Knee pain location chart
Tap or click the spot that matches your pain. We will show the most likely causes, what each one feels like, and the guide to read next.
Front of knee (kneecap)
Below the kneecap
Inner (medial) side
Outer (lateral) side
Whole knee, deep, or swollen
Questions about reading knee pain
Why does pain location matter so much?
The knee is a crowded joint: ligaments on each side, two menisci between the bones, a tendon above and below the kneecap, and cartilage everywhere. Each structure produces pain in a fairly predictable spot, so location narrows the list of likely causes faster than almost any other clue.
Can pain in one spot come from somewhere else?
Yes. Hip problems can refer pain to the inner knee, and back of knee pain sometimes traces to swelling produced elsewhere in the joint. That is one reason a persistent or unexplained pain deserves an in-person exam, not just a self-diagnosis.
Is this tool a diagnosis?
No. It maps pain location to the conditions clinicians most commonly find there, to point you to the right education. Only a clinician who examines your knee can diagnose it.
Found your likely condition?
The Brace Finder turns it into a specific support recommendation, with a free fit consultation from a bracing specialist.