Statistics on Common Causes of Knee Pain

June 3, 2024

Unearth critical statistics on the common causes of knee pain across different demographics and sports.

Statistics on Common Causes of Knee Pain

Knee pain affects a significant portion of the population, with a prevalence of 46.2% reported in the elderly Korean community.
Women are more likely to experience knee pain compared to men, with a prevalence of 58.0% in women versus 32.2% in men.
Osteoarthritis is a major contributor to knee pain, with higher odds ratios observed in both men and women with the condition.
Knee pain can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, leading to worse scores on functional assessments like the WOMAC and SF-12.
Age is a risk factor for knee pain, with the prevalence increasing in older populations.
Obesity and overweight are associated with a higher risk of developing knee pain and osteoarthritis.
Occupations involving heavy lifting, kneeling, or squatting can increase the likelihood of experiencing knee pain.
Previous knee injuries, such as ligament tears or meniscal damage, can lead to the development of chronic knee pain.
Certain sports, like basketball and soccer, have a higher incidence of knee injuries and subsequent knee pain.
Genetics may play a role in an individual's susceptibility to knee pain, with some studies suggesting a hereditary component to osteoarthritis development.

Prevalence of Knee Pain

Understanding the common causes of knee pain statistics is essential for recognizing the breadth and impact of this issue. Knee pain is a prevalent problem, affecting a significant portion of the population, with certain groups showing a higher propensity for this condition.

Gender Disparities in Knee Pain

Research suggests that there is a gender disparity in the prevalence of knee pain. In the elderly Korean community, the prevalence of knee pain was reported to be 46.2%, with a higher percentage reported in women (58.0%) than in men (32.2%), as per a study found on NCBI. The study also revealed that women had significantly higher odds ratios for knee pain compared to men among subjects both with and without knee osteoarthritis (adjusted OR 2.44 vs 2.92 in men and women, respectively).

Gender	Odds Ratio
Men	2.44
Women	2.92

Impact of Knee Pain on Function

Knee pain can significantly impact an individual's function and quality of life. Subjects with knee pain had significantly worse scores on all Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Short Form 12 (SF-12) subscales compared to subjects without knee pain, even after adjusting for age, sex, and the presence of osteoarthritis, according to the same NCBI study.

Moreover, women with knee pain had significantly worse WOMAC and SF-12 scores compared to men, indicating that knee pain affects lower extremity function more adversely in women.

Gender	WOMAC Score	SF-12 Score
Men	Better	Better
Women	Worse	Worse

This data underlines the importance of addressing knee pain, given its high prevalence and significant impact on individual function, particularly among women. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying causes of these gender disparities in knee pain and develop effective interventions to address this widespread issue.

Knee Injuries in NBA Players

In the high-impact world of basketball, knee injuries are a common occurrence, especially among NBA players. This section will delve into the frequency and types of structural knee injuries experienced by these athletes.

Frequency of Structural Knee Injuries

According to a study published on NCBI, structural knee injuries occurred in 21% of NBA players from 2015 to 2020. The overall rate of these injuries was calculated at 5.42 per 1,000 game exposures. Factors contributing to these injuries included more minutes per game played, a greater usage rate, and a lower player efficiency rating.

The rate of knee injuries was notably higher in NBA players under 20 years old, with 3.23 injuries per 1,000 game exposures. Players over 30 years old followed closely with 3.11 injuries per 1,000 game exposures. Furthermore, the study found that players with more minutes per game had a higher rate of knee injuries.

Common Types of Knee Injuries

When it comes to the types of knee injuries, knee contusion emerged as the most common injury among NBA athletes, followed by inflammation. More serious injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occurred at a rate of 0.09 per 1,000 game exposures. Cartilage injuries were noted at a rate of 0.08 per 1,000 game exposures, and meniscal tears at 0.13 per 1,000 game exposures.

