Sprain of the knee ligament

Stretching of the knee ligaments can occur when these ligaments have been overly stressed, for example, in sports exercises or an unsuccessful fall. Stretch can vary in severity - from slight stretching to complete rupture of the ligament of the knee.

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Causes and risk factors for stretching the ligaments of the knee

Most often, the medial collateral ligament is stretched (MCL). This ligament can be injured by a blow to the outside of the knee, especially if your foot was on the ground when it hit it. The blow causes the knee to move towards the inner part of the body and stretches the ligaments. You will feel a strong pain on the inside of the knee. Anything stronger than minimal pain should be treated by a trauma doctor.

The stretch on the outside of the knee of the lateral collateral ligament is caused by a blow on the inner side of the knee that causes the knee to bulge outward. This is much less common than the maximum permissible strain, because it is difficult to get on the inside of the knee. As a rule, the other leg becomes in the way of impact and takes it.

Sports injuries or injuries in a person who is engaged in professional sports, are, as a rule, the cause of knee injuries. Sports associated with sudden accelerations and slowdowns, such as basketball, football, field hockey, football, skiing, are often associated with ACL injuries - the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. However, such injuries can occur in any sport, if the knee is forced to move a lot.

A person may have even a disability and pain and often a tumor that sometimes appears as soon as it passes from 1 to 4 hours after the injury. However, the immediate inability to move can not yet tell us what degree and severity of this or that type of injury. Patients can tell the doctor that the knee has become unstable, can not move, it hurts.

Here's a good rule of thumb for these injuries: if you get a punch in the knee and feel pain on that side of the knee that was hit, it's probably just a bruise and the pain will disappear quickly. If the pain occurs on the opposite side of the knee, and not on the one that is injured, it is believed that this is a serious injury that needs careful treatment.

Degrees of stretching

Soft, or 1st degree - this is when the ligaments simply stretch, then there is pain in the knee and swelling. Moderate or tension of the 2nd degree is partial stretching of ligaments and excretion of other organs. Severe or third degree stretching is a complete rupture of the ligament when surgical intervention is required.

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What are the stretches of knee ligaments

Most knee ligament injuries involve a rupture or medial collateral ligament (MCL) on the inner side of the knee, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deep inside the joint, or both ligaments. Sprains of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are much less likely than ACL.

Treatment of knee stretching

Surgery is necessary for patients who fall into high or moderate risk categories due to work, rest, and / or increased athletic requirements. Surgical intervention can be considered for patients who are not at high risk, but who experience symptoms of knee pain during daily activities. For example, such as walking on an uneven surface and doing simple physical exercises.

Before the operation it is necessary to establish whether there is a full range of movements in the knee. If there is a significant atrophy of the quadriceps and hamstrings, the period of intensive training should be set before surgery.

It is not uncommon for patients with ACL knee injury, when the doctors perform several procedures before surgery to remove fragments of cartilage. With the loss of these secondary limitations, the knee becomes more and more unstable, and the patient can become a candidate for a reoperation based on the general instability of the knee joint. Physical therapy can improve the balance of the knee.

Rehabilitation

If the stretching of the knee ligaments is a mild trauma (we have already mentioned this), early recovery programs with stationary bicycles and leg extension are all that's needed. Begin with a ride on the stationary bike for 20 minutes.

The range of movements is minimal. Do not put a lot of resistance on the stationary bike, now you are just interested in improving the quality of knee movements. At the very beginning, simply turn the pedals forward and backward.

Extension of legs sitting on a bench or table. When you lift the weight of your foot, hold it for three seconds, and then very slowly lower your leg. Focus on the slow downward movement, which is the most important part of the raising-lowering of the knee.

When muscles contract with weight, the muscle lengthens. Do five times this exercise and rest for 30 seconds or more, if necessary, after each approach.

The purpose of these exercises is to strengthen the quadriceps muscle of the front surface of the thigh (extension of the legs) and the hamstring muscles of the hamstrings (flexion of the legs). These muscles control the knee and should be mobile.

If you have problems with leg extension, that is, if your range of motion is too limited or too painful for you, train the quadriceps muscle first, but after rest.

What questions should I ask my doctor about stretching the ligaments of the knee

• What kind of stretching is this and how serious is it?
• What kind of treatment do you recommend?
• What rehab programs do you recommend?
• Will the operation be recommended?
• Can conservative treatment be applied?

Treatment of sprain of knee ligaments

Caliper on knee joint

First of all, the knee joint needs rest. Then a few days after the injury will include the rehabilitation of knee joints and ligaments. This is a rehabilitation program, which includes: the restoration of damaged ligaments and joints, strengthening exercises for ligaments, performing massage and bandage. This can take time from several weeks to 5-6 months. This time will go so that a person can return to his previous activities after a knee injury.

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Fixative bandage on the knee

The imposition of this dressing involves the following actions.

• Knee Rest
• Ice compresses
• Bandage that fixes the position of the knee
• You need to raise your knee to reduce swelling and swelling

Massage of the knee joint by yourself

First, the knee needs to rest so that the pain decreases. Movements should be minimal, and they should be the easiest for several days after the injury. Edema will decrease significantly if a person has more rest. When the pain is minimal, you can perform a small warm-up, gradually increasing the range of movements. If the pain does not come, the load can be increased, but also gradually.

Compresses with ice

Ice helps the blood vessels to narrow, which causes inflammation to decrease significantly. The pain subsides. Redness of the knee becomes much less, and then generally passes. Ice can be wrapped with a towel so that the water does not drain onto the affected leg. To sleep with a compress it is impossible not to cause frostbite. It is necessary to apply ice for 15 minutes, then take off, rest for 5 minutes, and again a cold compress.

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Bandage

To secure the joint in a stable position, you need a bandage. This will help elastic bandage. This will help not to make unnecessary movements of the joint at the time when it will retreat after the injury. To adjust the position of the knee. You can relax or make a tighter elastic bandage. It should not be so tight that the knee grows numb. Elastic bandage should be re-banded once a day, so that the leg position is comfortable.

To the leg does not swell in the knee, you need to put it so that the knee was above the level of the heart. This will reduce swelling and swelling.

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Preparations against inflammation of the ligament of the knee

These can be ketones, diflofenac, ibuprofen - these drugs will reduce pain. They can be used without the appointment of a doctor, unless you are allergic to these medications. They will help reduce pain and inflammation in the injured knee.