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Knee problems are a common complaint in people of all ages. The knee is made of and supported by many anatomical structures. Injury or destruction to these structures can cause knee problems. Conditions can be congenital in which a child is born with the abnormality. Some knee problems may occur for no known cause.
The knee is the joint connecting the bone of the upper leg to the bones of the lower leg. It allows a hinge-like motion between the upper and lower leg, and it also provides stability and strength to help support the weight of the body. Flexibility, strength, and stability are essential for proper posture, standing, and motions like walking, running, jumping, turning, and bending down.
The structures that help provide stability to the knee are the bones of the leg and thigh, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Each of these structures may be the source of potential knee problems. Injuries to the knee and other problems can have a significant impact on a person's life. They may limit participation in sports or reduce mobility in doing simple tasks such as walking or rising from a chair.
The diagram below shows the different parts of the knee.
The knee joint is made up of the junction of three bones: the femur (thigh bone or upper leg bone), the tibia (shin bone or larger bone of the lower leg), and the patella (knee cap). The patella is 2 to 3 inches wide and 3 to 4 inches long. It sits over the other bones at the front of the knee joint and slides when the knee moves. It protects the knee and gives leverage to muscles.
The ends of the three bones in the knee joint are covered with articular cartilage, a tough, elastic material that helps absorb shock and allows the knee joint to move smoothly. Separating the bones of the knee are pads of connective tissue called menisci (men-NISS-sky). The menisci are two crescent-shaped discs (each called a meniscus (men-NISS-kus) positioned between the tibia and femur on the outer and inner sides of each knee. The two menisci in each knee act as shock absorbers, cushioning the lower part of the leg from the weight of the rest of the body as well as enhancing stability.
There are several muscles involved in moving the knee. The four quadriceps muscles on the front of the thigh work to straighten the knee from a bent position. The hamstring muscles, which run along the back of the thigh from the hip to just below the knee, help to bend the knee. Several muscles of the hip help to bring the leg towards the body or away and provide added support. The large muscle of the calf (the gastrocnemius) attaches above the knee and helps to control the knee especially while walking or running.
The quadriceps tendon connects the quadriceps muscle to the patella and provides the power to straighten the knee. From the patella there is a tendon called the patellar tendon. It is considered an extension of the quadriceps muscles as it works to convey the pulling force to extend the lower leg.
The following four ligaments connect the femur and tibia and give the joint strength and stability:
The knee capsule is a protective, fiber-like structure that wraps around the knee joint. Inside the capsule, the joint is lined with a thin, soft tissue called synovium.
There are many types of injuries and diseases that can lead to knee problems. The following are the most common causes along with their diagnoses and treatment.
Arthritis is a broad term meaning inflammation of the joint. It has many different causes. Just a few examples include osteoarthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. Each type of arthritis has its own characteristics and its own prediliction for affecting certain joints in the body over other joints. The knee joint is very often affected in many of the different forms of arthritis. The following are the most common types of arthritis:
Each different type of arthritis has its own characteristics, including varying types of symptoms. Osteorthritis of the joint, and especially the knee, the person will experience pain, stiffness, swelling. In septic arthritic, the joint may be warm to the touch.
The doctor may confirm the diagnosis by performing a careful history and physical examination. Xrays may be taken to determine loss or damage to cartilage or bone. Other imaging studies may include an MRI or bone scan. Blood tests may be helpful for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatological diseases. If septic arthritis and gout is suspected, the joint fluid from the knee will also be analyzed.
Treatment depends on the type of arthritis affecting the knee. For osteoarthritis, treatment is targeted at pain relief including medications like aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. When no relief is obtained with oral anti-inflammatory medications, injections of corticosteroids directly into the knee joint may be helpful. Other treatments for the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee include injections of hyaluronic acid (the fluid that lubricates the knee joint) substitutes and nutritional supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate.
People with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriatic arthritis often require disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or biologic response modifiers (biologics) to control the underlying disease that is the source of their knee problems. These drugs are typically prescribed after less potent treatments such as NSAIDs or intra-articular injections have been tried but have been found to be ineffective.
Biologic response modifiers, or biologics, are a new family of genetically engineered drugs that block specific molecular pathways of the immune system that are involved in the inflammatory process. They are often prescribed in combination with DMARDs such as methotrexate. Because biologics work by suppressing the immune system, they can be problematic for patients who are prone to frequent infection. They are typically administered by injection at home, or by an intravenous infusion at a clinic. Some commonly prescribed biologics include etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, and anakinra.
