- Injuries and acute events: A twisting injury during sports, a fall during sports or at home, a misstep in everyday life, or a direct blow to the knee often leads to sudden-onset knee pain. The meniscus, cruciate ligaments, or kneecap are frequently affected.
- Overuse and incorrect loading: Twisting injuries, falls, one-sided loading patterns, or physical work can lead to a feeling of pressure or tension, swelling, effusion, and pulling pain.
- Knee osteoarthritis: Cartilage breakdown causes bone-on-bone friction and leads to symptoms such as start-up pain, stiffness, swelling, fluid in the knee or in the back of the knee, or nighttime knee pain. Symptoms usually develop gradually and steadily worsen.
- Inflammatory processes: Bursitis or tendon inflammation causes swelling, warmth, and pain, even without a prior injury. If left untreated, symptoms can become chronic.
- Autoimmune diseases: Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis can permanently impair the knee joint. This can lead to knee pain, swelling, and morning stiffness.
- Metabolic causes: Metabolic diseases such as gout or diabetes can also contribute to knee complaints.
Knee Pain
Symptoms
Precise diagnostics and individualized therapy for acute and chronic knee pain and functional impairment.
Knee pain can occur suddenly or develop gradually, affecting both physically active people and everyday life. The knee is one of the body’s most heavily used joints and provides stability as well as enabling complex movements.
Due to its structure, the causes can vary widely—from twisting injuries and overuse to wear-related changes in cartilage, meniscus, or ligaments.
A thorough orthopedic examination makes it possible to narrow down the cause and treat it in a targeted manner. Therefore, if symptoms persist, it is advisable to consult an orthopedic specialist early to avoid secondary damage and maintain mobility in the long term.
Dr. Gregor Pittl offers precise diagnostics as well as conservative and regenerative treatment concepts, particularly for meniscal tears, knee osteoarthritis, and overuse-related complaints.
Dr. Gregor Pittl
Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology in Innsbruck
How does knee pain develop?
Cause
Your knee hurts—but what is behind it? Sometimes an unfavorable position while sitting, lying down, or working is enough; sometimes swelling occurs suddenly without you even remembering an injury.
Knee pain can affect any age group, albeit for different reasons:
Younger patients often suffer from the consequences of a sports injury to the knee, for example after twisting movements, landings, or falls. In middle and older age, degenerative processes such as cartilage damage,
knee osteoarthritis, or a meniscal tear are often the main causes.
Common causes can include:
Symptoms & conditions
Symptoms
Knee pain can present in very different ways, which makes it harder to assess the cause. Whether symptoms start suddenly or develop slowly, whether they are felt on the inside, outside, or deep within the joint, and whether they occur under load, after sports, at rest, or at night—all of this provides important clues about the structures involved.
That is why it is helpful to note these observations carefully and discuss them with your orthopedist at your appointment.
Typical symptoms of knee problems include:
- Pain under load, for example when walking, running, or climbing stairs
- Start-up pain after periods of rest
- Pain when bending or straightening the knee
- Sharp pain after a sports injury to the knee
- Swelling of the knee joint or the back of the knee, or a feeling of warmth in the joint
- Tenderness to pressure on the inside or outside of the knee
- A feeling of instability when walking downstairs or with lateral loading
- A feeling of locking or cracking during movement
- Nighttime or rest-related pain, often in knee osteoarthritis
Common conditions associated with knee problems include:
Clinical Conditions
- Knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis): cartilage wear with pain under load and at rest
- Meniscal damage / meniscal tear: acute due to twisting trauma or degenerative in origin
- Cartilage damage in the knee: localized cartilage defects, often after injuries or overuse
- Ligament injuries: cruciate ligament or collateral ligament problems after sports or a fall
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome: pain behind or around the kneecap
- Tendinopathies: e.g., patellar tendon irritation (“jumper’s knee”), pain on the outside of the knee (“runner’s knee”)
- Bursitis: inflammation of the bursa at the front or inner area of the knee
- Bone marrow edema: painful fluid accumulation in the bone
Diagnosis & treatment of knee pain
Treatment
To make the correct diagnosis for knee pain, a thorough orthopedic examination is necessary:
- Detailed medical history: When did the pain start? For how long? Under load or at rest? Was there any trauma?
- Physical examination: visual and palpation findings, assessment of joint mobility and stability, tests for meniscus and ligaments (e.g., stability and functional tests)
- If necessary, imaging such as X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI for a more detailed assessment of cartilage, ligaments, and meniscal structures.
Treatment methods for knee pain
Depending on the diagnosis, Dr. Pittl relies on an individually tailored treatment concept with conservative and regenerative methods. Possible approaches include:
- Shockwave therapy for tendon irritation, inflammation, or overuse injuries. This therapy can help stimulate healing processes and relieve pain.
- Magnetic field therapy to support the regeneration of cartilage, ligaments, and soft tissue, especially in cases of joint wear, a tendency to swelling, painful fluid accumulation in the bone (bone marrow edema), or recurrent overuse
- ACP autologous blood therapy (regenerative treatment using your own blood) is used for inflammation, joint problems, or to support healing in meniscal or cartilage damage.
- Physiotherapy and targeted training to improve stability, build muscle, and optimize movement patterns
- For acute irritation: anti-inflammatory infiltrations or supportive measures such as braces/taping, unloading, and adapted movement
Schedule an appointment at our practice.
Dr. Gregor Pittl
Many cases of knee pain can be reduced through a careful examination and a structured treatment concept, helping to restore mobility. Contact us if you would like to have your knee complaints assessed. You are also welcome to schedule an appointment in our private consultation hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can knee osteoarthritis be treated conservatively?
Yes. For knee osteoarthritis, injections with hyaluronic acid, shockwave and magnetic field therapy, ACP, physiotherapy, and anti-inflammatory measures often help very well.
When is knee surgery necessary?
When conservative therapies are no longer effective and structural damage is present, such as a significant meniscus tear, advanced cartilage degeneration, or marked instability.
When should knee pain be examined?
If symptoms persist for more than a few days, occur after a sports injury to the knee, or swelling develops, an orthopedic examination should be performed.
How common are knee sports injuries?
Very common. Especially among athletically active individuals in running and ball sports, as well as in mountain sports, hiking, and winter sports, particularly skiing/snowboarding. Rapid movements and falls typically lead to ligament and meniscus problems.
How is a meniscus tear diagnosed?
A meniscus tear presents with sharp pains, locking, and difficulty bending. Ultrasound and MRI assist in accurate diagnosis.