Knee pain upon waking up in the morning, pain disappears after walking around—what's the cause and what should I do?

Generally speaking, knee pain upon waking up in the morning that subsides with walking may be caused by aging, lack of exercise, joint stiffness, meniscus injury, knee arthritis, and other reasons. If discomfort persists, timely medical consultation is recommended. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Aging

With increasing age, joint cartilage may gradually wear away, leading to stiffness and pain in the knee upon waking. Engaging in appropriate low-impact exercises such as walking or cycling can help promote circulation of joint fluid and maintain joint flexibility.

2. Lack of Exercise

In the morning upon waking, muscles and ligaments have not fully recovered, and blood circulation around the joints is insufficient, causing pain. Once movement begins, the muscles and ligaments are stretched, improving circulation and reducing pain. Regularly changing positions and avoiding prolonged maintenance of the same posture is advised. Stand up and move around for a few minutes every hour and perform simple stretching exercises.

3. Joint Stiffness

The joint capsule and surrounding soft tissues become tight after prolonged inactivity, limiting the normal range of joint motion and increasing friction during movement, which causes pain. Applying heat therapy to the joints, such as hot compresses or warm water baths, can help relax the joint capsule and surrounding soft tissues, increasing joint flexibility.

4. Meniscus Injury

Miscus injury is related to knee sprains and long-term weight-bearing squatting. After meniscus injury, changes in joint pressure during nighttime rest may stimulate the injured area, causing pain. After activity, joint pressure balances and pain decreases. Symptoms such as knee locking or clicking may appear. It is recommended to follow medical advice and use medications such as glucosamine sulfate capsules, ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, and Tongluo Qutong plasters for treatment.

5. Knee Arthritis

Age, obesity, inflammation, trauma, and genetic factors may be associated with the development of knee arthritis. Changes in joint pressure during nighttime rest lead to pain upon waking. After activity, synovial fluid is evenly distributed within the joint, balancing pressure and reducing pain. Usually, no other obvious symptoms are present. Patients should follow medical advice and use medications such as compound chondroitin sulfate tablets, etoricoxib tablets, and diacerein capsules for treatment.

Maintaining sufficient sleep and regular作息 habits can help promote physical recovery and enhance immunity.