Why does the back of my knee feel tight when I walk?

Two common explanations

Muscle tightness feels like a pulling band behind the knee, often worse in the morning, after long periods of sitting at a desk or in the car, or after a new gym programme. It usually eases as you warm up, and you feel the same pull when you stretch your hamstrings or calves.

A Baker's cyst feels more like a fullness or a small balloon behind the knee. It tends to be worse at the end of a busy day, after more walking, and when the leg is straight. It is a sign of extra fluid in the knee, often from a meniscus tear or arthritis, so the cyst is a clue to look inside the joint.

What you can do

• Stand up and walk for a few minutes every hour if you sit for long periods
• Stretch the hamstrings and calves gently once or twice a day
• Keep walking at a comfortable pace and distance rather than stopping completely
• Ice for 15 minutes after activity if the back of the knee feels full
• Avoid deep squatting while the knee feels swollen

When to worry

Seek same-day emergency care if one calf becomes swollen, warm, red or tender, especially after a flight, surgery, illness in bed or a leg in a cast. If walking causes a cramping calf pain that stops when you rest and returns at a similar distance, see a doctor, as this can reflect reduced blood flow. Book a knee assessment if the knee swells, catches or the tightness steadily worsens.

Getting it checked in Doha

If the tightness persists beyond a few weeks, Dr. Gelber at Aman Hospital examines the muscles, the joint and the back of the knee. An ultrasound confirms a Baker's cyst, and an MRI may be used to find what is driving it. Muscle tightness responds to a stretching and strengthening plan; a cyst usually improves when the problem inside the knee is treated.