Whether it happens from pivoting the wrong way on the basketball court, falling during a ski run, or just years of an active lifestyle taking their toll, a knee injury can be a painful and disruptive problem. The knee is a complex joint that we use in even the simplest of movements, so it can get injured easily, especially in active people.
Some knee injuries heal on their own, while others require physical therapy, surgery, or other interventions. The orthopedic knee doctors at WMCHealth are experts in knee injuries and knee pain treatment. Our team can help you get back to the activities you love.
Knee Injury Symptoms
Knee injury symptoms vary depending on the type of injury. For trauma-related injuries like tears and dislocations, pain is likely. Common symptoms for other knee injuries include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Bruising
- Limping
- Stiffness
- Constipation
- Stiffness
- An inability to straighten your leg
- Feeling like your knee is weak or “giving out” when you walk
Causes of Knee Injuries
Knee injuries are often caused by sports-related incidents. They can also be caused by arthritis, falls, overuse, and mechanical problems. If you have pain or weakness in your knee, it could be due to the following:
- Ligament strains: This type of injury happens when one of the ligaments—the bands that connect bones to other bones—is overstretched or pulled too far sideways.
- Fractures: Knee fractures typically occur as a result of trauma to the area, such as an intense sports injury, a bad fall, or a car accident. In some cases, fractures can occur in elderly patients with weak bones. The most common knee fracture is to the patella bone, though the ends of the tibia and the femur that are near the knee can also be fractured.
- Dislocations: Kneecap dislocation typically occurs during sports activity, such as basketball or soccer, when an athlete makes a sudden movement.
- Tears: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries for athletes. These often make a popping sound when they occur. Meniscus tears can also happen in athletes or as a result of arthritis or aging. Tears in the quadriceps and patellar tendons typically occur in middle-aged people while they’re running or jumping. Tears often require surgery and significant recovery time.
- Tendinitis: Patellar tendinitis occurs when one of the tendons that attaches the muscles to the bones becomes inflamed. This inflammation can be caused by aging or from running, biking, and sports that involve lots of jumping, like basketball.
- Knee cartilage injuries: Cartilage damage in the knee can be caused by a sports-related injury or degeneration from aging or arthritis. Knee cartilage injuries are especially common in sports that require a lot of pivoting, like tennis and basketball.
- Bursitis: This injury happens when the bursae, the fluid-filled sacs that surround the knee joint, become inflamed.
Treatment for Knee Injuries at WMCHealth
The orthopedic Sports Medicine Department at WMCHealth provides cutting-edge knee injury care for patients of all types and ages, including children, athletes, and elderly patients. The medical group cares for several high school and college athletic departments in the area, including Division I athletes at Marist College and State University of New York at New Paltz.
Knee pain treatment varies depending on the type of injury but may include:
Nonsurgical Treatment
When someone first injures their knee, their doctor will typically recommend the RICE protocol for quicker recovery. This involves Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. If you still experience pain after the RICE protocol, your doctor may recommend:
- Physical therapy
- Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen
- A knee brace to keep your knee immobilized
Minimally invasive Surgery
Many knee injuries can be repaired through a minimally invasive joint surgery called arthroscopy. WMCHealth offers arthroscopy to treat a variety of knee injuries, like tears, strains, tendinitis, and damaged cartilage. Arthroscopy involves a surgeon making a small incision in your knee and using a tiny camera to view the inside of your knee and effectively treat any problems.
Surgery
Certain injuries, like fractures, require open surgery because physicians need a larger opening in order to properly view and repair your knee. Knee replacement—which is usually needed as a result of arthritis—sometimes requires open surgery as well. The orthopedic surgeons at WMCHealth have access to the most advanced technologies in knee surgeries, including ACL repairs and knee replacements, with a goal of providing compassionate and expert care with the shortest recovery time possible.