{"id":52295,"date":"2025-04-25T21:57:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T01:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/mayo-health-library\/swollen-knee\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T12:04:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:04:49","slug":"swollen-knee","status":"publish","type":"mayo","link":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/de\/mayo-health-library\/swollen-knee\/","title":{"rendered":"Swollen knee"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container mx-auto   wordpress-block wordpress- core-\">\n<p>A swollen knee occurs when excess fluid collects in or around your knee joint. Healthcare professionals might refer to this condition as an effusion (uh-FU-zhun) in your knee joint.<\/p>\n<p>A swollen knee may be the result of trauma, overuse injuries, or an underlying disease or condition. To find the cause of the swelling, your healthcare team might need to test a sample of the fluid for infection, disease or blood from an injury.<\/p>\n<p>Removing some of the fluid may help reduce the pain and stiffness associated with the swelling. Once the underlying cause is known, treatment can begin.<\/p>\n<p>Signs and symptoms typically include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Swelling.<\/b> The skin around your kneecap can puff up noticeably, especially when you compare the affected knee with your other one.<\/li>\n<li><b>Stiffness.<\/b> When your knee joint contains excess fluid, you might not be able to bend or straighten your leg completely.<\/li>\n<li><b>Pain.<\/b> Depending on the cause of the fluid buildup, your knee might be very painful &mdash; to the point that it&#8217;s impossible to bear weight on it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>See your healthcare professional if self-care measures, such as ice and rest, don&#8217;t improve symptoms. Seek immediate medical attention if one knee has a change in skin color and feels warm to the touch compared with your other knee. This can be a sign of infection within the joint.<\/p>\n<p>Many things can cause a swollen knee. They include traumatic injuries to diseases and other conditions.<\/p>\n<h3>Injuries<\/h3>\n<p>Damage to any part of your knee can cause excess joint fluid to accumulate. Injuries that can cause fluid buildup in and around the knee joint include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Torn ligament, particularly the anterior cruciate ligament, also called ACL.<\/li>\n<li>Tear in the meniscus cartilage.<\/li>\n<li>Irritation from overuse.<\/li>\n<li>Broken bones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Diseases and conditions<\/h3>\n<p>Underlying diseases and conditions that can produce fluid buildup in and around the knee joint include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Osteoarthritis.<\/li>\n<li>Rheumatoid arthritis.<\/li>\n<li>Infection.<\/li>\n<li>Gout.<\/li>\n<li>Pseudogout.<\/li>\n<li>Bursitis.<\/li>\n<li>Cysts.<\/li>\n<li>Tumors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Factors that may increase your risk of a swollen knee include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Age.<\/b> Your likelihood of developing a swollen knee related to arthritis increases as you age.<\/li>\n<li><b>Sports.<\/b> People who participate in sports that involve twisting the knee, such as basketball, are more likely to experience the types of knee injuries that cause swelling.<\/li>\n<li><b>Obesity.<\/b> Excess weight puts added stress on the knee joint, contributing to the tissue and joint overload and knee degeneration that can lead to a swollen knee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Complications of a swollen knee can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Muscle loss.<\/b> Fluid in the knee can harm how well your muscles work and cause thigh muscles to weaken.<\/li>\n<li><b>Fluid-filled sac (Baker cyst).<\/b> The buildup of fluid in your knee can lead to the formation of a Baker cyst in the back of your knee. A swollen Baker cyst can be painful, but usually improves with icing and compression. If the swelling is severe, you might need to have fluid removed with a needle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A swollen knee is typically the result of an injury or chronic health condition. To manage your overall health and prevent injuries:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Strengthen the muscles around your knee.<\/b> Strong muscles around a joint can help ease pressure on the joint itself.<\/li>\n<li><b>Choose low-impact exercise.<\/b> Certain activities, such as water aerobics and swimming, don&#8217;t place continuous weight-bearing stress on your knee joints.<\/li>\n<li><b>Maintain a healthy weight.<\/b> Excess weight contributes to the wear-and-tear damage that can lead to a swollen knee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your healthcare team is likely to start with a detailed history and physical examination. After that you likely will need tests to find out what&#8217;s causing your swollen knee.<\/p>\n<h3>Imaging tests<\/h3>\n<p>Imaging tests can help show where the problem is located. Options include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>X-ray.