Common Knee Injuries
Sunday, July 13th, 2008Most people can remember a time when they have had minor knee issues. Since your knees bear the brunt of everyday activities, and are easily twisted and “tweaked”, it isn’t any wonder that knee injuries can affect all demographics of people. From the weekend gardener to the professional athlete, any one who uses their knees in daily activity is at risk for developing a knee injury.
The most common cause of a knee injury is sports related. Any recreational activity that involves kicking, stopping, twisting, or turning heightens the chances of a strain. However, arthritis of the knees, Osteoporosis, the natural aging process, and poor health habits are also big factors in a knee injury cause. The knee is the largest joint in the body.
Since it is so, there is a cushion of cartilage surrounding the knee, which absorbs shock from impact from sudden changes of movement or weight bearing exercises. With the knee being the biggest joint in the body there is more cartilage surrounding the joint, and therefore creates a higher potential for tearing in some cases.
In addition to more cartilage, tendons as well as muscles surround the knee. Where the upper leg and the lower leg meet, the knee acts as the hinge between the two bones. The femur is the upper leg bone, and the tibia and fibula are the lower leg bones.
Ligament issues rank among the top types of knee injuries and happen quite often. When an athlete does stop short, or change the body’s direction quickly, sometimes the force of motion can cause for torn ligaments within the knee.
There are a few ligaments in the knee that can be affected by this type of injury. Familiar terms for what type of ligament is most often injured in this instance are the anterior cruciate ligament (which is commonly known as the ACL), the medial collateral posterior cruciate ligaments (PCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
Another condition called Chondromalacia is a great threat to knee health. Underneath the kneecap, a deterioration of the cartilage occurs which leads to a softening of the knee joint. This can develop from blunt trauma to the knee, muscular imbalances, overuse, or improper alignment of the kneecap. When “friction” is found in and around the kneecap, pain begins to become a part of the everyday routine.
With this condition, walking down stairs, hills, or bending the knee will always be followed by a dull pain. The uncomfortable sensation of “rubbing” that takes place under the kneecap will worsen as you age, as well as if you are trying to maintain the same level of activity previous to an injury.
An inflammation of the tendons can occur from overuse, this is technically called tendonitis. This cause of knee injuries will be accompanied by tenderness in the knee, right where the cap (patella) meets the bone of the leg. This is also called “Jumpers Knee” and sometimes happens from quick or sudden impact, movements, or just general fatigue. On the heels of tendonitis, if a tingling or burning sensation runs itself along the inside of the knee, it may be Iliotibial Band Syndrome, which is another type of knee injury.