Common Types of Knee Injuries
The knee is a multi-component complex joint that is prone to numerous ailments. Sprains, ligament tears, fractures, and dislocations are some of the most frequent knee ailments.
Simple interventions like bracing and rehabilitation exercises can effectively repair a lot of knee problems. Other wounds can need surgery to heal.
The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most susceptible to injury. It is composed chiefly of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.
- Bones: Your knee joint is made up of your femur (thighbone), tibia (shinbone), and kneecap (patella).
- Cartilage in the joints: Articular cartilage covers the back of the patella, the femur and tibia’s ends, and the patella itself. As you bend or straighten your leg, this slick substance aids in smooth contact between your knee bones.
- Meniscus: Between your femur and tibia, two wedge-shaped sections of meniscal cartilage serve as “shock absorbers.” The meniscus, which differs from articular cartilage in that it is tough and springy, aids in stabilizing and cushioning the joint. People typically refer to torn meniscus when they discuss torn cartilage in the knee.
- Ligaments: Ligaments join one bone to another bone. Your knee’s four primary ligaments function like sturdy ropes. Your knee’s four primary ligaments function as sturdy ropes to hold the bones together and maintain knee stability.
- Ligaments lateral: You can find these on the sides of your knee. Your knee’s lateral collateral ligament is on the outside, while the medial collateral ligament is on the inside. They restrain the sideways mobility of your knee and support it from unnatural movements.
- Ligaments of the knee: You can find them inside the knee joint. The anterior cruciate ligament is in front, while the posterior cruciate ligament is in the rear, forming an “X” shape. The cruciate ligaments govern your knee’s ability to move back and forth.
- Tendons: Tendons join the muscles to the bones. The quadriceps tendon links the legs’ muscles from the patella to the front of the thigh. The patellar tendon runs from the patella to your shinbone.
Numerous crucial structures make up your knee, and any one of them can get injured. Knee fractures, Knee Injuries, dislocations, sprains, and tears of soft tissues, like ligaments, are among the most frequent knee injuries. Numerous knee injuries affect multiple knee structures. The most typical symptoms of knee damage are pain and swelling. Additionally, your knee can lock up or catch. Instability, or the sensation that your knee is giving way, is a common symptom of a knee injury.
COMMON TYPES OF KNEE INJURIES
Sprains and tears of soft tissues (such as ligaments and meniscus), fractures, and dislocations are the most frequent types of knee injuries. Numerous knee injuries affect multiple knee structures. The most typical symptoms of knee damage are pain and swelling. The knee could also catch or lock. ACL tears, for example, might result in instability, which is the sensation that your knee is giving way.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
Sports-related activities frequently result in injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament. ACL injuries are more common in athletes that play chopping and pivoting sports like basketball, football, and soccer. An erroneous landing after a jump or a sudden change in direction can tear the ACL. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries happen around half as often as other knee tissues like articular cartilage, the meniscus, or other ligaments.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injuries
When the knee is bent, and someone strikes the front of it, the posterior cruciate ligament is frequently hurt. This frequently happens in car accidents and contact in sports. Usually, only partially torn posterior cruciate ligament tears have the capacity to mend on their own.
Collateral Ligament Injuries
Collateral ligament injuries are typically brought on by a force that forces the knee outward. These frequently contact wounds. Injuries to the MCL are frequently sports-related and are typically brought on by a direct hit to the outside of the knee. Blows may damage the lateral collateral ligament to the inside of the knee and cause the knee to turn outward (LCL). Compared to other knee ailments, lateral collateral ligament tears happen less commonly.
Meniscal Tears
Acute meniscal tears frequently occur while playing sports. The meniscus may tear when twisting, cutting, rotating, or being tackled. Meniscal tears can also be brought on by aging or arthritis. If the menisci have weakened with age, even an awkward twist when getting up from a chair may be enough to trigger a rip.
Fractures
The patella is the bone that breaks most frequently around the knee. Fractures can also occur at the points where the femur and tibia connect to form the knee joint. High energy trauma, such as falls from great heights and car accidents, is the main cause of many knee fractures.
Dislocation
A dislocation occurs when the knee’s bones are wholly or partially out of alignment. For instance, the patella can fall out of place, or the femur and tibia can be pushed out of alignment. A deviation in the way a person’s knee is built might result in dislocations. Dislocations are most frequently brought on by high-energy trauma, such as falls, car accidents, and sports-related contact in people with normal knee structures.
KNEE INJURIES CAUSES
The knee joint and the supporting components are susceptible to a variety of injuries from awkward motions, falls and collisions, sharp turns, excessive force, and misuse. Tears in ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and patellofemoral pain syndrome are all common knee ailments. Any knee injury that requires immediate medical attention enhances the likelihood of a full recovery. Physiotherapy, open surgery, and arthroscopic surgery are all possible forms of treatment.
REHABILITATION EXERCISES FOR KNEE INJURIES
There are varieties of rehabilitation exercises for various types of knee injuries. Here are some of the major ones:
- Straight Leg Raises
- Hamstring Curls
- Prone Straight Leg Raises
- Wall Squats
- Calf Raises
Are you concerned that working out can exacerbate knee discomfort or damage? The best thing you can do is to maintain flexibility and strength in the muscles that support your knee if your doctor gives the all-clear. Start out slowly and gradually increase. Inquire with your doctor about the best exercises for you.
Are you trying to find a physiotherapist with experience? Get the most excellent care by contacting physiotherapist Dr. Niraj Patel!