As Women Age, Arthritis Behind the Knee Becomes Common Problem

Knee problems from arthritis can become an issue as people age.

One common knee issue as women age is arthritis behind the knee. And since most people are more bow-legged, the inside of the kneecap can experience more stress, leading to more pain.

According to Joseph J. Ciotola, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Orthopedics and Joint Replacement at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, patella femoral arthritis is when patients feel pain when they are sitting with their knee bent for too long—whether at a desk or in traffic. When the patient stands up, it hurts even more.

For arthritis on the inside of the knee, patients will have swelling on the bone there, and it can hurt to put weight on it. To ease the discomfort while sleeping, Dr. Ciotola noted that patients can put a pillow between their legs. 

“[It’s] genetic, mostly, for arthritis, and then pounding on it for years, running on it for years, putting a lot of pressure on it,” Dr. Ciotola said. “The heavier you are, the more pressure you put on the cartilage [and] on the bone when it’s wearing down. That hurts worse.”

When anti-inflammatories and injections do not help, or the cartilage wears down to the bone, the patient might require surgery.

Young people can also develop arthritis, Dr. Ciotola said. The stronger and more active you are, the more you can probably tolerate the arthritis pain.

View Mercy orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joseph Ciotola’s interview regarding knee arthritis and other common knee issues in women.