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Knee and joint pain: causes and what helps

Most knee pain improves with the right kind of movement, not rest. Strengthening the muscles around the joint is the most proven treatment.

Common causes

  • 01Overuse, or increasing training too quickly
  • 02Excess body weight adding load
  • 03Weak muscles around the joint
  • 04Osteoarthritis (becomes more common with age)

What a doctor may check

Scans usually aren’t needed at first. Exercise therapy and weight management are first-line treatments for knee osteoarthritis.

When to see a doctor

Get urgent care for a hot, swollen joint with fever, or if you cannot put weight on it after an injury. See a doctor for locking, giving way, or pain that doesn’t settle.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Venva's content is written against clinical guidelines and systematic reviews, listed below. See our medical disclaimer.

References

  1. 1.OARSI guidelines for the non-surgical management of knee, hip, and polyarticular osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2019.doi:10.1016/j.joca.2019.06.011

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