# Knee pain location chart: what pain in each part of your knee usually means

Where your knee hurts is one of the best clues to why. Pain at the front, on either side, behind the knee or all over tends to point to different causes, and a few patterns need a doctor fast.

Source: https://nourishandstrong.com/knee-pain-location
Published: 2026-11-07
Updated: 2026-11-07
By: the Nourish & Strong team
General information, not medical advice.

**The short answer:** pain in the front of the knee is often patellofemoral pain, a tendon problem or bursitis. Pain on the inside often comes from arthritis, an MCL injury or a meniscus tear. Pain on the outside often comes from iliotibial band syndrome or an LCL injury, and pain behind the knee can be a Baker’s cyst. Pain all over is often osteoarthritis.

Cleveland Clinic says where your knee hurts can be a good sign of what’s causing it. Use the chart below as a guide to talk with your doctor, since only an exam can tell for sure.

## What does knee pain in different areas mean?

Knee pain in each area tends to point to a short list of causes. This chart brings together what Cleveland Clinic, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the NHS describe for each:

| Where it hurts | Common causes | How it typically feels and starts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Front, around the kneecap | Patellofemoral pain syndrome | Dull ache that builds gradually; worse on stairs, squatting or after sitting with bent knees |
| Front, just below the kneecap | Patellar tendinitis | Dull ache, tender to a light touch; builds slowly with repeated jumping or running |
| Front, swollen over the kneecap | Prepatellar bursitis | Squishy swelling you can see; hurts to kneel or bend; often from frequent kneeling |
| Inside | Osteoarthritis, MCL injury, meniscus tear, pes anserine bursitis | Bursitis: gradual pain 2 to 3 inches below the joint. Injury: sudden, often with a pop |
| Outside | Iliotibial band syndrome, LCL injury, meniscus tear, arthritis | IT band: aching or burning that turns sharp, first after exercise. Injury: sudden pop |
| Back of the knee | Baker’s cyst, tendon or ligament injury, arthritis, tight muscles | Baker’s cyst: soft lump, tightness, hard to bend, often worse after walking |
| All over | Osteoarthritis, gout, septic arthritis | Arthritis: gradual pain and stiffness. Gout or infection: sudden, hot, red and very painful |

Many causes can show up in more than one place. Cleveland Clinic notes that patellofemoral pain usually sits near the kneecap but can spread to the sides of the knee.

## What does pain in the front of the knee mean?

Pain in the front of the knee most often means patellofemoral pain syndrome, sometimes called runner’s knee. AAOS describes it as a dull, aching pain that usually begins gradually and is linked to activity. It tends to hurt on stairs, when squatting or after sitting a long time with your knees bent, as in a car or a theater. You may hear popping or crackling when you stand up. It often follows a sudden jump in how much or how hard you exercise.

Pain right below the kneecap that’s tender to touch points more to patellar tendinitis. Cleveland Clinic says it builds up slowly from repeated strain, and it usually hurts most when you straighten your knee. A soft, visible swelling over the kneecap is more likely prepatellar bursitis, which usually settles in a couple of weeks with rest, ice and raising your leg. See a doctor if it hasn’t improved after two to three weeks, and straight away if you have a fever or chills, since an infected bursa needs urgent treatment.

## What does pain on the inside of the knee mean?

Pain on the inside of the knee usually comes from arthritis, an MCL injury, a meniscus tear or pes anserine bursitis, according to Cleveland Clinic. How it started is the biggest clue:

- **It started with a twist or a blow.** An MCL injury can cause a pop, swelling and a feeling that your knee is giving out, AAOS says. A meniscus tear can also start with a pop. Over 2 to 3 days the knee gets stiffer and more swollen, and it may catch or lock.
- **It crept up slowly.** Pes anserine bursitis causes pain on the inside of the knee about 2 to 3 inches below the joint. It’s worse on stairs or getting up from a chair and eases with rest. Cleveland Clinic says most people heal in about six to eight weeks.
- **It comes with stiffness.** Osteoarthritis usually builds gradually, AAOS says, and pain and swelling may be worse in the morning or after resting.

AAOS notes that worn meniscus tissue tears more easily, so an awkward twist getting up from a chair can be enough.

## What causes pain on the outside of the knee?

Pain on the outside of the knee is most often caused by iliotibial band syndrome, an LCL injury, a meniscus tear or arthritis, Cleveland Clinic says. Iliotibial band syndrome happens when the band of tissue running down the outside of your thigh rubs on the bone at the knee. People describe it as aching and burning that turns sharper the more they exercise. At first it starts after exercise. Later it’s there during exercise and then at rest. You might feel a snap or click on the outside of the knee, and it can cause hip pain too.

An LCL injury usually follows a blow that pushes the knee sideways, with a pop, swelling and tenderness on the outer side, AAOS says. Cleveland Clinic adds that a PCL injury or tendonitis can also hurt there. If your pain seems to start higher up, our guide to [what your hip pain means](https://nourishandstrong.com/hip-pain-what-it-means) can help you narrow it down.

## What causes pain behind the knee?

Pain behind the knee is often caused by a Baker’s cyst, a tendon or ligament injury, arthritis or tight leg muscles, according to Cleveland Clinic. The NHS says the main sign of a Baker’s cyst is a soft, fluid-filled lump at the back of the knee. It may be easier to see when you stand. You may also feel tightness, aching or clicking, find it hard to bend your knee, and notice it’s worse after walking.

Pain behind the knee needs one extra check. The NHS says pain or swelling in your leg that suddenly gets worse, with warm, red or darkened skin, could be a burst cyst or a blood clot (DVT). A DVT usually causes throbbing pain and swelling in one leg, often in the calf or thigh. Get help the same day for those signs. Cramp in the calf is a different, harmless problem, explained in our guide to [leg cramps at night](https://nourishandstrong.com/leg-cramps-at-night).

