Pain Above Knee

Pain above the knee can vary in intensity and type, ranging from intermittent to continuous, and may present as a dull ache or sharp, catching pain. Top of knee pain is often accompanied by swelling above the knee, and can limit movement and affect the overall function of the joint.

What Causes Above Knee Pain?

Here we will look at the most common causes of top of knee pain and how to tell which is causing your knee and thigh pain, and then we’ll go on to look at how to treat them.

1. Quadriceps Tendonitis

You can also get hamstring tendonitis which causes pain in the back of the thigh, which typically causes pain in the back of the hip region, but can cause posterior knee pain.

Tendonitis is typically an overuse injury often associated with sports requiring quick, repetitive movements e.g. basketball & volleyball, overtraining, muscle imbalance and biomechanical problems.

You can find out all about this common cause of pain right above the knee, including the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options in the Quadriceps Tendonitis or Hamstring Tendonitis sections.

2. Knee Bursitis

Common symptoms of knee bursitis include a soft pocket of swelling above the knee, which may fluctuate in size, and an achy pain on top of knee.
Repetitive actions such as kneeling, kicking and squatting often cause knee bursitis and it is often more common in people with muscle tightness or who have experienced previous knee injuries.

You can find out all about the common causes of top of knee pain and swelling from bursitis including the best treatment options in the knee bursitis section.

3. Knee Arthritis

Arthritis knee symptoms often fluctuate and a common feature is knee stiffness first thing in the morning.

Pain above the knee from arthritis is caused by damage and degeneration of the knee cartilage which leads to the formation of bone spurs in the joint. This is usually related to aging but is also linked with genetics, previous knee injuries, and obesity.

You can find out everything you need to know about arthritis pain above the knee and the best treatment options including which supplements and foods are best in the knee arthritis section.

4. Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Top of knee pain from iliotibial band syndrome often affects long distance runners, particularly after suddenly increasing training levels, and is more likely if you have any muscle imbalance, flat feet or knee bone spurs.

You can find out all about ITBS, how it causes top outside knee pain and how to treat it in the iliotibial band syndrome section.

5. Muscle Strain

If your pain above the knee came on very suddenly during activity, there is a high chance you have pulled one of the thigh muscles. Muscle strains usually occur when a muscle is suddenly overstretched or overloaded which causes some of the muscle fibres to tear.

Thigh strains usually cause sudden pain above the knee, often associated with a popping or snapping sensation at the time of injury. Bruising and swelling above the knee may develop over 24-48 hours. Weakness is common which can limit functional activities such as going up and down stairs, walking and getting up from a chair.

The most common muscle strain to cause pain in the leg above the knee is a pulled quads muscle which causes front of thigh pain, whereas hamstring strains cause back of thigh pain.

You can find out all about top of knee pain from muscle strains and how to treat them in the quadriceps strain or hamstring strain sections.

6. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Muscle weakness and tightness is a common cause of top of knee pain from runner’s knee, particularly if you have flat feet, or wide hips.

You can find out all about how patellofemoral pain syndrome causes pain above the knee and the best ways to treat it in the Runners Knee Section.

Other Possible Causes

Other possible causes of pain above the knee include:

• Knee Bone Spurs: Outgrowths of excess bone can cause hard lumps and sharp, catching pain on top of the knee
  
  
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): A blood clot in the deep veins of the leg can cause pain above the knee along with swelling and warmth
  
  
• Nerve Compression/Sciatica: Compression of the sciatic nerve can lead to radiating pain from the lower back down the leg, causing pain above the knee and in the thigh
  
  
• Femoral Stress Fracture: a small crack or fracture in the femur bone, typically caused by repetitive stress or overuse of the thigh muscles and bones. Causes thigh pain on top of knee, especially during weight-bearing activities
  
  
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Reduced blood flow to the muscles of the leg due to PAD can cause pain above the knee during physical activity, known as claudication
  
  
• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal can cause nerve compression and result in radiating pain in leg above knee
  
  
• Perthes Disease: A childhood condition where the blood supply to the head of the thigh bone is disrupted, causing hip pain in the leg above the knee
  
  
• Contusion: Impact or injury to the soft tissues and blood vessels in the thigh can cause bruising and localised pain above the knee

