Prone to Knee Injuries???
- Dev's Physyoga
- Jan 4, 2021
- 2 min read
Here are a few things to know for the folks who are prone to knee injuries: · Knee is one of the largest joints of the body and also one of the most complex. It is vital to movement of the body · Your Knee ligaments connect the thigh bone to the leg bone · Knee ligament injuries are one of the most common sports injuries. In the past, injuring these ligaments would put an end to your sports career but things have changed today and many athletes are able to return to high level sports despite multiple ligament injuries with the help of physiotherapy There are 4 primary ligaments in your knee joint, they act as strong ropes to hold the bones together and keep your knee joint stable: Collateral Ligaments are found on the sides of the knee. There are two types of collateral ligaments; Medial Collateral Ligaments (MCL) and Lateral Collateral Ligaments (LCL). These ligaments check the sideways movement of your knee and protect it from unusual movements. MCL injury is more common than the LCL injury. · MCL supports the knee along the inner side of the leg and hence, exposed to more risk as there is more possibility of getting hurt on the outside of the knee/leg. This kind of injury is more common in football, hockey and rugby. MCL can be injured by a sever knee twist during skiing and wrestling particularly when a fall twists the lower leg outward away from the upper leg · LCL supports the external side of the knee and is the least exposed to the risk of trauma as compared to the MCL Cruciate Ligaments are found inside the knee joint forming an X and hence, named so. There are two types of Cruciate Ligaments; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in the front and Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) at the back. These ligaments check the back and forth movements of the knee. · ACL typically is injured during a sudden stop, a twist, sudden change in direction or direct impact to the outside of the knee and are commonly seen in footballers, basketballers, rugby players, wrestlers & gymnasts. · PCL is commonly injured because of direct impact to the front of the knee and is typically seen in car accident cases, hard landing during sports activity, like ACL the PCL injuries are common in footballers, basketballers & rugby players Symptoms of Ligament Injuries: · Pop sound inside the knee · Significant swelling in and around the knee · Sever pain in the knee · Black and Blue discoloration around the knee · Instability of the knee Ideally diagnosis is confirmed through an X-ray or an MRI to ensure appropriate treatment. If you have experienced any of the above symptoms, then one should ideally take care by applying an ice pack, take medication (pain killer/muscle relaxant) and rest your knee by avoiding any further movements to avoid any more complications. Consult your physio and follow the exercise schedule as suggested, to ensure that the knee is back to normal as before. The physio might also give you precautions to minimize the risk of knee injury by suggesting knee strengthening exercises and appropriate gear.