People with any type of arthritis may benefit from exercises to strengthen the muscles that support the knee, and weight loss to relieve excess stress on the joints.
Joint surgery may be an option to treat the arthritis if there has been serious damage to the knee joint or the patient is experiencing incapacitating pain or inability to use the knee. Traditionally, this has been done with a total knee replacement. However, newer surgical procedures are continuously being developed that include resurfacing or replacing only the damaged cartilage surfaces while leaving the rest of the joint intact.
The meniscus (plural = menisci) can be easily injured by the force of rotating the knee while bearing weight. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure of the knee joint between the thigh bone and lower leg bones. It bears 75-85% of the body weight. A partial or total tear of the meniscus may occur when a person quickly twists or rotates the upper leg while the foot stays planted (for example, when dribbling a basketball and pivoting or turning to hit a tennis ball). If the tear is small, the meniscus stays connected to the front and back of the knee. If the tear is large, the meniscus may be attached by only a small portion of the cartilage. The severity of a tear depends on the location and extent of the injury.
Generally, when people have a meniscal tear, they feel pain, particularly when the knee is straightened. If the pain is mild, the person may continue to move the knee joint. Severe pain may occur if a fragment of the meniscus catches between the thigh bone and tibia (larger of two bones of the lower leg). Swelling may occur soon after the injury if there is damage to blood vessels. Swelling may also occur several hours later if there is inflammation of the joint lining (synovium). Sometimes, an injury that occurred in the past but was not treated may become painful months or years later, particularly if the knee is injured a second time. Patients may notice the characteristic signs of a meniscal tear, which are clicking, locking, and instability of the joint. Though symptoms of a meniscal tear may disappear on their own, they frequently persist or return and require treatment.
The doctor will need to know a detailed description of the injury as well as the onset of pain and swelling. A physical examination of the knee will also be performed. Further testing by imaging studies such as x rays of the knee may be needed, and an MRI may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis. Occasionally, the doctor may use arthroscopy to help diagnose a meniscal tear. This is a procedure in which a lighted tube with a camera is inserted into the joint for direct visualization.
If the tear is minor and the pain and other symptoms go away, the doctor may recommend a muscle-strengthening program. Consultation with a doctor or physical therapist to learn which exercises are appropriate and how to correctly perform them is recommended.
If a person's lifestyle is limited by the symptoms or the problem, the doctor may perform arthroscopic or open knee surgery to see the extent of injury and to remove or repair the tear. Most young athletes are able to return to active sports after meniscus repair.
Recovery after surgical repair takes several weeks. The best results of treatment for meniscal injury are obtained in people who do not show articular cartilage changes and who have an intact anterior cruciate ligament.
These are sometimes referred to as sprains. They don't necessarily cause pain, but they cane be disabling. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is most often stretched or torn (or both) by a sudden twisting motion (for example, when the feet are planted one way and the knees are turned another). The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is most often injured by a direct impact, such as in an automobile accident or a football tackle.
When the ACL is injured, a person may hear a popping sound. The leg may buckle when the injured person tries to stand on it. often twisting at the knee at time of impact produces this injury, but not always. A person can also feeling a "giving out" while walking on the injured knee. There is also usually a moderate amount of swelling.
The doctor can perform specific tests during a physical exam to see whether the ACL or PCL have been injured. A thorough examination is essential. The doctor applies pressure to the lower leg and notes whether it remains in the proper position. An MRI is accurate in detecting a complete tear, but arthroscopy may be the only reliable means of detecting a partial tear.
For a partial tear, the doctor may recommend an exercise program to strengthen the surrounding muscles. The doctor may also prescribe a brace to protect the knee during activity. For a completely torn ACL in an active athlete and well-motivated person, the doctor is likely to recommend surgery. The surgeon may reconstruct a torn ligament by using a piece (graft) of healthy tissue. A graft may sometimes be obtained from the same patient (autograft). Although synthetic ligaments have been tried in experiments, the results have not been as good as with human tissue. One of the most important elements in a successful recovery after cruciate ligament surgery is a 4- to 6-month exercise and rehabilitation program that may involve using special exercise equipment at a rehabilitation or sports center. Successful surgery and rehabilitation often allows a person to return to a normal lifestyle.
