Why Is My Knee Locking?

Your knee joint is one of the strongest and most stable joints in your body, but it is not immune from injury and natural degeneration. Oftentimes we consult with patients who say their knee feels like it’s locking, clicking or catching when they are attempting to bend or straighten their knee joint. But what’s causing this locking sensation, and more importantly, what can be done to resolve the issue? Below, we take a closer look at some of the issues that can lead to a locking knee, and we dive into treatment options.

Causes Of Locking Knee

A few different issues could be causing this locking or catching sensation, but let’s take a closer look at a few of the most common culprits:

• Cartilage Tears - Perhaps the most common reason for a locking or clicking knee is due to a cartilage tear within the joint. These pieces of cartilage - the medial and lateral menisci - act as shock absorbers for the joint. If this cartilage tears, it can get stuck in the knee joint, making it harder to bend or extend the knee. You may be able to fully bend or extend your knee despite this tear, but you may feel a clicking or popping sound as that cartilage impedes normal joint movement.
• Ligament Damage - Ligaments in the knee help to support and stabilize the joint, but acute or repetitive strain can lead to ligament injury. This ligament damage can contribute to knee instability or a locking sensation as you work to move an unstable joint.
• Bone Fragmentation - Sometimes a tiny piece of the bones that connect at the knee can end up fragmenting and becoming a loose body in the knee joint. This loose bone can irritate cartilage or soft tissues in the area when you bend your knee in certain ways, contributing to this locking sensation when moving the knee.
• Plica Syndrome - Plica syndrome is a condition categorized by inflammation of the protective knee membrane. This inflammation can inhibit normal joint movement, causing the knee to feel locked or uncomfortable when moving it in specific directions.
• Arthritis - Cartilage deterioration can lead to bone on bone contact within the joint, making movement uncomfortable. This tends to be more of a painful sensation when moving as opposed to a locking sensation, but cartilage deterioration can also increase your risk of cartilage tears, ligament damage and loose body formation, so arthritis can also lead to a higher likelihood of a locking sensation in the knee.

Treating A Locking Knee

Treatment for a locking knee is something Dr. Reznik discusses in great lengths in his latest publication, The Knee & Shoulder Handbook. Treating a locking knee can be a little tricky because there are so many potential underlying causes, which is why it is oftentimes best to figure out why your knee is locking. The Knee & Shoulder Handbook can prove immensely helpful with this, or you can set up a consultation with a specialist who can view your knee in person.

During this consultation, they’ll ask you about your symptoms, conduct a physical exam and likely take a closer look at your knee with the help of an imaging test. An X-ray can help to diagnose an issue with a bone or bony fragment, while an MRI or CT scan can provide a clear look at the soft tissues in the area. What we learn during this session will help to guide your treatment plan.

For patients with arthritis or ligament damage, the best course of action may be a conservative care plan. Short-term rest to protect the knee is helpful, oftentimes followed by a targeted physical therapy program. Weeks of physical therapy exercises can help to strengthen the knee joints and the nearby structures that help to support and stabilize the area. Eventually, these strength and stabilization exercises may help reduce or eliminate this locking sensation. Pairing these exercises with ice packs, heating pads and anti-inflammatory medications can help to manage discomfort as you target the knee joint.

For some of the other previously listed causes, a minimally invasive surgery may be the best option. This can allow the surgeon to debride the offending bone or cartilage and restore more fluid motion in the knee joint. Following surgery, you’ll pursue weeks of physical therapy and some of the previously listed conservative techniques until your knee is as strong or stronger than it was prior to your operation. Most patients can improve or resolve their locking knee issue, but they have to take the first step and seek out a diagnosis and treatment plan.

For more information about locking knee, consider grabbing a copy of The Knee & Shoulder Handbook or connecting with Dr. Reznik here.