Type of Knee Injury	Rate per 1,000 Game Exposures
Knee Contusion	Not specified
Inflammation	Not specified
ACL Injuries	0.09
Cartilage Injuries	0.08
Meniscal Tears	0.13

The study also found that certain factors increased the likelihood of knee injuries among NBA players, including older age, greater weight, more years of experience, longer follow-up duration, more minutes played, greater usage rate, lower player efficiency rating, and lower true shooting percentage.

Moreover, more minutes per game, greater usage rate, and associated lower-extremity injuries were positively correlated with an increased number of missed games after knee injuries among NBA players.

These findings highlight the importance of preventive measures and effective management strategies to mitigate the risk of knee injuries among professional basketball players.

Gender Differences in ACL Tears

When it comes to knee injuries, one of the most significant factors seems to be gender. Specifically, women appear to be at a higher risk for certain types of injuries, particularly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.

Higher Risk in Female Athletes

Women athletes are more than twice as likely to tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) as men. According to a study by Cedars-Sinai, female basketball players have a 3.5 times greater incidence of ACL tears compared to their male counterparts. This rate is 2.8 times greater for female soccer players.

Sport	Risk in Female Athletes Compared to Male Athletes
Basketball	3.5 times greater
Soccer	2.8 times greater

Factors Contributing to ACL Tears in Women

The reasons behind these gender discrepancies in ACL tears are multifaceted. One significant factor is the unique qualities of women's knees due to differences in the hips. Women have a wider pelvis, which changes the alignment and mechanics of their lower bodies, putting more stress on the ACL, and thus increasing the risk of injury [1].

Another key difference lies in the landing mechanics. Women tend to have a stiffer leg when landing from a jump and do not bend as deeply as men, which increases the risk for knee injury. Furthermore, women rely more on their quadriceps while landing, further increasing the risk of ACL injuries [1].

Hormonal factors also come into play. Estrogen, which is associated with bone health and flexibility, fluctuates during the menstrual cycle and is potentially linked to more knee and ankle injuries in women. Research shows that women's knees tend to have more laxity when women are ovulating compared to other points in their cycles [1].

Interestingly, some evidence indicates that oral contraceptives might help reduce injuries in women by evening out hormone fluctuations. However, this area requires further study.

Understanding these gender differences in ACL tears is vital in developing effective injury prevention strategies and treatments. By recognizing the higher risk in female athletes and the contributing factors, efforts can be made to reduce the incidence and impact of these common causes of knee pain.

Knee Injuries Among Retired NBA Players

The impact of professional basketball on the health of players, especially their knees, extends beyond their active years on the court. This section explores the incidence of knee injuries among retired NBA players, the surgical interventions they underwent, and the state of their knee health post-retirement.

Incidence and Surgical Interventions

Among retired NBA players, almost a third (32.4%) had sustained a knee injury before commencing their professional play in the NBA. This number increased to 47.2% during their professional careers. A significant portion of these players, 62.7%, required surgery due to these injuries. Among those reporting knee injuries during their NBA career, the majority (72.5%) continued to experience knee pain until retirement.

When it comes to surgical interventions, two-thirds of athletes who sustained knee injuries during their NBA career required operative management (62.7%). A noteworthy 38.7% required more than one operation. The majority of these surgeries (93.6%) involved meniscal, cartilage, or loose body removal procedures.

Post-retirement, over a third (34.0%) of retired NBA players underwent further knee surgery. Among these players, 26.5% received total knee replacements. Meniscal surgery was the most common procedure for those who had undergone knee surgery after retiring from the NBA.

Post-Retirement Knee Health

Post-retirement knee health among NBA players is a significant concern. Nearly two-thirds of retired NBA players reported currently experiencing knee pain (67%). Further, almost a third of these players had received a corticosteroid injection in their knee since retirement. Among all respondents, 34.0% had undergone knee surgery after retirement, including 26.5% who had total knee replacements.

