An orthopedic surgeon names causes of a sharp, stabbing pain in the knee when walking.
“Knee pain experienced during moderate movement such as walking may be caused by any number of factors, including tendonitis, a cartilage tear, arthritis or a pre-arthritic condition,” states Dr. Mark Galland, orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist and physician at Orthopaedic Specialists of North Carolina.
Treatment
“Treatment options depend entirely on determining the location and source of the pain, and may include ice massage of the sore area, bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, stretching the hamstring and quadriceps muscles, and modifying your activity for a brief period of time to prevent any aggravation of the area,” explains Dr. Galland.
“These steps would all be reasonable to take regardless of the cause, but ideal treatment would depend on isolating the location and the underlying cause of the pain.”
Dr. Galland has authored many book chapters and papers in sports medicine. His advice and consultation have been sought by world-class athletes in track and field and Major League Baseball.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/sukiyaki
