Sharp pain in the knee when kneeling is an issue. This discomfort can significantly limit daily activities. Understanding the underlying causes is the first step toward relief and knee health.
Common Causes of Pain While Kneeling
Several medical conditions can lead to sharp knee pain when kneeling, involving inflammation or damage. These conditions often result from overuse, injury, or wear and tear.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), often known as “runner’s knee,” causes pain around or behind the kneecap. It results from repetitive stress, muscle imbalances, or poor kneecap alignment. Pain can be dull or sharp, worsening with squatting, climbing stairs, or kneeling.
Prepatellar bursitis, also known as “housemaid’s knee,” involves inflammation of the prepatellar bursa. This fluid-filled sac cushions the kneecap. Frequent kneeling, direct trauma, or infection can irritate this bursa, causing pain, swelling, and tenderness over the kneecap. While it usually doesn’t limit range of motion, kneeling can be very difficult.
Meniscus tears cause sharp knee pain, especially when kneeling, twisting, or squatting. The menisci are C-shaped cartilage pieces acting as shock absorbers in the knee. A sudden twist, deep squat, or heavy lifting can tear this cartilage, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and sometimes a pop. Pain is often felt on the sides of the knee and may be accompanied by locking or giving way.
Knee osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease, commonly causes pain when kneeling. In OA, protective cartilage cushioning the ends of bones gradually wears away, leading to bones rubbing together. This friction causes pain, stiffness, and swelling, worsening during activities like kneeling or squatting. As OA progresses, cartilage reduction increases pain and limits movement.
Initial Steps for Relief
When experiencing sharp knee pain while kneeling, immediate self-care alleviates discomfort. Rest is primary; avoid activities that aggravate pain, especially kneeling or prolonged squatting. Reducing weight on the affected knee also provides relief.
Applying ice reduces pain and swelling. Apply ice packs for 15-20 minutes. Elevating the knee above heart level also minimizes swelling. Wearing protective knee pads if kneeling is unavoidable reduces direct pressure on the kneecap and bursa.
When to Seek Professional Medical Advice
While many instances of knee pain improve with self-care, certain symptoms indicate professional medical evaluation. Consult a healthcare provider if pain is severe and prevents weight-bearing. Persistent swelling not subsiding with rest and ice, or significant warmth and redness around the knee, warrants medical attention, signaling infection or serious inflammation.
Seek medical advice if you cannot fully straighten or bend your knee, or if it feels locking, catching, or giving way. If pain resulted from a direct injury with a popping sound, or if it doesn’t improve after a few days of self-care, seek medical assessment. Fever or chills accompanying knee pain could indicate an infection requiring prompt treatment.
Professional Treatment Options
Following diagnosis, a healthcare professional can recommend treatments tailored to the specific cause. Physical therapy is a core component, focusing on strengthening muscles around the knee, hip, and core to improve stability and alignment. Therapists guide patients through exercises to restore flexibility, range of motion, and correct pain-contributing movement patterns.
Medications help manage pain and inflammation. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen reduce discomfort and swelling. For more severe pain or inflammation, a doctor might prescribe stronger anti-inflammatory medications.
In some cases, injections may be considered. Corticosteroid injections directly into the affected area, such as a bursa or joint, can provide significant relief by reducing inflammation. This option is used when conservative treatments have not yielded sufficient improvement.
Surgery is reserved for severe conditions not responding to conservative measures. For example, a significant meniscus tear causing persistent locking or instability may require arthroscopic surgery to repair or trim damaged cartilage. In advanced osteoarthritis with extensive cartilage loss, surgical options like knee replacement may be considered to restore function and alleviate pain. These procedures address underlying structural issues.