Knee Injuries

Ligament knee Injuries are a common type of Injuries which happens in your knees other than the Meniscal and tendon Injuries.

You have 2 sets of ligaments in your knees, one on the sides and the other one is inside your knee. The main function of the ligaments is to give stability to the joint by keeping the bones together.

Collateral ligaments and knee injuries – you have collateral ligaments. Lateral collateral ligaments (LCL) are on the outside of the knee. The others on the inside are medial collateral ligaments (MCL). Injury to MCL happens when you get a blow to the outside of the knee. This pushes the knee inwards and injures the LCL. On the other hand, if the blow is on the inside of the knee, that pushes the knee outwards (This is a less common injury than MCL)

Cruciate ligaments and knee injuries -You have an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)and a posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) which forms a cross inside your knee. Cruciate ligaments provide stability to the knee and control the forward and backward movements of the bones. ACL is injured when there is a sudden change in the direction or speed when your foot is firmly planted on the grounded. Sometimes this is due to a direct impact to the front of the lower leg bone (tibia). PCL gets damaged when you fall on the knee when it is bend or when your knees hit the dashboard in a car accident.

Injured ligaments as Sprains:

Grade 1– Ligament stretching with a mild damage while it can still provide the stability to the joint,

Grade2-There is partial tear of the ligament

Grade 3 – Complete tear of the ligament and the joint is unstable.

Meniscal Injuries

You may injure your menisci in any activity or sport that involves twisting, or as you get older a degenerative tear can happen with normal activities. Your menisci provide stability, equal weight bearing and shock absorption to your joint.

Tendon injuries

If you are a runner or a person involved in repeated jumping activities you may damage the tendon that attaches your muscle to your knees. The common injury is an irritation or tear in the quadriceps tendon which attaches your thigh muscles to the kneecap or you may irritate the patellar tendon which is below your knee cap (Jumper’s knee)

Knee Injury Symptoms

Symptoms of a torn ligament are pain, swelling and a feeling of giving way (instability). You might hear a pop or snap and will have difficulty bearing full weight on your leg.

Symptoms of a torn menisci include pain along the line of the joint. Sometimes there could be a vague pain that is felt all over the knee. Pain can be a combination of ache and sharper pain. While pain is worst while twisting, squatting or any activities can also cause it when menisci is pinched. Symptoms may settle with rest. The joint may also become swollen and stiff. If the torn part of the meniscus is large it can cause locking. This is caused by a large fragment getting caught in the joint. This joint acts like a wedge preventing the knee from fully straightening. Difficulty in performing activities that loads the knee like going downstairs.

Symptoms of torn quadriceps tendon is pain, swelling and you may not be able to straighten your knee.

If you have hurt your knee in an accident with severe pain and swelling, go to your nearest hospital.

Knee Injury Treatment

Surgery is the route if it is a grade 3 or complete tear in case of ligament injuries. Often conservative management with Physiotherapy and custom knee bracing is tried before deciding to go for the surgery. In all cases of partial ligament tears physiotherapy is the first choice of treatment. Conservative management with Physiotherapy is the approach adopted in most cases of meniscal injuries.  Most of partial tears of tendons responds well with non-surgical treatment of immobilization and Physiotherapy. People with complete tear of tendon mostly will require surgery to repair the torn tendon and post operative Physiotherapy to regain function.

Your Physiotherapist is trained to assess your knee to come up with an appropriate treatment plan. Because of this approach, the pain and swelling reduce quickly. The treatment is then focused to promote recovery and function with exercises to regain range of movement strength and balance. 

Immediate Help through Physiotherapy for knee Injury:

Have you been experiencing knee pain after an injury? Or are you looking for custom Knee Brace? Or do you simply have any questions such as if OHIP covers knee injury treatment?

At Curezone Physiotherapy, our expert knee therapists aim to improve your conditions through targeted stretches and customized braces. If you are looking for the best knee injury clinic Mississauga or Oakville or the best physio NEAR ME to learn the exercises to eliminate knee pain, look no further! We aim to be YOUR best physiotherapy to get you therapy to fully-customized knee brace for injury.

We welcome you to call us or click below to book an appointment with one of our expert physiotherapists to let us immediately start assisting you in your road to recovery.

Mississauga knee pain rehab:

Physiotherapy Clinic Mississauga – Curezone Physiotherapy, Heartland Mississauga.

Physiotherapy Clinic Erin Mills – Curezone Physiotherapy, Erin Mills Mississauga.

Oakville knee pain rehab:

Physiotherapy Clinic Oakville – Curezone Physiotherapy, Burloak Oakville.