Any discomfort or difficulty on kneeling is quite likely to be the result of not having enough flexibility at the knee or enough lower body strength to move down in a controlled manner.
Knee pain when kneeling can result from conditions such as bursitis and arthritis. The pressure resulting from kneeling or repeated movement can cause pain in the kneecap. People can treat any condition causing knee pain at home with NSAIDs, stretches and strengthening exercises, and physical therapy.
The aging knee
Your knees absorb a huge amount of pressure with every step — typically one-and-a-half times your body weight. That pressure, plus regular wear and tear, takes a toll over time. Muscles and ligaments get weaker. The knee's two shock absorbers — pads of cartilage called menisci — start to deteriorate.
Knee pain when bending is a common problem for many people and can have numerous underlying causes. Osteoarthritis, meniscus tears, bursitis, ligament strain, and tendonitis are some of the most common causes. Bone fractures or infections in the joint may also cause knee pain.
In general, the affected portion of your knee might feel warm, tender and swollen when you put pressure on it. You might also feel pain when you move or even at rest. A sharp blow to the knee can cause symptoms to appear rapidly.
Both cause aching pain, tender or warmth, stiffness, swelling, and redness in the joint. However, bursitis differs from osteoarthritis in that the pain is generally more acute following repetitive movements, whereas, pain in osteoarthritis is worst following a period of inactivity.
Muscle strains — The muscles around the knee can become tight and strained, actually making it painful to bend. Arthritis — Breakdown of knee cartilage and the drying out of lubricating joint fluid can cause joint inflammation and associated stiffness and pain.
If you notice that your knee pain is accompanied by sudden swelling, limited range of motion (you can't bend it or straighten it normally), redness, or a warm feeling on the affected area, you should seek a doctor's care.
Summary. The inability to bend or straighten the knee may be the result of a true locked knee (in which torn knee cartilage becomes wedged in the joint) or a pseudo-locked knee (in which severe knee pain triggers a defensive reaction that impedes knee movement).
Wearing padded kneelers can help to protect the knee and prevent aggravating the problem. Stretching exercises and physiotherapy may also help degeneration issues, but if the problem persists you should see your GP at first instance.
Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot.
Starting around age 30, you begin to lose bone density and muscle mass, both of which can create strain and pain in your joints.
Knee pain is the most common symptom of osteoarthritis in the knee, making it painful for you to jog, run, climb stairs or kneel. It can also make your knees feel stiff or swollen. Over time, osteoarthritis of the knee can change the shape of your knee joint, making your joint feel unstable or wobbly.
Make an appointment with your doctor if your knee pain was caused by a particularly forceful impact or if it's accompanied by: Significant swelling. Redness. Tenderness and warmth around the joint.
Cartilage tear — If you're experiencing a sharp, stabbing pain in your knee that comes and goes, it might be a cartilage tear. Your knee has cartilage called the meniscus, which protects the bones that intersect at the knee from grinding against each other. Sometimes, that cartilage can tear.
Red flags in physical examination
For those who are symptomatic can present with discoloration, pain, warmth, swelling, and tenderness of the affected extremity (11).
The knee may lock or stick during movement. It may creak, click, snap, or make a grinding noise (crepitus). Pain may cause a feeling of weakness or buckling in the knee. Many people with arthritis note increased joint pain with changes in the weather.
Signs of arthritis in the knee may include: Pain in the knee that can be worsened by certain movements and exercises, including prolonged walking or standing. Stiffness of the knee joint, which makes it difficult to bend and straighten the knee.
Prepatellar bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa in the front of the kneecap (patella). It occurs when the bursa becomes irritated and produces too much fluid, which causes it to swell and put pressure on the adjacent parts of the knee.
Any of the bursa in your knee can become inflamed, but knee bursitis most commonly occurs over the kneecap or on the inner side of your knee below the joint.
Chronic pain: Untreated bursitis can lead to a permanent thickening or enlargement of the bursa, which can cause chronic inflammation and pain. Muscle atrophy: Long term reduced use of joint can lead to decreased physical activity and loss of surrounding muscle.
Bursitis can be diagnosed through a detailed history (about the onset of symptoms, the pattern of knee pain and swelling and how the symptoms affect their lifestyle) and a physical examination, however, X-ray, MRI and CT-scan can be done to rule out the possibility of a fracture or soft tissue injury.