Common Knee Injuries And Treatments
Knee injuries commonly send people to the doctor’s office. In 2010, more than 10 million visits to the doctor’s office occurred due to knee pain and injury. Most of these visits were due to the same common problems. Knee injuries can often be treated at home, but some are serious enough to need surgical intervention. This article explains the anatomy of the knee, common knee injuries, and some of the treatment options.
Ten common knee injuries
The knee is a complicated joint. It moves like a door hinge, allowing a person to bend and straighten their legs so they can sit, squat, jump, and run. The knee is made up of four components – bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.
The femur, commonly known as the thighbone, is at the top of the knee joint. The shinbone, or tibia, makes up the bottom of the knee joint. The patella or kneecap covers the meeting point between the femur and tibia.
The cartilage is the tissue that cushions the bones of the knee joint, helping ligaments slide easily over the bones and protecting the bones from an impact.
There are four ligaments in the knee that act similarly to ropes, holding the bones together and stabilizing them. Tendons connect the muscles that support the knee joint to bones in the upper and lower leg.
There are many different types of knee injuries. Below are 10 of the most common injuries of the knee.
1. Fractures
2. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries
3. Dislocation
4. Meniscal Tears
5. Bursitis
6. Tendonitis
7. Tendon Tears
The Risks Of Running On A Twisted Knee
Can I run on a twisted knee? If so, what is the best way to avoid it? It is possible that running on a twisted knee will further damage the joint. If you are told to continue running, do so in accordance with your doctors instructions. If you have pain or difficulty moving your knee, it is critical that you see a doctor as soon as possible. Rest, ice, and ibuprofen are all effective ways to alleviate the pain and swelling. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are all recommended when there is a suspicion of sprains and strains.
Knee Injury Treatment At Home
There are a few things you can do to treat a knee injury at home. First, rest the knee as much as possible. Ice the knee for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers to help with the pain. And, lastly, try to keep the knee elevated when youre sitting or lying down.
There could be an old injury, osteoarthritis, a sprain, or any other cause causing knee pain. Most knee pain is caused by physical activity, a lack of essential nutrients like Vitamin D, calcium, and iron, and the wear and tear of old age muscles. In addition to dealing with joint pain in the knees, yoga can also help to relieve shoulder pain. It is advised to avoid strenuous exercise in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis. These are just a few of the basic, simple poses, such as Trikonasana, Veerabhadrasana, and Vrikshasana, which are just standing, stretching, and bending.
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How Do Knee Straps Work
Patellar straps offer support to the patellar tendon. This tendon is a thick, horizontal band below the kneecap.
The straps external pressure provides several benefits:
For starters, it can reduce stress on the tendon.
This may cut pain in the kneecap area. It may also help prevent a running injury.
Another theory is that patellar straps have a proprioceptive effect.
Proprioception is a sort of sixth sense we have. It tells us where our joints are at any given time.
For example, you can probably climb stairs without thinking. You dont stop at each step to check if your leg is moving up and towards the stair, right? You just do it.
This is thanks to proprioception and patellar bands help enhance this.
This is useful in runners and running athletes in general, as it can prevent patella injuries.
There are also dual patellar bands.
One strap goes below the kneecap, the other above it. The top strap provides the same pressure and benefits on the tendon above the patella.
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Torn Meniscus Or Tendons
The meniscus is the lining between the ends of the two long bones that connect at the knee joint. Again, these tears usually happen during sports when the athlete is tackling, twisting or pivoting. However, these tears can also result from aging and arthritis where the meniscus has become weakened. Even simple motions, such as twisting the knee when rising from a chair, can cause the injury. Tendon tears like tears in the tendons that connect the thigh quadriceps muscle or the patellar tendons in the knee can result from falls or other direct forces to the knee.
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Our Nyc Knee Injury Surgeons Can Help Schedule An Appointment Today
Learn more about how your New York orthopedic knee surgeons can help you. Contact us and make an appointment at one of our seven offices in greater New York City and Long Island. One of our experienced doctors can examine you and determine whats wrong with your knee. Contact us online or call us.
Our medical practice is in network and accepts coverage by most insurance providers. If you hurt your knee at work whether it was in an accident or due to long-term wear and tear your companys workers compensation insurance should cover all your medical bills related to your knee injury.
Count on the New York orthopedic knee surgeons at IMC Bone Doc when it matters most. Schedule an appointment today. Many of our doctors have immediate appointments available the same day. Call now or make an appointment online.
Knee Pain
Common causes Knee pain can be caused by a wide range of knee injuries, including ones caused by a single accident or due to long-term wear and tear. The physical structure of a persons knee, inflammation or swelling can also be common causes of knee pain.
