Cartilage Damage of the knee

• accidents (fractures)
• injuries (e.g. sports-related injuries), if the knee is twisted, for example
• the removal of a meniscus, which will increase the pressure on the cartilage
• cruciate ligament injury
• considerable strain on the knee

Any kind of work during which the knees undergo heavy stress may also be detrimental to cartilage. This is especially the case in professions in which people frequently have to walk, lift or squat.

Sports injuries also occur more frequently these days. For recreational sportsmen, they are often related to a lack of training or to overuse and fatigue. It is particularly sports like running, cycling, skiing and snowboarding which can cause knee injuries. A survey of snowsport injuries in Scotland¹ revealed a rate of 3.7 injuries per 1,000 skier days.

Common complaints
A painful, blocked, locked or swollen knee means a limitation of one’s mobility. Every day activities such as climbing the stairs, getting in and out of bed and tying shoelaces suddenly become troublesome. Knees may be painful, swollen or feel hot to the touch. Sufferers sometimes feel as if their knees are about to give way, or may feel uncertain about their movements.

What causes the pain?
The reason why cartilage has only a small capacity for self-restoration, and what makes it very unique, is that it does not contain any blood vessels unlike all other tissues in the body. The necessary nutrients are derived exclusively from the liquid in the joint capsule. The pain felt by people with a cartilage injury does not come from the cartilage itself, but from the irritated tissue surrounding the cartilage, or from pieces of cartilage that have come loose. If cartilage injuries go untreated, the layer of cartilage will continue to gradually wear away, causing arthritis and gradual immobility.

Always consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.