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is more susceptible to injury than the lateral collateral ligament. The cause of collateral ligament injuries is most often a blow to the outer side of the knee that stretches and tears the ligament which lies on the inner side of the knee. Such blows are usually seen in contact sports like football or hockey.
When injury to the medial collateral ligament occurs, a person may feel a pop and the knee may buckle sideways. Pain and swelling are common.
A thorough examination is needed to determine the kind and extent of the injury. To diagnose a collateral ligament injury, the doctor exerts pressure on the side of the knee to determine the degree of pain and the looseness of the joint. An MRI is helpful in diagnosing injuries to these ligaments.
Most sprains of the collateral ligaments will heal if a person follows a prescribed exercise program. In addition to exercise, the doctor may recommend ice packs to reduce pain and swelling, and a small sleeve-type brace to protect and stabilize the knee. A sprain may take 2 to 4 weeks to heal. A severely sprained or torn collateral ligament may be accompanied by a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which usually requires surgical repair.
Knee tendon injuries range from tendinitis (inflammation of a tendon) to a ruptured (torn) tendon. If a person overuses a tendon during certain activities such as dancing, cycling, or running, the tendon stretches and becomes inflamed. Tendinitis of the patellar tendon is sometimes called jumper's knee because the muscle contraction and force of hitting the ground after a jump strain the tendon. This injury is common in sports that require jumping, such as basketball. After repeated stress, the tendon may become inflamed or can tear.
People with tendinitis often have tenderness at the point where the patellar tendon meets the bone. In addition, they may feel pain during running, hurried walking, or jumping. A complete rupture of the quadriceps or patellar tendon is not only painful, but also makes it difficult for a person to bend, extend, or lift the leg against gravity.
If there is not much swelling, the doctor will be able to feel a defect in the tendon near the tear during a physical examination. An xray will show that the patella is lower than normal in a quadriceps tendon tear, and higher than normal in a patellar tendon tear. The doctor may use an MRI to confirm a partial or complete tear.
Initially, the treatment for tendinitis involves rest, elevating the knee, applying ice, and taking NSAID medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve pain and decrease inflammation and swelling. A series of rehabilitation exercises is also useful. If the quadriceps or patellar tendon is completely ruptured, a surgeon will reattach the ends. After surgery, a splint is worn for 3 to 6 weeks and crutches are used. For a partial tear, the doctor might apply a splint without performing surgery.
Rehabilitating a partial or complete tear of a tendon requires an exercise program that is similar to, but less vigorous than, that prescribed for ligament injuries. The goals of exercise are to restore the ability to bend and straighten the knee and to strengthen the leg to prevent repeat injury. A rehabilitation program may last 6 months, although people can return to many activities before then.
Chondromalacia (KON-dro-mah-LAY-she-ah), also called chondromalacia patellae, refers to softening of the articular cartilage of the kneecap. This disorder occurs most often in young adults and can be caused by injury, overuse, improper alignment of the patella, or muscle weakness. Instead of gliding smoothly across the lower end of the thigh bone, the knee cap rubs against it. This roughens the cartilage underneath the knee cap. The damage may range from a slightly abnormal surface of the cartilage to a surface that has been worn to the bone. Chondromalacia related to injury occurs when a blow to the knee cap tears off either a small piece of cartilage or a large fragment containing a piece of bone (osteochondral fracture).
The most frequent symptom is a dull pain around or under the knee cap that worsens when walking down stairs or hills. A person may also feel pain when climbing stairs or when the knee bears weight as it straightens. The disorder is common in runners and is also seen in skiers, cyclists, and soccer players.
A person's description of symptoms and an x ray usually help the doctor make a diagnosis. Although arthroscopy can confirm the diagnosis, it is not performed unless conservative treatment has failed.
Many doctors recommend that people with chondromalacia perform low-impact exercises that strengthen muscles, particularly muscles of the inner part of the quadriceps, without injuring joints. Swimming, riding a stationary bicycle, and using a cross-country ski machine are examples of good exercises for this condition. Electrical stimulation may also be used to strengthen the muscles.
Increasingly, doctors are using osteochondral grafting, in which a plug of bone and healthy cartilage is harvested from one area and transplanted to the injury site. Another relatively new technique is known as autologous chondrocyte implantation, or ACI. It involves harvesting healthy cartilage cells, cultivating them in a lab and implanting them onto the lesion.