Symptoms You know your body best. If your knee hurts or you have trouble walking due to severe knee, make an appointment with one of our experienced, New York knee surgeons. We can diagnose whats wrong and recommend the appropriate treatment.
What is anterior knee pain?
What is runners knee?
What is Osgood-Schlatter disease?
What Are The Various Types Of Knee Tendonitis
Knee tendonitis is characterized by inflammation and tiny tears of your knees tendons caused by repeated stress or repetitive motions. This is why its frequently nicknamed jumpers knee. Common types of knee tendonitis include per anserinus tendonitis and popliteus tendonitis.
Per anserinus tendonitis is one of the most common types of tendonitis, and most often afflicts runners. The per anserinus tendons are just below the knee joint, and stops your leg from twisting outward while running.
Popliteus tendonitis is caused when you excessively roll your feet inward while running, which is most common when running downhill. This extra stress causes inflammation or tearing of this tendon.
Knee tendonitis makes it difficult to live your life normally. Your tendons are inflamed and very painful when moved, so walking, running, and climbing stairs become difficult tasks. If a joint near the inflamed tendon moves, this also causes extreme pain in your tendons. Instead of living with this intense pain, book an appointment at Pain Treatment Specialists and find relief from your knee tendonitis symptoms.
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What Does A Knee Injury Feel Like
Obviously, it hurts! But the type of pain and where you feel it can vary, depending on what the problem is. You may have:
- Pain, usually when you bend or straighten the knee
- Trouble putting weight on the knee
- Problems moving your knee
- Knee buckling or âlockingâ
If you have these symptoms, see your doctor. They will check your knee. You may also need X-rays or an MRI to see more detail of the joint.
How Is Knee Pain Treated After A Fall
Treatment for a knee injury caused by a fall usually involves rest and if necessary, a brace to stabilize the joint. In most cases, anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as ibuprofen , may be helpful.
Minor knee injuries can often be treated at home. However, its important to see a doctor if symptoms worsen or if the pain is accompanied by:
- significant joint swelling
- an inability to bear weight
- a feeling of giving way
- other signs of ligament or tendon damage
When the injury is serious, surgery may be necessary to restore function and eliminate pain.
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What Is The Recovery Time For A Knee Injury
The recovery time for a knee injury depends on the type and severity of the injury. If the injury is significant enough to require surgery and/or physical therapy, the recovery time will be longer.
Simple strains or sprains can last for one to two weeks. More extensive injuries requiring arthroscopic surgery may take one to three months to heal.
Major traumatic injuries to the knee may take up to a year to heal.
Following the doctors instructions for rest, immobilization, staying off your feet, and avoiding exercise that aggravates the injuries will help speed recovery.
Physical therapy can also speed recovery time. It is important to follow directions of your physical therapist to insure you are doing the exercises correctly and attaining the best results.
Chronic knee injuries that do not require surgery may flare up from time to time. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and cortisone injections are used to provide temporary relief.
Additional Treatment For Iliotibial Band Syndrome
It may be a good idea to have an analysis of your running stance, technique and footwear at this point. Having an expert evaluate and tweak your technique can help tremendously.
A strengthening program, physical therapy and exercises, and manual therapy such as trigger point work can help, too.
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What Exercises Are Recommended And What Exercises Should Be Avoided During Rehabilitation For A Knee Injury
During physical therapy for rehabilitation of a knee injury, the patient will be given specific exercises by the physical therapist to strengthen and stabilize the knee joint. These exercises include strengthening the front of the thigh , back of the thigh , calf, and hip. Consult your doctor and your physical therapist before starting any exercise program. Your physical therapist should ensure you perform the exercises properly before doing them on your own.
If you have any pain or discomfort while doing prescribed exercises, see your doctor or physical therapist.
Some exercises your physical therapist may recommend include the following:
- Straight-leg raises to the front
- Straight-leg raises to the back
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has an exercise guide that includes directions and pictures. Consult your doctor or physical therapist before trying any of these exercises on your own.
Some exercises to avoid following knee injury include the following:
- Full-arc knee extensions
What Can You Do For The Pain
Your plan will depend on your specific injury. Mild to moderate issues will often get better on their own. To speed the healing, you can:
- Rest your knee. Take a few days off from intense activity.
- Ice it to curb pain and swelling. Do it for 15 to 20 minutes every 3 to 4 hours. Keep doing it for 2 to 3 days or until the pain is gone.
- Compress your knee. Use an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeves to wrap the joint. It will keep down swelling or add support.
- Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you’re sitting or lying down to cut down on swelling.
- Take anti-inflammatorymedications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen will help with pain and swelling. Follow the instructions on the label. These drugs can have side effects, so you should only use them now and then unless your doctor says otherwise.
- Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your doctor recommends them. You may want to do physical therapy, too.
