Why do I get a sharp pain inside my knee when I twist, like in padel?

Why twisting provokes it

When you plant the foot and turn the body, the thigh bone rotates on the shin and grinds across the meniscus, the C-shaped cushion between them. If part of the inner meniscus is torn, that rotation pinches or flips the torn piece, giving a sudden sharp pain, sometimes with a click or a feeling that the knee catches.

Padel is a common trigger in Qatar: short sprints, sudden stops and turns on a gripping artificial surface, often in players who play several times a week in the evening.

What it may turn out to be

• Medial meniscus tear: joint-line pain, pain on deep squatting, swelling the next day, catching or locking
• MCL sprain: tenderness along the inner side of the knee, pain when the knee is pushed inward, usually after a specific moment of injury
• ACL tear: a pop, rapid swelling within hours and a feeling of the knee shifting, often together with meniscus or MCL damage
• Plica irritation: a painful snapping band on the inner side of the kneecap, more with repeated bending

First steps

Stop playing on the day it happens. For the first 48 to 72 hours use a cold pack, compression and elevation, and walk normally within comfort. Avoid twisting, deep squatting and sitting cross-legged.

If pain eases quickly and there was no swelling, you can gradually return with a structured warm-up. If the knee swells, catches, or hurts every time you pivot, return to padel should wait until it has been examined. Playing on a torn meniscus can extend the tear.

When to get it examined in Doha

Seek prompt assessment if the knee locks and cannot fully straighten, swells within hours, feels unstable, or you heard a pop. These suggest a displaced meniscus tear or ligament injury that may benefit from early treatment. Book an appointment if twisting pain persists beyond two to three weeks.

At Aman Hospital, Dr. Gelber examines the meniscus and ligaments with specific tests and arranges an MRI when it will guide the decision. Many meniscus tears in active people can be repaired rather than trimmed, especially when treated early.