If these treatments do not improve the condition, the doctor may perform arthroscopic surgery to smooth the surface of the cartilage and "wash out" the cartilage fragments that cause the joint to catch during bending and straightening. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the angle of the knee cap and relieve friction between it and the cartilage, or to reposition parts that are not aligned correctly.
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition caused by repetitive stress or tension on part of the growth area of the upper tibia (the apophysis). This problem is characterized by inflammation of the patellar tendon and surrounding soft tissues at the point where the tendon attaches to the tibia. The disease may also be associated with an injury in which the tendon is stretched so much that it tears away from the tibia and takes a fragment of bone with it. The disease most commonly affects boys between the ages of 10 and 15 who play games or sports that include running and jumping.
People with this disease experience pain just below the knee joint. This pain usually worsens with activity and is relieved by rest. A bony bump that is particularly painful when pressed may appear on the upper edge of the tibia (below the knee cap). Usually, the motion of the knee is not affected. Pain may last a few months and may recur until the child's growth is completed.
Osgood-Schlatter disease is most often diagnosed by the symptoms. An xray may be normal, may show injury, or, more typically, may show fragments in the growth area.
Usually, the disease resolves without treatment. Applying ice to the knee when pain begins helps relieve inflammation and is sometimes used along with stretching and strengthening exercises. The doctor may advise a person to limit participation in vigorous sports. Children who wish to continue moderate or less stressful sports activities may need to wear knee pads for protection and apply ice to the knee after activity. If there is a great deal of pain, sports activities may be limited until discomfort becomes tolerable.
Iliotibial band syndrome is an inflammatory condition caused when a band of tissue rubs over the outer bone (lateral condyle) of the knee. Although iliotibial band syndrome may be caused by direct injury to the knee, it is most often caused by the stress of long-term overuse, which sometimes occurs in sports training and, particularly, in running.
A person with this syndrome feels an ache or burning sensation at the side of the knee during activity. Pain may be localized at the side of the knee or radiate up the side of the thigh. A person may also feel a snap when the knee is bent and then straightened. Swelling is usually absent and knee motion is normal.
The diagnosis of this disorder is typically based on the symptoms, such as pain at the outer side of the knee, and exclusion of other conditions with similar symptoms.
Usually, iliotibial band syndrome resolves when the person reduces activity and performs stretching exercises followed by muscle-strengthening exercises. In rare cases when the syndrome persists, surgery may be necessary to split the tendon and loosen its positioning over the bone.
Osteochondritis dissecans results from a loss of the blood supply to an area of bone underneath a joint surface. It usually involves the knee. The affected bone and its covering of cartilage gradually loosen and cause pain. This problem usually arises spontaneously in an active adolescent or young adult. It may be due to a slight blockage of a small artery, or to an unrecognized injury or tiny fracture that damages the overlying cartilage. A person with this condition may eventually develop osteoarthritis.
Lack of blood supply can cause bone to break down, which is called (osteonecrosis). The involvement of several joints or the appearance of osteochondritis dissecans in several family members may indicate that the disorder is inherited.
If normal healing doesn't occur, cartilage separates from the diseased bone and a fragment breaks loose into the knee joint, causing weakness, sharp pain, and locking of the joint.
An xray, MRI, or arthroscopy can determine the condition of the cartilage and can be used to diagnose osteochondritis dissecans.
If cartilage fragments have not broken loose, a surgeon may fix them in place with pins or screws that are sunk into the cartilage to stimulate a new blood supply. If fragments are loose, the surgeon may scrape down the cavity to reach fresh bone, add a bone graft, and fix the fragments in position. Fragments that cannot be mended are removed, and the cavity is drilled or scraped to stimulate new cartilage growth. Research is being done to assess the use of cartilage cell and other tissue transplants to treat this disorder.
Plica (PLI-kah) syndrome occurs when plicae (bands of synovial tissue) are irritated by overuse or injury. Synovial plicae are the remains of tissue pouches found in the early stages of fetal development. As the fetus develops, these pouches normally combine to form one large synovial cavity. If this process is incomplete, plicae remain as four folds or bands of synovial tissue within the knee. Injury, chronic overuse, or inflammatory conditions are associated with this syndrome.
Symptoms of plica syndrome include pain and swelling usually on one side or the other of the kneecap. There is sometimes an occasional locking sensation during movement of the knee. Some people also get a "popping" sensation with use of the knee.
