Experiencing knee pain can be frustrating and confusing. With so many different structures in and around your knee, figuring out the exact cause can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, a knee pain diagnosis chart can be an incredibly helpful tool in guiding you towards a Knee Pain Self Diagnosis.
These charts are designed to break down knee pain by location. Understanding where your pain is situated in your knee is a crucial first step in identifying the potential culprits behind your discomfort. By recognizing the typical causes of pain in specific areas of the knee, you can begin to formulate a more accurate knee pain self diagnosis at home.
Below, we’ve provided two detailed knee pain location charts. The first focuses on pain experienced at the front of the knee, while the second addresses pain located behind the knee. Use these charts as a visual aid to explore potential causes based on your pain location.
Front Knee Pain Diagnosis Chart
This knee pain diagnosis chart specifically addresses pain felt in the anterior, or front, region of the knee. If your pain is located here, this chart can assist your knee pain self diagnosis process. The subsequent chart will explore pain at the back of the knee.
A. Pain Above the Knee Cap
If you’re experiencing pain above the knee cap in the region of your lower thigh, common causes often include:
B. Outer Knee Pain
Lateral knee pain, or pain on the outer side of your knee, may stem from various conditions, such as:
C. Pain At The Kneecap
Front knee pain centered around your kneecap can be attributed to:
D. Inner Knee Pain
Medial knee pain, felt on the inner side of the knee, might be due to:
E. Medial Pain Below The Knee
Medial knee pain that is specifically located just below the inner side of your knee is often related to:
F. Pain Below The Knee
Pain below the knee at the front of your shin can arise from:
Posterior Knee Pain Location Chart
This knee pain diagnosis chart concentrates on identifying the causes of pain located at the back of the knee, also known as posterior knee pain. Use this chart to further your knee pain self diagnosis if your discomfort is in this area.
A. Pain Behind The Knee
Pain behind the knee itself could indicate several issues, including:
B. Posterolateral Knee Pain
Outer knee pain experienced at the back of the knee, or posterolateral knee pain, is frequently associated with:
C. Posteromedial Knee Pain
Inner knee pain at the back of the knee, known as posteromedial knee pain, is typically caused by:
D. Lateral Pain Below The Knee
Pain on the outer side of the calf, just below the knee joint, is commonly due to:
E. Medial Pain Below The Knee
Pain on the inner side of the calf, just below the knee, is usually related to:
F. Pain Below The Knee
Calf pain located below the back of the knee can be caused by:
- Calf Muscle Cramps: These are sudden, involuntary contractions of the calf muscles. While they can be intensely painful, they usually subside within minutes. LEARN MORE>
- Calf Tear: This involves overstretching or tearing of one of the calf muscles, often occurring during sports activities. It typically presents with sudden pain, immediate swelling, and bruising. LEARN MORE>
- DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis): A DVT is a serious condition involving a blood clot in a deep leg vein. It’s characterized by intense pain, swelling, redness, warmth, and tenderness. A DVT is a medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention.
G. Posterior Pain Above The Knee
Pain in the back of the thigh, just above the knee joint, is commonly caused by:
Hopefully, by utilizing these knee pain diagnosis chart details, you are gaining a better understanding of what might be causing your knee pain. Self diagnosis is the first step towards effective management and recovery.
Understanding Knee Pain for Self Diagnosis
Grasping the root cause of your knee pain is the essential initial step in effectively addressing it. These knee pain diagnosis chart options offer valuable visual aids to assist you in your knee pain self diagnosis journey.
To delve deeper into each of these potential conditions, including their specific causes, symptoms, and available treatment options, please follow the provided links. Alternatively, for further guidance in your knee pain self diagnosis, you can explore our comprehensive knee pain diagnosis section.
To complement these knee pain diagnosis charts, you might find these articles helpful:
It’s important to remember that these knee pain diagnosis charts are not exhaustive. There are other conditions that can cause knee pain but may not be location-specific, such as gout in the knee and knee bone spurs. These conditions tend to cause more generalized knee pain rather than pain confined to a specific location, and therefore are not specifically included in these location-based knee pain diagnosis charts. You can learn more about these in our broader section on common knee conditions.
Taking the Next Steps After Self Diagnosis
These knee pain diagnosis charts are an excellent starting point for understanding your knee pain through self diagnosis. But what comes next? You can discover extensive information about each of the knee problems mentioned, and much more, by using the links provided throughout this article.
Furthermore, responding to popular demand from our readers, we have recently released our second book, “Beat Knee Pain: Take Back Control” (https://www.knee-pain-explained.com/knee-pain-book.html).
This book provides you with all the necessary knowledge to effectively perform a knee pain self diagnosis and offers comprehensive advice on how to regain control and return to your desired activities. It consolidates all the information from this website and expands upon it significantly. We recognize that many individuals prefer the convenience of a book format for easy navigation, so consider checking it out.
“Beat Knee Pain: Take Back Control” has achieved an average rating of 4.7/5 stars and was ranked as the #2 Best Seller in Orthopedics on Amazon*.
*Ranked #2 Best Seller in Orthopedics (Kindle Store) on Amazon.com in October 2021
Knee pain location charts are just the beginning of your journey. Now that you have a clearer idea of what might be happening, it’s time to take action to address it, so you can get back to living life to the fullest.
Related Articles
Outer Knee PainApril 25, 2024
Front Knee PainSeptember 19, 2023
Medial Knee PainJune 11, 2024
References
1. American Family Physician Journal. Evaluation of patients presenting with knee pain: Part II. Differential diagnosis. September 2003
2. British Medical Journal Best Practice. Assessment of Knee Injury. June 2018
**3. Medscape**. Evaluating Knee Pain: The Latest in Diagnosis and Management. June 2017
Page Last Updated: March 25th, 2025
Next Review Due: March 25th, 2027
