When people think of knee pain, usually they make the assumption that the knee hurts worse when trying to bend it. While this is true with many conditions, it’s also possible to have knee pain that feels worse when straightening your knee.
It’s hard to enjoy your favorite activities or live a normal daily life when your knee hurts when straight but not when bent. Take a moment to learn more about what causes this pain and how physical therapy can help.
Potential reasons your knee hurts when straight but not when bent
When you have knee pain when your leg is straight, it is usually related to one of the following:
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome — More commonly known as runner’s knee, this condition develops when the kneecap shifts out of its natural position. This can occur as the result of misalignment of the patellar groove, which is the track of tendons that keep the kneecap in its right place. Tension or weakness in the tendons can cause the misalignment, or it may be the result of a traumatic injury.
When you have runner’s knee, it can be difficult to straighten the knee without pain. - Patellar tendinitis — More commonly known as jumper’s knee, this condition is the result of irritation and inflammation along the patellar tendon. The patellar tendon connects the bottom of your kneecap to the top of your shinbone. Frequent physical activities, especially those that involve jumping, can exert great amounts of force on the knee, which causes pain when trying to straighten the knee.
If you suspect you have knee pain from one of these conditions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a health care professional for assistance.
Visit Border Therapy Services today for knee pain treatment
Are you suffering from pain when straightening your knee but not when bending it? Our physical therapists at Border can help. Our team specializes in personalized treatments that can help you manage and prevent knee pain from conditions like runner’s knee and jumper’s knee. Contact our team today for more information about knee pain or to schedule an initial appointment.