Because the symptoms are similar to those of some other knee problems, plica syndrome is often misdiagnosed. Diagnosis usually depends on excluding other conditions that cause similar symptoms.
The goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation of the synovium and thickening of the plicae. The doctor usually prescribes medicine such as ibuprofen to reduce inflammation. People are also advised to reduce activity, apply ice and an elastic bandage to the knee, and do strengthening exercises. A cortisone injection into the plica folds helps about half of those treated. If treatment fails to relieve symptoms within three months, the doctor may recommend arthroscopic or open knee surgery to remove the plicae.
As listed above, there are many kinds of knee problems, and each one can be caused be different things. Knee problems can be the result of disease, injury, poor bone health, or mechanical causes:
A number of diseases can affect the knee. The most common is arthritis. Although arthritis technically means "joint inflammation," the term is used loosely to describe many different diseases that can affect the joints. There are two general types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatiod arthritis. Either of these diseases can cause knee pain. Other diseases or disorders that can affect the knees are Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Gout, and various types of neuropathy, just to name a few.
Knee injuries can occur as the result of a direct blow or sudden movements that strain the knee beyond its normal range of motion. Sometimes knees are injured slowly over time. Problems with the hips or feet, for example, can cause you to walk awkwardly, which throws off the alignment of the knees and leads to damage. Knee problems can also be the result of a lifetime of normal wear and tear. Much like the treads on a tire, the joint simply wears out over time. In an injury, one or several stuctures can be injured in the knee joint itself:
Another potential cause of knee pain is the health and integrity of the actual bone. Bones are fairly ridgid, but the amount of mineral content is always changing as our bodies use and replace the minerals. If the body replaces less mineral than it uses, the bone can become brittle and start to deteriorate. This is known as osteopenis, which can progress to osteoporosis. This deterioration in the health of the bone can cause small fractures and cracks. These can expose nerve endings to the joint surfaces. Once these nerves are stimulated the person feels pain.
Some people are born with structural differences that can affect the health of the knee joints. Structural deformities at the hip, knee or ankle can alter how the bones join at the joint causing excessive wear and tear or other problems. Some of these problems include:
Doctors and other medical professionals diagnose knee problems based on the findings of the medical history, physical exam, and diagnostic tests.
During the medical history, the doctor asks how long symptoms have been present and what problems a person has while using the knee. In addition, the doctor will ask about any injury, condition, or health problem that might be causing the problem.
The doctor bends, straightens, rotates (turns), or presses on the knee to feel for injury, to determine how well the knee moves, and where the pain is located. The doctor may ask a person to stand, walk, or squat to help assess the knee's function.
Depending on the findings of the medical history and physical exam, the doctor may use one or more tests to determine the nature of a knee problem. Some of the more commonly used tests include:
After an examination by a primary care physician, he or she may provide a referral to a rheumatologist, an orthopaedic surgeon, or both. A rheumatologist specializes in nonsurgical treatment of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. An orthopaedic surgeon, or orthopaedist, specializes in nonsurgical and surgical treatment of bones, joints, and soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
The doctor may also provide a referral to a physiatrist. Specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, physiatrists seek to restore optimal function to people with injuries to the muscles, bones, tissues, and nervous system.
Minor injuries or arthritis may be treated by an internist (a doctor trained to diagnose and treat nonsurgical diseases) or a primary care physician.
Many common treatments are used for different types of knee pain for ease of reading.
Some knee problems, such as those resulting from an accident, cannot be foreseen or prevented. However, a person can prevent many knee problems by following these suggestions:
Ideally, everyone should get three types of exercise regularly:
If a person already has knee problems, a doctor or physical therapist can help with a plan of exercise that will help the knee(s) without increasing the risk of injury or further damage. As a rule of thumb, gentle exercises such as swimming, aquatic exercise, or walking over jarring exercises such as jogging or high-impact aerobics are easier on the knees.
The earlier a person seeks medical attention, the less chance that person has of having life-long knee problems. For many, however, knee problems become a progressive problem that never ends. Following the tips for prevention are very good, but once the pain has started it often becomes difficult to continue the exercise.
When knees are painful, it often best to do low-impact exercise. For some, this may even mean taking time off work, changing habits of daily living to reduce stress on the knees, or evening changing jobs or moving to a new home with less stairs.