## Why does my knee hurt all over?

A knee that hurts all over is most often osteoarthritis, especially if the pain built up slowly. Arthritis UK says osteoarthritis pain may be felt all around the knee or in one spot, and is often worse at the end of the day or after moving and better with rest. Morning stiffness usually lasts no more than half an hour. AAOS adds that the knee may creak or grind, lock or stick, and that many people notice more pain with changes in the weather.

Sudden pain in the whole knee is different. The NHS says gout brings sudden, severe pain with hot, swollen, red skin, and an attack usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks if untreated. Septic arthritis, an infection in the joint, looks similar and develops quickly over a few days. If you notice aching in several joints along with hot flashes or poor sleep, read about [menopause joint pain](https://nourishandstrong.com/menopause-joint-pain).

## When should I see a doctor about knee pain?

See a doctor if knee pain lasts more than a few days, makes it hard to move or gets in the way of your daily routine, Cleveland Clinic says. Get urgent medical help the same day, as the NHS advises, if:

- You can’t move your knee or put any weight on it
- Your knee is badly swollen or has changed shape
- Your knee locks, gives way or clicks painfully
- Your knee is hot and red and you have a high temperature or feel shivery, which can mean infection
- One leg suddenly becomes painful, swollen and warm, which can mean a blood clot

**Call 911** if leg pain and swelling come with breathlessness or chest pain. The NHS says a clot may have reached your lungs. Go to the emergency room after a serious fall or crash, or if you think you’ve broken a bone.

When you see your doctor, Cleveland Clinic suggests telling them where it hurts, when it started, what it feels like, what makes it better or worse, and whether you felt a click or pop.

## Your next step

Note where your knee hurts and how it started, then try the steps in our guide to [knee pain home remedies](https://nourishandstrong.com/knee-pain-home-remedies), which rates heat, ice, supports and supplements and gives six strengthening exercises. If it’s worse in bed, see [knee pain at night](https://nourishandstrong.com/knee-pain-at-night). If your lower back is part of the problem, a short daily routine can help.

## Quick questions

### Can knee pain be a blood clot?

Yes, pain behind the knee can sometimes be a blood clot (DVT). The NHS says a DVT usually causes throbbing pain and swelling in one leg, often in the calf or thigh, with red or darkened skin. Get urgent help for those signs, and call 911 if you’re also breathless or have chest pain.

### What does pain behind the knee when bending mean?

Pain behind the knee when you bend it is often a Baker’s cyst, a soft fluid-filled lump that the NHS says can make bending hard and feel worse after walking. Tendon or ligament injuries, arthritis and tight muscles can also cause it. Get any new lump checked by a doctor.

### Why does my knee hurt going down stairs?

Knee pain on stairs is a common sign of patellofemoral pain syndrome, a dull ache around the kneecap that AAOS says builds gradually with activity. Patellar tendinitis and pes anserine bursitis can also hurt on stairs. Holding the handrail and going down with your sore leg first can ease the load.

### What does a sharp pain on the inside of the knee mean?

Sharp pain on the inside of the knee after a twist or blow often means an MCL injury or a meniscus tear. AAOS says both can start with a pop, and a meniscus tear may make the knee catch or lock. A knee that locks or gives way should be checked by a doctor promptly.

### When should I worry about knee pain after a fall?

Worry about knee pain after a fall if you can’t put weight on your leg, can’t move your knee, or it’s badly swollen or misshapen. The NHS and Cleveland Clinic say to get urgent help for these, and to go to the emergency room if you think you’ve broken a bone.

### Can knee pain cause hip pain?

Some knee problems cause hip pain as well. Cleveland Clinic says iliotibial band syndrome can hurt on the outside of both the hip and the knee, because the band runs from the pelvis down past the knee. Pain that seems to move between your hip and knee is worth describing to your doctor.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Where your knee hurts is a clue, not a diagnosis. If your knee is hot and swollen with a fever, you can’t put weight on it, or one leg is suddenly painful and swollen, get urgent medical help. Call 911 if leg swelling comes with chest pain or breathlessness.

## Sources

- [Cleveland Clinic. Knee Pain, 2025](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21207-knee-pain)
- [Cleveland Clinic. Inner Knee Pain (Medial Knee Pain), 2025](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/inner-medial-knee-pain)
- [Cleveland Clinic. Pain on Outside of Knee (Lateral Knee Pain), 2025](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/outside-lateral-knee-pain)
- [Cleveland Clinic. Pes Anserine Bursitis, 2025](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/pes-anserine-bursitis)
- [Cleveland Clinic. Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21967-iliotibial-band-syndrome)
- [Cleveland Clinic. Prepatellar Bursitis (Knee Bursitis), 2025](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22189-prepatellar-bursitis)
- [Cleveland Clinic. Patellar Tendinitis (Jumper’s Knee), 2024](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/patellar-tendonitis-jumpers-knee)
- [American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome](https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome/)
- [American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Meniscus Tears](https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/meniscus-tears/)
- [American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Collateral Ligament Injuries](https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/collateral-ligament-injuries/)
- [American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Arthritis of the Knee](https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/arthritis-of-the-knee/)
- [NHS. Knee pain](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/knee-pain/)
- [NHS. Baker’s cyst](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bakers-cyst/)
- [NHS. DVT (deep vein thrombosis)](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt/)
- [NHS. Gout](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gout/)
- [NHS. Septic arthritis](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/septic-arthritis/)
- [Arthritis UK. Knee pain](https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/understanding-arthritis/conditions/knee-pain/)