What is the most common cause of knee pain in adults over 50?

What is the most common cause of knee pain in adults over 50?

• A. Rheumatoid arthritis
• B. Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• C. Gout
• D. Knee OA

Answer: (D)

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common cause of knee pain in adults over 50. Aging brings degenerative changes in the knee joint, and factors like obesity, prior injuries, and genetics accelerate cartilage wear and remodeling of the bone, leading to pain and functional limitation. Clinically, this tends to present as pain with activity that improves with rest, stiffness after inactivity that resolves relatively quickly, and progressive loss of motion with possible crepitus. On exam you may find joint line tenderness and, in later stages, varus or valgus deformity as the knee wears unevenly. X-rays typically show joint space narrowing, osteophytes, and subchondral sclerosis or cysts. While other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory, often multi-joint with longer morning stiffness), gout (acute monoarticular pain, red and swollen), or patellofemoral pain syndrome (anterior knee pain in younger, active individuals) can occur, knee osteoarthritis remains the most common cause of knee pain in this age group.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common cause of knee pain in adults over 50. Aging brings degenerative changes in the knee joint, and factors like obesity, prior injuries, and genetics accelerate cartilage wear and remodeling of the bone, leading to pain and functional limitation. Clinically, this tends to present as pain with activity that improves with rest, stiffness after inactivity that resolves relatively quickly, and progressive loss of motion with possible crepitus. On exam you may find joint line tenderness and, in later stages, varus or valgus deformity as the knee wears unevenly. X-rays typically show joint space narrowing, osteophytes, and subchondral sclerosis or cysts. While other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory, often multi-joint with longer morning stiffness), gout (acute monoarticular pain, red and swollen), or patellofemoral pain syndrome (anterior knee pain in younger, active individuals) can occur, knee osteoarthritis remains the most common cause of knee pain in this age group.