Constant pain in knees may not be a sign of a serious health problem; but it may affect your daily activities seriously. Read on to know about the causes of weak knees and how to lower the symptoms like stiffness and pain in knees.

A few decades before, knee pain was limited to older adults only. These days, not only the elderly but young adults are also worried because of persistent knee pain. Joints and muscles become weak due to wear and tear, during the process of aging. Any injury to the joint or muscles can also affect the strength of the knees. As knee-joint bears the load of your body, it is necessary to take extra care of the joint and the muscles.

Severe pain in knees may affect your movements. Restricted leg movement can make you avoid most of the daily activities and this can influence your work performance. And if you love sports, then you should take utmost care of your knees.

Symptoms of Weak Knees

• Swelling and grinding
• Pain in the knee
• Burning or crunching sensation
• Limited motion
• Difficulty to use stairs
• Inflammation
• Stiffness
• Hard bumps
• Deformation of knees and legs
• Popping sound from the knees
• Pain while bending or straightening the knees
• Limping, difficulty in walking
• Joint locking
• Signs of an infection, for example, fever, redness, warmth, pain, etc.

Causes of Pain and Stiffness in Knees

• Arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints, affects the discs and the bones. It is the main cause of pain and stiffness in knees.
• Injuries to or weakness in the adjoining structures like thighs, legs, hips can increase the pressure on knees.
• Hip, leg or knee surgery can weaken the knees.
• Any type of strain or sprain can lead to pain in knees. Neglected symptoms may weaken the knees.
• Torn ligament or torn cartilage in knee can make the structure weak.
• Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis may lead to the formation of baker's cyst behind the knee, making it weak.
• Tendonitis or bursitis (inflammation of a tendon or bursae) can lead to weak knees.
• Physical trauma or injury or dislocated knee cap are some of the common causes of pain and inflammation.
• Connective tissue disorders like lupus may lead to restricted movement of knees.
• Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is a condition which affects the knee-joint adversely.
• Any kind of infection in the knee-joint can make the knees weak.
• Bone tumors and Osgood-Schlatter condition lead to severe pain and may result in stiff knees.
• Fatigue due to any kind of disease like flu, typhoid, diarrhea, cancer, etc. can affect the strength of the bones and muscles in legs and knees.
• Sedentary lifestyle, lack of sufficient physical activity/exercise can lower the strength of your knees.

How to Improve the Strength of Your Knees

Knowing the underlying cause of weak knees helps determine the treatment. Following remedies can help improve the strength of the knee-joint.

• Knee exercises performed under the guidance of your physician may help relieve the pain. Regular exercise promotes easy movement of the joint.
• Ice packs and heat pads applied around the knees offer pain relief.
• Wearing knee pads, wearing perfect shoes helps reduce the pain.
• Massage with essential oils, and application of balm, or herbal pack help lower the pain.
• If you are overweight, you should try to get rid of those extra pounds by following a weight loss diet. Reduced weight helps lower the burden on the knees. This helps lower the pain.
• The 'acute inflammation' may subside gradually, with sufficient rest. This is the simplest way to relieve knee pain, if the symptoms are mild.
• A balanced diet which provides all the essential nutrients in correct proportions is essential to maintain the health of the muscles and joints in the body.
• You may take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, commonly referred to as NSAIDs, prescribed by your doctor. These medications work great for knee pain caused by health problems like arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis.
• Cortisone is a powerful medication which is used to treat inflammation. Let the doctor decide whether taking cortisone injections is essential for you or not.
• If nothing works, then the doctor may recommend knee replacement surgery. Such surgeries are quite common, these days. After the surgery, rigorous physical therapy is necessary to achieve the goal of full motion and strength.

You should take proper care of your knees as they bear the weight of your body. Healthy diet and regular exercise promote healthy knees. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, you should perform exercises every day and should follow a low-calorie diet. If your knee condition doesn't get better with home remedies, you should consult your physician.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.