There is a long list of potential knee injuries that a person can have, and a complete discussion of all of them is beyond the scope of this blog article. However, today we will go over some of the most common knee injuries that often occur while playing sports and the typical treatment options.
Ligaments
There are four main ligaments in the knee: the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL), the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The ACL is in front of the PCL and gets injured more often than the PCL.
The ligaments you injure can have partial or complete tears. There are typically two potential treatments: surgery or no surgery. What the patient needs depends on the extent of the injury and also the lifestyle of the patient. For example, a competitive skier will likely want/need his or her knee to work perfectly when the injury heals and is more likely to get surgery than someone whose main exercise is walking 100 feet to his or her vegetable garden.
For those who do not get surgery, they will likely need a knee brace for some period of time and even perhaps permanently while doing anything that puts a lot of stress on the knee.
Bone
Then there is the possibility of breaking one or more bones that comprise the knee. There is the knee cap, the patella, but there is also the bottom of the femur (thigh bone) and the tops of the tibia and fibula (lower leg bones). These breaks can be simple cracks that are not displace all the way to comminuted fractures in which bones break into a lot of little pieces.
So, again, the treatment will depend on the severity of the bone injury. More severe breaks will need surgery and possibly plates and screws. Simpler breaks can usually be treated with a cast or brace.
Surgeries on ligaments can sometimes be done arthroscopically or through one or more small incisions, and sometimes not.
In any case, no matter what your knee injury is, you will likely need some physical therapy at the end of it. Your joint will also be more prone to arthritis as you age, and you may experience some ongoing pain. We are experts on physiotherapy following knee injuries and can help you to regain maximum function in your knee.
If you have received a knee injury like any of those described above, give us a call in Abbotsford at (604) 850-2511, and let us help you.
Newleaf Wellness offers a variety of therapies including physiotherapy, chiropractic, naturopathic, and massage therapy in a warm and compassionate environment in our Abbotsford location.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to make an appointment, please contact us.