Knee joint inflammation, also known as knee arthritis, is a condition that most commonly occurs due to overuse of the knee joint. It often affects athletes, individuals who are overweight, and those who perform repetitive activities such as prolonged kneeling or squatting. Overuse leads to inflammation of the joint, synovial membrane inflammation with accumulation of inflammatory joint fluid, and sometimes overuse damage to the articular cartilage, resulting in pain and stiffness of the joint. Chronic joint effusions can be associated with progressive degenerative disease or degenerative damage to the menisci, or cartilage diseases such as OCD. To fully diagnose knee joint inflammation, a medical consultation and proper diagnostic tests are necessary.
Symptoms of overuse arthritis of the knee joint include:
- Pain and stiffness in the knee joint, especially after prolonged activity or during walking
- Swelling around the knee joint
- Increased warmth and redness of the joint
- Difficulty moving
- Feeling of fullness and pressure in the knee joint
The diagnosis of knee joint inflammation includes a physical examination, imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI, laboratory tests such as blood morphology, CRP, ESR, and sometimes joint fluid analysis.
Treatment of knee joint inflammation should start with diagnosis, followed by treatment according to the doctor’s recommendations, including reducing the load on the joint, physical therapy, and pharmacotherapy. In cases of overuse, it is recommended to avoid activities that strain the knee joint and to apply cold therapy to reduce swelling and pain. Physiotherapy exercises and physiotherapy procedures are also recommended to calm knee inflammation.
If there is an accumulation of fluid in the joint, joint aspiration may be necessary to remove the excess fluid and reduce pain. The fluid is often sent for laboratory tests, and in cases of suspected infectious arthritis, bacterial cultures may also be done.
For more severe symptoms of knee joint inflammation, the doctor may prescribe pharmacological treatment such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or preparations containing hyaluronic acid, or platelet-rich plasma. In cases of suspected infectious arthritis, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Viscosupplementation involves injecting a preparation containing hyaluronic acid into the knee joint, which acts as a natural substance that reduces friction on the joint surfaces, contributing to the improvement of the condition of the articular cartilage.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection involves injecting the patient’s own plasma, which contains components that accelerate tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation, into the knee joint.
Physical therapy is an important part of treating knee joint inflammation, as it helps alleviate inflammatory symptoms and work on strengthening the muscles and restoring proper joint function.
At MIRAI, the following individual specializes in the knee area:
Tomasz Szymański – material development for the website
Michał Drwięga
Konrad Słynarski
Agnieszka Wintrowicz
Karol Kosterna
Marcin Gruba
Bartosz Dominik
Patryk Ulicki
Dariusz Grzelecki
Michał Bartoszewicz
Anna Krześniak
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