Knee pain may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured
ligament or torn cartilage. Or, certain medical conditions,
including arthritis, gout and infection, may be at the root of
your knee pain. Many relatively minor instances of knee pain
respond well to self-care measures. More-serious injuries, such
as a ruptured ligament or tendon, may require surgical repair.
Although every knee problem can’t be prevented — especially if
you’re active — you can take certain steps to reduce the risk of
injury or disease. A knee injury can affect any of the
ligaments, tendons or fluid-filled sacs (bursae) that surround
your knee joint as well as the bones, cartilage and ligaments
that form the joint itself. Because of the knee’s complexity,
the number of structures involved, the amount of use it gets
over a lifetime, and the range of injuries and diseases that can
cause knee pain, the signs and symptoms of knee problems can
vary widely. Some of the more common knee injuries and their
signs and symptoms include the fol