What causes stiff painful knees?

Stiffness, pain and difficulty bending your knee may indicate a problem with the joint. Several conditions can cause this, including:

* Osteoarthritis: This, "wear and tear arthritis," occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. It's the most common type of arthritis.

* Rheumatoid arthritis: This is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints and tissues that line them.

* Gout: This is a type of inflammatory arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals build up in your joints, causing sudden and severe pain.

* Bursitis: This is an inflammation of the small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion your joints.

* Tendonitis: This is inflammation of the thick, fibrous cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones.

* Ligament injuries: These can range from mild sprains to complete tears and are common knee injuries.

* Meniscus tears: The menisci are two C-shaped pieces of cartilage that help cushion and stabilize your knee joint.

* Patellofemoral pain syndrome also called "runner's knee." This condition causes pain in the front of your knee under your kneecap.

* Iliotibial band syndrome: The iliotibial band is a long band of tissue on the outside of your thigh. ITBS occurs when the band gets tight and irritated.

* Septic arthritis: This is a bacterial infection of your knee joint.

If you have knee stiffness or pain, seek evaluation from a doctor or other health professional to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.