The term "knee pain", or "knee problems" is very broad. There are many studies being done currently to investigate treatment of several knee problems. for more information, clinical trials can be found at: U.S. National Institute of Health Clinical Trials Data Base
Studies of the various forms of arthritis are helping doctors better understand these diseases and develop treatments to stop or slow their progression and damage to joints, including the knees.
Studies are also underway to discover and/or develop safer and more effective pain relief, particularly for osteoarthritis of the knee. In recent years, the nutritional supplement pair glucosamine and chondroitin has shown some potential for reducing the pain of osteoarthritis, though no conclusive proof has emerged to date. Both of these nutrients are found in small quantities in food and are components of normal cartilage.
The recently concluded Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), which was co-sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, assessed the effectiveness and safety of these supplements when taken together or separately.
The trial found that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate did not provide significant relief from osteoarthritis pain among all participants. However, a smaller subgroup of study participants with moderate-to-severe pain showed significant relief with the combined supplements.
The 4-year trial was conducted at 16 sites across the United States. The results were published in the Feb. 23, 2006 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Scientists continue to experiment with procedures that may help replace lost or damaged joint cartilage. One procedure that has met with success involves growing a person's own cartilage cells in a dish and then grafting the new cartilage onto damaged areas of the joint. While the procedure has been successful in repairing cartilage injuries at the end of the femur, at present it is not recommended for arthritis-related damage, and its potential use in arthritis is still uncertain.
Other areas of research involve trying to better understand how and why joint injuries occur and the measures that should be taken to prevent them; investigating the role of exercise in protecting the knee; and developing less invasive surgeries and better joint prostheses.
In December 2003, NIAMS and other groups at the National Institutes of Health sponsored the Consensus Development Conference on Primary Total Knee Replacement. The conference findings underscored the value of knee replacements for end-stage arthritis, and identified avenues for further research. A summary of the conference is available at: [1]
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
Phone: 301-495-4484
Toll Free: 877-22-NIAMS (226-4267)
TTY: 3015652966
Fax: 301-718-6366
Email: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.niams.nih.gov
NIAMS provides information about various forms of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases; as well as other bone, muscle, joint, and skin diseases. It distributes patient and professional education materials and refers people to other sources of information. Additional information and updates can also be found on the NIAMS Web site.
2 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3676
Phone: 2022230344
Toll Free: 800624BONE
TTY: 202-466-4315
Fax: 202-466-4315
Email: NIAMSBoneInfo@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/bone/default.asp
The NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases~National Resource Center provides patients, health professionals, and the public with an important link to resources and information on metabolic bone diseases. The mission of NIH ORBD~NRC is to expand awareness and enhance knowledge and understanding of the prevention, early detection, and treatment of these diseases as well as strategies for coping with them. The Center provides information on osteoporosis, Paget's disease of bone, osteogenesis imperfecta, primary hyperparathyroidism, and other metabolic bone diseases and disorders.
P.O. Box 2058
Des Plaines, IL 60017
Toll Free: 800-824-BONE (2663)
Email: pemr@aaos.org
Website: http://www.aaos.org
The Academy provides education and practice management services for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals and patients. It also serves as an advocate for improved patient care and informs the public about the science of orthopaedics. The orthopaedist's scope of practice includes disorders of the body's bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. The Academy produces a variety of educational programs and informational brochures that are available free to the public. For a single copy of an AAOS brochure, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address above or visit the AAOS Web site.
1800 Century Place, Suite 250
Atlanta, GA 30345-4300
Phone: 404-633-3777
Fax: 404-633-1870
Website: http://www.rheumatology.org
This national professional organization can provide referrals to rheumatologists, and to allied health professionals such as physical therapists. One-page fact sheets are available on various forms of arthritis. Lists of specialists by geographic area and fact sheets are also available on this Web site.
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1488
Phone: 7036842782
Toll Free: 8009992782, ext. 3395
Website: http://www.apta.org
The goal of the American Physical Therapy Association is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education. The Association publishes a free brochure titled Taking Care of the Knees.
P.O. Box 7669
Atlanta, GA 30357-0669
Phone: 404-872-7100
Toll Free: 800-283-7800
Website: http://www.arthritis.org
The Foundation has several free brochures about the various forms of arthritis that affect the knee, coping with arthritis, arthritis treatment, and exercise. A free brochure on protecting your joints is titled Using Your Joints Wisely. The Foundation also can provide addresses and phone numbers for local chapters and physician and clinic referrals.