Unfortunately, the general quality of life for these retired athletes, as measured by standard quality-of-life metrics, was found to be lower than the average North American male of a similar age. This underlines the long-term impact that professional play in the NBA can have on the health of players, particularly their knees [2]. This information provides useful insights into the common causes of knee pain statistics among retired NBA players.

ACL Injuries in High School Athletes

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the common causes of knee pain statistics in sports and they are particularly prevalent among high school athletes.

ACL Injury Rates Across Sports

During a study period from 2007/08 to 2011/12, there were 617 recorded ACL injuries among high school athletes, resulting in an injury rate of 6.5 per 100,000 athlete exposures. Notably, girls' soccer had the highest injury rate (12.2), followed by boys' football (11.1). On the other hand, boys' basketball (2.3) and boys' baseball (0.7) had the lowest rates. Furthermore, girls had a higher ACL injury rate (8.9) compared to boys (2.6) in sex-comparable sports, with a rate ratio of 3.4. In fact, girls were nearly 4 times as likely to sustain an ACL injury playing soccer or basketball compared to volleyball or softball.

Sport	ACL Injury Rate
Girls' Soccer	12.2
Boys' Football	11.1
Girls' Basketball	8.9
Boys' Soccer	6.5
Boys' Basketball	2.3
Boys' Baseball	0.7

Source: NCBI

Surgical Interventions and Mechanisms

Over the course of the study, it was estimated that 215,628 ACL injuries occurred across the 9 sports studied. The injury rate was significantly higher in competition (17.6) than in practice (2.4), with a rate ratio of 7.3. This indicates that athletes were 7 times more likely to sustain ACL injuries in competition than in practice.

Of the total ACL injuries, 76.6% resulted in surgery. Boys had 74.4% and girls had 76.6% of their ACL injuries resulting in surgery. The most common mechanisms of injury were player-to-player contact (42.8%) and no contact (37.9%), with player-to-player contact occurring more frequently in competition than in practice.

Activity	ACL Injury Rate
Competition	17.6
Practice	2.4

Mechanism of Injury	Percentage
Player-to-Player Contact	42.8%
No Contact	37.9%

Source: NCBI

This data underlines the importance of adequate injury prevention strategies, particularly for high-risk sports and competitive events.

Knee Problems in Young Adults

When it comes to knee problems, age is not always the deciding factor. Young adults between the ages of 18 to 39 are not immune to these issues. The causes and effects of knee problems in this age group can provide insightful data on the prevalence, risk factors, and impacts of these conditions.

Prevalence and Risk Factors

Studies indicate that knee problems among young adults are quite prevalent, with a 12-month period prevalence of 31.8% (95% CI 26.9 to 37.2%) [3]. Among those reporting knee problems, 44% had bilateral problems and 52% had previously sought medical advice for the condition.

Factor	Prevalence
Bilateral Problems	44%
Prior Medical Advice	52%

Interestingly, the prevalence of knee problems shows a gender skew. Males tend to experience these issues more than females. However, certain knee conditions, like patellofemoral pain, are more common in females [3].

The research also found that high physical activity levels and mental distress are significant risk factors for knee problems, with odds ratios of 2.6 (95% CI 1.4–4.9) and 2.3 (95% CI 1.2–4.6) respectively.

Risk Factor	Odds Ratio
High Physical Activity Levels	2.6
Mental Distress	2.3

Psychosocial Impact of Knee Problems

The implications of knee problems among young adults extend beyond the physical aspects. They also carry a considerable psychosocial burden. Mental distress is significantly associated with the presence of knee problems, and those experiencing mental distress have a higher likelihood of reporting knee problems [3].

The correlation between mental distress and knee problems underscores the importance of considering the overall well-being of individuals dealing with these issues. The data suggests that the impact of knee problems in young adults is multifaceted, affecting not only their physical health but also their mental health. Understanding these impacts can facilitate more comprehensive and effective approaches to managing knee problems in this population.