According to primary care providers, knee pain is an incredibly common complaint. It is so common, in fact, that knee pain is the reason for over 4 million primary care visits each year, according to American Family Physician journal. Given that they not only support our body weight but also allow us to walk, run, and perform most of our everyday activities, it’s not surprising that we place a lot of wear and tear on our knees. But experiencing knee pain can be enough to stop us in our tracks.
The muscle in the back of the knee, known as the popliteus, is a small muscle that plays a big role in helping our knees function. If you are experiencing pain in the back of your knee when straightening your leg, there are a number of causes that may be responsible, including several issues that can affect the popliteus muscle.
What is causing pain in the back of my knee when I straighten my leg?
The popliteus muscle in the back of your knee connects your outer thighbone to the back of your lower leg bone. It is also attached to your meniscus, the cartilage in the middle of your knee that acts as your body’s shock absorber. If you experience pain in this area when straightening your leg, it may be due to:
- Leg cramps — Athletes and others who spend a lot of time on their feet are prone to experiencing cramps in their leg muscles. Not stretching properly before a workout and dehydration can cause leg cramps, but they also may be a sign of infection.
- Muscle strain —The muscles in the back of the knee can become strained when they are stretched too far. This usually happens due to either overusing or overexerting the muscle, such as while running or hiking. They can even tear, which can cause severe pain as well as bruising and tenderness.
- Cyst in the back of the knee — People who suffer from osteoarthritis or who have suffered a knee injury may find that their knees produce too much synovial fluid. While this fluid usually acts as a lubricant between the joints, too much of it can cause painful cysts to form behind the knee. This condition is sometimes known as a “baker’s cyst.”
Can physical therapy help relieve the pain in the back of my knee?
Seeing a physical therapist may be a good idea if you are experiencing pain in the back of your knee when straightening your leg. A licensed physical therapist can help to diagnose the cause of your knee pain and determine the best course of action to treat it.
At Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy, we have years of experience in helping patients just like you recover from a knee injury, post-surgical recovery, and other root causes of knee pain and discomfort. We can treat your knee pain using tried and proven physical therapy techniques, including:
A free screening at one of our eastern North Carolina clinics can get you started. Our team of physical therapy specialists will work with you to craft a physical therapy plan perfectly suited to your needs.
Contact us today to schedule an initial appointment or to request more information on how we can help.
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