Knee Pain Location Chart

A Knee Pain Location Chart can help clinicians and patients with the differential diagnosis of knee pain, but remember that pain location does not always represent its source. If you have knee pain, we recommend a consultation with a healthcare professional to ensure the correct diagnosis and treatment, 

Our knee pain location charts have been created by a knee pain expert, James McCormack, who has extensive experience diagnosing and treating all conditions in this article.

Related Article: Muscles of the Knee

Anterior Knee Pain Location Chart

• Underneath or around the patella: can be related to the patella, which can be patella tracking disorder, patellofemoral joint pain, chondromalacia patella, or osteoarthritis of the patella. Plica syndrome can vary in terms of its location but most commonly affects the anterior medial aspect of the knee so would be felt just on the inside of the patella.
• Below the patella: you are more likely to experience pain from osteochondritis dissecans, and Osgood-Schlatters disease.
• Inferior pole of the patella: the lower tip of the knee cap is where the pain is felt if a child has Sinding Larsen Johanson Syndrome. Patellar tendinopathy can be felt either at the inferior pole or at the tibial tuberosity.
• Superior pole of the patella: the upper tip of the knee cap is where quadriceps tendinopathy pain will be felt.

Back of Knee Pain Location Chart

• Central posterior knee: at the centre of the back of the knee is where the pain from a Baker’s Cyst, Popliteus Tendinopathy, Meniscus Injury, Osteoarthritis or anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament injuries will be felt.
• Below the knee joint line: calf muscle pain is mostly felt below the knee in the main part of the calf muscle, but tendon injury can be felt on either side of the knee at the back.
• Above the knee joint line: hamstring tendinopathy and hamstring injuries will be felt higher up above the knee.

Inner Knee Pain Location Chart

• Along the medial joint line: along the inner joint line is the pain location for a medial meniscus injury or a medial collateral ligament injury.
• Back of the medial knee: tendinopathy to a medial hamstring, felt at the back on the inside of the knee.
• Front of the medial knee: further forwards on the inside but near the front of the knee is where the pain and inflammation of a Pes Anserine Bursitis will be felt. Patellofemoral pain can also be described as being on the inside of the knee but will be located along the patella border.

Outer Knee Pain Location Chart

• Above the knee joint line: pain on the outside of the knee can be related to iliotibial band pain syndrome, and this is felt above the joint line into the outer side of the thigh, but can sometimes continue along the outside of the knee to just below the joint line.
• At the knee joint line: injury to the lateral meniscus or lateral collateral ligament will be felt along the joint line of the knee.
• Below the knee joint line: a calf injury can be felt on the outside of the knee, but located to the back and below the joint line.
• Quadriceps tendinopathy can sometimes be described as being on the outside of the knee but is usually more focused at the front of the knee at the superior pole of the patella.