Pain Above Knee Treatment

Treatment for top of knee pain will depending on what is causing the problem but usually includes:

• PRICE: Protect the area from further injury e.g. knee brace, crutches; Rest from aggravating activities to allow healing; Ice applied regularly helps reduce pain above knee and inflammation; Compression to reduce inflammation e.g. tubigrip; Elevating the knee above hip height helps to reduce swelling
  
  
• Medication: OTC painkillers and anti-inflammatories can help control the swelling and pain above the knee
  
  
• Stretches: stretching out the thigh and knee muscles can help reduce pressure and friction through the knee structures, reducing pain on top of the knee. A combination of knee stretches, quads stretches and hamstring stretches usually works best
  
  
• Strengthening Exercises: Improving the strength, stability and control of the knee helps to reduce the load through the joint and thus reduce pain in the leg above the knee. A combination of knee strengthening, quads strengthening and hamstring strengthening exercises usually works best
  
  
• Knee Braces: There are various knee braces can be worn to help support and improve the stability of the knee, and knee straps are particularly effective for off-loading structures e.g. with tendonitis
  
  
• Injections: Corticosteroid injections can help to reduce top of knee pain and inflammation in the short term as part of your treatment
  
  
• Orthotics: special inserts to wear in your shoes that help to correct foot position, particularly fallen arches, and reduce the forces going through your knee
  
  
• Surgery: While most cases of top of knee pain will respond to conservation (non-surgical) treatment, in some cases e.g. with severe knee arthritis or a quads tendon rupture, surgery may be advised

With any case of pain above the knee, the first step is to get any pain and swelling under control and protect the leg from further damage. Once you have done that, you can then start on specific treatment for your above knee pain:

• Quads Tendonitis Treatment
• Knee Bursitis Treatment
• Knee Arthritis Treatment
• ITB Syndrome Treatment
• Muscle Strain Treatment
• Runners Knee Treatment

What Is Causing Your Top Of Knee Pain?

So as we’ve seen here, there are lot of possible causes of pain above the knee, each of which present slightly differently:

• Sharp Pain Right Above Knee: knee bursitis, bone spurs, torn hamstring and nerve damage can all cause sharp pain top of knee
  
  
• Burning Pain Above Knee: a burning pain on top of the knee is usually due to nerve damage, peripheral artery disease or knee bursitis
  
  
• Top Outside Knee Pain: above knee pain on the outer side of the leg is usually caused by iliotibial band syndrome or a lateral quadriceps strain
  
  
• Inside Leg Pain Above Knee: top inside knee pain is usually due to a medial quads strain
  
  
• Pain Above Knee When Bending: is usually associated with runners knee, bursitis or knee arthritis
  
  
• Pain Above Knee When Squatting: is often a sign of quadriceps tendonitis, runners knee, iliotibial band syndrome or quads strain
  
  
• Top Of Knee Pain Running: pain above the knee cap after running is usually caused by quadriceps tendonitis (pain right above knee), ITB Syndrome (top outside knee pain) or hamstring tendonitis (at the back of the knee)
  
  
• Weakness & Pain Above Knee: if your top of knee pain is accompanied by weakness, it is likely due to quadriceps tendonitis, a quads strain, nerve damage or knee arthritis
  
  
• Strange Noises Above The Knee: if there are unusual noises coming from the painful area above your knee when you move it may be due to a muscle strain (popping at time of injury), ITB syndrome (snapping sensation), runners knee (grinding sensation) or knee bone spurs (clicking/locking sensations)
  
  
• Pain Above The Back Of The Knee: pain above the knee on the back of the thigh is usually due to hamstring tendonitis or a hamstring strain

If inflammation and swelling is a problem alongside your knee pain, check out the swelling above the knee article.

If none of these is sounding like your problem, or you would like more help working out what is causing your pain above the knee, check out the knee pain diagnosis section.

Alternatively, if you have pain in another area of your knee, check out the following articles:

• Front Knee Pain
• Pain Below Knee
• Pain Behind The Knee
• Outer Knee Pain
• Inner Knee Pain
• Knee Cap Pain
• Calf Pain
• Knee Pain At Night
• How To Do Stairs With Knee Pain

Page Last Updated: 29/09/23
Next Review Due: 29/09/25

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