<\/b> An X-ray can rule out broken or dislocated bones and determine if you have arthritis.<\/li>\n<li><b>Ultrasound.<\/b> This test uses sound waves to check for disorders affecting the tendons or ligaments.<\/li>\n<li><b>MRI.<\/b> Using radio waves and a strong magnetic field, MRI can detect tendon, ligament and other soft tissue injuries that aren&#8217;t visible on X-rays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis)<\/h3>\n<p>A needle is used to remove fluid from inside your knee. This fluid is then checked for the presence of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Blood, which may stem from injuries or bleeding disorders.<\/li>\n<li>Bacteria that may be causing an infection.<\/li>\n<li>Crystals common to gout or pseudogout.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Treatment varies depending on the cause of the swollen knee, its severity and your medical history.<\/p>\n<h3>Therapy<\/h3>\n<p>Physical therapy exercises can improve your knee&#8217;s function and strength. In some situations, a knee brace may be helpful.<\/p>\n<h3>Surgical and other procedures<\/h3>\n<p>Treating the underlying cause of a swollen knee might require:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Arthrocentesis.<\/b> Removing fluid from the knee can help relieve pressure on the joint. After removing some of the joint fluid, your healthcare professional might inject a corticosteroid into the joint to treat inflammation.<\/li>\n<li><b>Arthroscopy.<\/b> A lighted tube called an arthroscope is inserted through a small incision into your knee joint. Tools attached to the arthroscope can remove loose tissue or repair damage in your knee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Taking care of yourself when you have a swollen knee includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Rest.<\/b> Avoid weight-bearing activities as much as possible.<\/li>\n<li><b>Ice and elevation.<\/b> To control pain and swelling, apply ice to your knee for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 4 hours. When you ice your knee, be sure to raise your knee higher than the level of your heart. Place pillows under your knee for comfort.<\/li>\n<li><b>Compression.<\/b> Wrapping your knee with an elastic bandage can help control the swelling.<\/li>\n<li><b>Pain relievers.<\/b> Medicines available without a prescription such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can help reduce your knee pain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You may be referred to a healthcare professional who specializes in musculoskeletal and joint problems.<\/p>\n<h3>What you can do<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Write down your symptoms, and when they began.<\/li>\n<li>Write down your key medical information, including other conditions.<\/li>\n<li>Write down key personal information, including any major changes or stressors in your life.<\/li>\n<li>Make a list of all your medicines, vitamins or supplements.<\/li>\n<li>Find out if anyone in your family has had an autoimmune disease.<\/li>\n<li>Ask a relative or friend to come with you to help you remember what the care team says.<\/li>\n<li>Write down questions to ask the healthcare professional.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Questions to ask your doctor<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>What&#8217;s the most likely cause of my symptoms?<\/li>\n<li>What kinds of tests do I need?<\/li>\n<li>Welche Behandlungen gibt es?<\/li>\n<li>I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What to expect from your doctor<\/h3>\n<p>Your healthcare team is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may leave time to go over points you want to discuss in-depth. You may be asked:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Have you injured your knee recently? If so, describe the injury in detail.<\/li>\n<li>Does your knee &#8220;lock&#8221; or feel unstable?<\/li>\n<li>Has your knee felt warm or changed color? Do you have a fever?<\/li>\n<li>Do you play sports? If so, what sports?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have any type of arthritis?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have a family history of autoimmune disease?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This condition can be caused by trauma, overuse injuries, or an underlying disease or condition. A fluid sample from the knee may be needed for diagnosis.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[1686,1685,1682],"class_list":["post-52295","mayo","type-mayo","status-publish","hentry","tag-anatomical-structure","tag-condition","tag-person-group-concept","content_type-diseases-conditions"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Swollen knee - Hancock Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/de\/mayo-health-library\/swollen-knee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"de_DE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Swollen knee - Hancock Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This condition can be caused by trauma, overuse injuries, or an underlying disease or condition. 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