What could cause knee pain when walking?

Reviewed by Garrett Kneese, MD, MPH

Family Medicine

Knee pain when walking can come from different causes, such as joint damage, extra weight, and health conditions like diabetes. These factors can change how the knee feels while you move.

Explanation

There are many reasons why someone might feel pain in their knee when walking. One common cause is joint damage, which can be a part of a condition known as osteoarthritis. This happens when the smooth surface in the knee starts to wear away. Extra weight, especially from obesity, can make the knee work harder with every step, causing pain. Studies have shown that people who were overweight from a young age are more likely to have knee pain later in life because the knees must carry more weight over time. Health conditions like diabetes may also affect knee pain. Diabetes can lead to changes in the body such as nerve damage that might make walking more difficult and painful. Additionally, the exact spot where the knee hurts can be linked to how much pain is felt, how well you can move your knee, and how it affects your daily life. Understanding the reason for knee pain is important so that you can find the best way to help your knees feel better and keep you moving.

(References)

Alenazi AM, Alshehri MM, Alothman S, Alqahtani BA, Rucker J, Sharma NK, Bindawas SM, Kluding PM. The Association of Diabetes With Knee Pain Locations, Pain While Walking, and Walking Speed: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Phys Ther. 2020 Oct 30;100(11):1977-1986. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzaa144. PMID: 32750122; PMCID: PMC7596886.
Frilander H, Viikari-Juntura E, Heliövaara M, Mutanen P, Mattila VM, Solovieva S. Obesity in early adulthood predicts knee pain and walking difficulties among men: A life course study. Eur J Pain. 2016 Sep;20(8):1278-87. doi: 10.1002/ejp.852. Epub 2016 Mar 21. PMID: 26996726.
Farrokhi S, Chen YF, Piva SR, Fitzgerald GK, Jeong JH, Kwoh CK. The Influence of Knee Pain Location on Symptoms, Functional Status, and Knee-related Quality of Life in Older Adults With Chronic Knee Pain: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Clin J Pain. 2016 Jun;32(6):463-70. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000291.

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