It may surprise you to know how many people suffer from painful knees. It’s an extremely common complaint, and it’s no wonder. Our knees may be the hardest working joints in our bodies, especially for athletic people who are forever exercising to keep fit. For example, the runner is constantly on his feet, pounding the pavement. The motion jars the knees no matter how expensive or well-made the running shoe. On the other side of the coin, those who do little physical exercise are also at risk, putting added weight strain on the joint muscles. In a recently study, scientists found that being even slightly overweight makes you three times more likely to experience a tear in your knee cartilage. If you are bothered by painful knees, you are not alone.