Location of the tenderness and pain depends on the injury: Sprained medial or lateral ligaments: Tenderness over the damaged ligament Medial meniscal injuries: Tenderness in the joint plane (joint line tenderness) medially Lateral meniscal injuries: Tenderness in the joint plane laterally Medial and lateral meniscal injuries: Pain made worse by extreme flexion or extension and restricted passive knee motion (locking) Injuries of any of the knee ligaments or menisci cause a visible and palpable joint effusion.