Ligament injuries – such as ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) tear or PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament). These injuries are common in sport due to a sudden change in direction, or can also be caused by a twisting movement or blow to the knee. Sharp pain, swelling, stiffness and feeling that the knee is giving way are common symptoms.

Meniscus tears – or damage to the cartilage that acts as a cushion between the bones.

Arthritis – the most common type of knee arthritis is osteoarthritis, a degenerative, disabling “wear and tear” type of arthritis where articular cartilage thins and is replaced by painful, bony spurs.
Over time, the arthritic knee joint space diminishes and load bearing activity causes severe pain, problems with sleep, swelling, redness, bowing in or out of the knee and knee stiffness..
There is no cure for osteoarthritis and when conservative treatment no longer works after six months, surgery remains the most effective option.
The second most common type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis which tends to impact both sides of the body. While osteoarthritis commonly affects men and women RA is 3 times more common in women than men and is an auto-immune condition.

Gout – Knee gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the knee joint, often worsened by red meat, seafood and alcohol.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome – is a condition that causes pain around the front of the knee, especially the kneecap. Symptoms often include a dull aching pain in the knee front, swelling, and grinding or crackling sounds when moving. It is often caused by overuse, repetitive stress of the knee joint, muscle imbalance, injury, malalignment of the legs or flat feet.

Bursitis – This is an inflammation of a bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bones, tendons, joints and muscles to reduce friction and allow for smooth movement. It can cause a limited range of movement, swelling and redness, tenderness and pain.

Baker’s cyst – also known as a popliteal cyst is a fluid filled swelling that develops at the back of the knee and is often due to underlying arthritis.

Loose Bodies – This refers to small fragments of bone or cartilage that have broken off and are floating within the joint space. This can be caused by trauma, arthritis, meniscus tears or Osteochondritis Dissecans where a fragment of bone detaches from the end of a bone and floats in the joint.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome – This is the ligament outside of the height that becomes tight and rubs against the bone.

Infections – Such as septic arthritis within the knee joint that require urgent medical attention.