Make an appointment with a doctor if you still have pain after 2 weeks of home treatment, if the knee becomes warm, or if you have fever along with a painful, swollen knee.
Some people with knee pain need more help. For instance, if you have bursitis, your doctor may need to draw out extra fluid from the bursa in your knee. If you have arthritis, you may need an occasional corticosteroid shot to settle down inflammation. And if you have a torn ligament or certain knee injuries, you may need surgery.
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
The anterior cruciate ligament is often injured during sports activities. ACL injuries are more likely to occur in athletes who participate in cutting and pivoting sports like soccer, football, and basketball. Changing direction rapidly or landing from a jump incorrectly can tear the ACL.
About half of all injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament occur along with damage to other structures in the knee, such as articular cartilage, meniscus, or other ligaments.
Learn more about ACL injuries:
What Is The Anatomy Of The Knee
The knee is a hinge joint that has a simple purpose. It needs to flex or extend to allow the body to perform many activities, like running, walking, kicking, and sitting. Imagine standing up from a chair if your knees couldnt bend.
While there are four bones that come together at the knee, only the femur and the tibia form the joint itself. The head of the fibula provides some stability, and the patella helps with joint and muscle function. Movement and weight-bearing occur where the ends of the femur called the femoral condyles match up with the top flat surfaces of the tibia .
There are two major muscle groups that are balanced and allow movement of the knee joint. When the quadriceps muscles on the front of the thigh contract, the knee extends or straightens. The hamstring muscles on the back of the thigh flex or bend the knee when they contract. The muscles cross the knee joint and are attached to the tibia by tendons. The quadriceps tendon is special, in that it contains the patella within its fibers. The patella allows the quadriceps muscle/tendon unit to work more efficiently. The quadriceps tendon is renamed the patellar tendon from the kneecap to its attachment in the tibia.
Bursas surround the knee joint and are fluid-filled sacs that cushion the knee during its range of motion. In the front of the knee, there is a bursa between the skin and the kneecap called the prepatellar bursa and another above the kneecap called the suprapatellar bursa .
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What Is A Dislocated Knee
A dislocation occurs when the bones of the knee are out of place, either completely or partially. For example, the femur and tibia can be forced out of alignment, and the patella can also slip out of place. Dislocations can be caused by an abnormality in the structure of a person’s knee. In people who have normal knee structure, dislocations are most often caused by high energy trauma, such as falls, motor vehicle crashes, and sports-related contact.
Knee Pain Causes In Young Adults
What does knee arthritis feel like?
Patellofemoral syndrome is quite common among younger people, and it is thought to be a significant contributor to knee pain. When you sustain repeated knee injuries, you may also damage the cartilage, increasing your chances of developing arthritis. Teens and children frequently experience knee pain as a result of anterior knee pain. A combination of overuse and poor training routines can lead to a patellofemoral syndrome condition. When you wait for medical treatment, you are at risk of developing arthritis and other serious health problems. Dr. Van Thiel provides expert advice on how to reduce knee pain for anyone of any age. When knee pain occurs in teens, it can be caused by overuse, specific knee injuries , or medical conditions such as Osgood-Schlatter disease or juvenile arthritis.
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Can Knee Injuries Be Prevented
To help prevent knee injuries:
- Be sure you wear the recommended protective equipment for sports .
- Wear supportive athletic shoes that are in good condition.
- During workouts, always warm up and cool down.
- Do regular strength training to support muscles, and stretching or yoga to improve flexibility.
- When jumping, bend the knees while landing. This takes pressure off the ACL and prevents injury.
- If you cut laterally or pivot frequently , crouch and bend at the knees and hips to reduce the chances of an ACL injury.
- If you play just one sport, conditioning and training year-round even if its at a lower intensity than during the competitive season can help you stay in shape and make an injury less likely.
What Kind Of Knee Pain Should I Worry About
If the pain is accompanied by swelling or a particularly forceful impact, you should consult with your doctor. The joint is tender and warm throughout.
As people age, knee pain is said to cause one in every five cases, and its severity and incidence increases. In general, knee injuries are caused by activities such as skiing or playing sports, slipping and falling, or car accidents. It could take months or even years for knee cartilage or ligaments to heal if they are not properly cared for. The knee can be allowed to rest for a few days after it has been rest and reset, and pain will subside after that. Dr. Warrell offers some tried-and-true methods for reducing mild knee discomfort. If your knee symptoms are more severe, you may require the services of an orthopaedic specialist.
If you feel any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away. Arthritis of the knee can cause significant pain and a diminished quality of life. Arthritis of the knee can be caused by a number of factors, including old age, genetics, and repetitive stress. It is critical that you seek immediate medical attention if you experience pain, swelling, or any other symptoms of arthritis of the knee.
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