When you feel an ache in your knee, it can impact everyday tasks, from walking your dog to standing up from your desk at work. While there are many different parts of your knee that could be a source of pain or discomfort, let’s focus on your muscles above the knee, called the quadriceps muscles.
Your quadriceps tendon is located just above your patella, also known as your kneecap, and connects four quadriceps muscles. It’s possible to develop a medical condition or sustain an injury that impacts these muscles, leading to pain and discomfort.
3 potential reasons that you have pain or discomfort in the muscles above your knee
If you’re feeling persistent or worsening pain in the muscles above your knee, then you should book an appointment with your doctor. They can assess your symptoms and run diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your issues. Here are three conditions or injuries they may diagnose you with:
- Tendinitis — The pain and stiffness you’re feeling in the muscle above your knee could be due to quadriceps tendinitis. This condition refers to inflammation of the tendon and quadriceps muscles that usually develops from overusing the tendon. Repetitive movements, such as running and jumping, can lead to micro-tears in the tendon.
- Bursitis — There are fluid-filled sacs that work as cushions between your bones and surrounding soft tissue, known as bursae. There’s one major bursa located above your kneecap, called the prepatellar bursa. If it becomes inflamed, the condition is known as knee bursitis and can cause pain above your knee that worsens with movement.
- Arthritis — The most common type of arthritis that can develop in the knee is osteoarthritis. It’s a wear-and-tear condition that causes the cartilage in your knee joint to break down. It can result in pain above the knee, as well as stiffness and muscle weakness.
Border Therapy Services can help treat issues in the muscles above your knee
With how much work your knee puts in throughout your daily routine, it’s nearly impossible to grin and bear pain or discomfort in the muscles above your knee. At Border Therapy Services, our licensed physical therapists will create a personalized treatment plan that can alleviate your pain and improve your knee’s range of motion.
Common physical therapy treatments used to help knee issues include therapeutic exercises, manual therapy and aquatic therapy.
Call us or request an appointment today if you have pain or discomfort in the muscles above your knee.