Can Knee PAin cause hip pain?
Key Takeaway Points
Knee pain can lead to hip pain due to biomechanical changes.
Untreated knee pain may exacerbate hip discomfort and lead to chronic issues.
Compensation patterns can strain the hip and surrounding structures.
Knee and hip pain are prevalent among older adults, active individuals, and athletes.
Knee pain can harm performance, especially in movement patterns requiring knee, hip, and ankle joint coordination.
Not all knee pain causes hip discomfort
Bespoke rehabilitation addresses the unique needs and challenges of each person’s condition.
Have you ever noticed hip pain creeping in after dealing with knee pain? Many people experience this frustrating cycle, which can significantly impact their daily lives. Ignoring one issue often magnifies the other, making it crucial to address both simultaneously.
Knee pain is a common condition that impacts everyday movement and athletic performance. Knee pain may sometimes extend beyond the joint, causing hip discomfort and issues elsewhere.
The body’s ability to adapt and compensate for injuries varies from person to person. Some people may experience isolated knee discomfort without it affecting other joints, while others have knee pain that affects different parts of the body.
Today, we’ll discuss the question, ‘Can knee pain lead to hip pain?’ and what happens when it goes untreated.
Hip Pain From Knee Injury: The Biomechanics
Our body functions as a kinetic chain. This means that our joints and muscles work together in coordinated movements. Pain or Dysfunction in one joint, such as the knee, can disrupt the entire chain. But not in the way you may think…
The knee and hip work together when we walk, run, or jump. Essentially, where load transfer and mobility occur when we strike the floor.
Knee pain can change how you move. It may cause you to limp, favouring your other leg, or limiting your range of motion. This places excess strain on the hip joint and surrounding muscles. For example, weakened quads, glutes, and hip flexors are common with knee pain on the affected side. This can force the hip on the other side to absorb more load. This can then lead to discomfort, overuse, and further injury.
will knee pain go away on its own?
Untreated knee pain can exacerbate problems throughout the body’s kinetic chain. So it's safe to say the hip can "be affected" too. Chronic knee pain can create muscle imbalances and change how we walk, leading to hip pain.
Chronic knee problems can cause other issues over time, not only at the knee joint but also at the hip. This can include swelling and joint stiffness and, in worse cases, lead to the onset of Osteoarthritis (OA) in the knee and even the hip joints. This can also lead to other problems, including Piriformis Syndrome, Sciatica, and groin pain.
Knee Pain Leading To Hip Issues
People experiencing knee pain may subconsciously alter their movements (known as compensating). This causes you to overuse specific muscles. This can lead to a cascade of issues, including fatigue and overstretching of the hip.
The hip compensates by overusing muscles like the gluteus medius, hip flexors, and adductors.. This overactivity often causes fatigue, ‘tightness’, and increased pain. This compensation can affect the pelvis and lower back, resulting in chronic pain and dysfunction.
The kinetic chain’s integrity is vital for efficient movement. Even minor issues can have consequences when left unaddressed, which could affect performance and daily activities.
Prevalence of Knee and Hip Pain in Specific Populations
Knee and hip pain are common across older people, people with sedentary lifestyles, and those with physical jobs. Osteoarthritis, a leading cause of joint pain, frequently affects the knee. About 10% of men and 13% of women over 60 have symptomatic osteoarthritis, and many also have hip issues due to this.
Active people and Athletes are also at risk due to the repetitive and high-impact nature of their movements. Sports like running, football, and basketball increase the likelihood of knee injuries, which, due to the body’s compensatory responses, can eventually lead to hip issues in the same ways mentioned above.
Knee pain in Athletes
Athletes need their joints to work well to perform at their best. Knee pain can affect how they move, particularly during sprinting, stopping, and speeding up. When an athlete decelerates or accelerates, their body goes into a position called ‘triple extension’. This is when the ankle, knee, and hip joints are all extended simultaneously.
If knee pain is present, it can limit how well the hip stabilises and generates force. This can lower performance and raise the risk of injury to other areas. This could put you out of your sport for longer.
The way people adjust to pain can differ from person to person, so rehabilitation should be personal. Knee rehab programs focusing on rebuilding strength, mobility, and balance in the knee-hip area can help athletes return to their sport safely and function better.
It’s also important to note that not everyone with knee pain will have hip pain. Each person’s body adapts differently; some may only feel knee pain without any hip issues. Factors such as how severe the knee pain is, how long it lasts, its cause, and the person’s movement patterns, muscle strength, and lifestyle can affect whether hip pain occurs.
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