Where does the water in the knee come from? The most common causes of this condition are sprains and dislocations. The knee joint, despite the fact that it is strongly reinforced, is one of the most sensitive, therefore it is easily injured or overloaded. Water in the knee can also be one of the symptoms of a disease that occurs within the knee joint. Check what is water in the knee and where it comes from.
Water in the knee , in medical terminology, exudate within the knee joint, is a colloquial term for excess fluid that accumulates in the knee joint as a result of inflammation in it.Where does the water in the knee come from ? The cavity of the knee joint is lined with the synovium, which produces fluid. The synovial fluid produces enough fluid for the joint to function properly. However, if the knee joint is injured and consequently irritated the synovium, this fluid is produced in excess.
Water in the knee - reasons
The reason for the appearance of water in the knee may be:
- joint overload
- damage to the ligaments of the knee joint or meniscus
- injuries within the knee, as a result of which the body's natural defense reaction is surrounding the joint with fluid
Therefore, water in the knee is often complained by people who practice sports that put a lot of strain on their knees. Knee joint effusion can be caused by too much skiing, football, tennis or cycling.
Diseases in the course of which water may appear in the knee are:
- osteoarthritis (also rheumatoid arthritis)
- prepatellar bursitis
- cysts
- cancer
- gout
Water in the knee may also indicate an infection within the knee joint. Then, inflammation is the body's first defense response to infection.
Apart from movement, an important function of the knee is also supporting the weight of the body. When your body weight is too high, it puts regular pressure on the knee joint, which can manifest as water in the knee. Therefore, overweight people can also suffer from this ailment.