain behind the knee.
• Wearing shoes with added arch supports, especially during exercise or walking, is crucial to treating pain behind the knee.
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs can help relieve pain behind the knee.

What do I do if the pain behind my knee does not go away?

You should definitely visit your doctor if pain behind your knee persists. Your physician may tell you that you need orthotics and/or surgery to fully lessen the pain behind your knee.

Information on foot, leg and lower body health conditions like pain behind the knee are provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health.