Knee ligament sprain

A sprained knee joint is accompanied by a number of unpleasant sensations. In addition, such an injury can cause serious harm.

Therefore, when the first symptoms of this phenomenon are detected, it is necessary to immediately seek help from a doctor. It is important to begin timely treatment. Because the nature of the injury can be varied. All information regarding this injury will be provided below.

Causes of knee ligament sprains

Do you know the main causes of knee ligament sprains and why they happen in general? Often the reason is that a person makes abnormal movements for the knee joint. This happens during sports, as well as when the victim works with heavy weights. Another reason is running with jerks, it leads to instant loads on the joint. People who play tennis also suffer. In this sport, there are no running movements, but quite a lot of sharp jerks. It is only necessary to slightly violate the technique, as a ligament rupture will be inevitable.

In bodybuilding and powerlifting, the cause of stretching can be excessive loads. If we take football as a basis, then in this case we are talking about one-time loads, as well as blows.

Based on all of the above, the following conclusion follows: sprains occur with excessive loads, strong jerks and incorrect positioning of the joint itself. Therefore, it is necessary to exercise some caution when playing sports. After all, a sprain of the knee joint ligaments is a rather unpleasant circumstance.

Symptoms of a knee sprain

What are the main symptoms of a knee sprain, how to understand that it happened? The first thing a person will feel is pain, which occurs at the time of injury and does not go away over time. If we are talking about severe pain, then it persists for a long time. To get rid of it, you need to take a painkiller and seek help from a doctor. As a rule, pain occurs when bending and unbending the joint, and is also arbitrary.

In addition to pain, swelling and even bruising appear. It is worth noting that they often do not appear immediately. There is a feeling of stiffness and instability in the knee. There is difficulty in movement, and in some cases even a complete inability to bend or straighten the leg. And finally, a crunch and clicks are heard in the joint itself. Moreover, all this can be accompanied by pain.

If you notice all the symptoms described above, you should immediately seek help from a specialist. Hoping that everything will go away on its own is stupid. After all, a sprained knee joint is a pretty serious injury.

Stretching of the lateral ligaments of the knee joint

What is a sprain of the lateral ligaments of the knee joint and is it dangerous? This phenomenon occurs with excessive loads. It is necessary to understand that the function of the ligaments is to hold the bones together. In this case, the ligamentous apparatus is the connecting link between the bones of the shin and the femur. It is able to provide stability to that very knee joint.

Thus, a person moves freely, it is easy for him to "enter" into turns, squat, etc. It should be noted that there are four ligaments responsible for the integrity of the knee joint. These are two cruciate and knee. Stretching often occurs due to excessive loads during exercises. Sports injuries can also "create" such a situation. Therefore, it is worth being somewhat careful, despite the fact that in some cases this is almost impossible.

Stretching of the knee joint ligaments leads to unpleasant pain. In addition, in some cases there is stiffness of movement, as well as the inability to bend or straighten the leg.

Stretching of the medial ligament of the knee joint

What do you know about stretching the internal ligament of the knee joint? This phenomenon occurs when there is excessive impact on the ligament apparatus itself. This happens due to heavy physical exertion, as well as non-standard movements. The main function of the ligaments is to connect the bones together. The ligaments provide stability to the joint itself and help with certain movements. These include walking, running, turning, jumping and squatting.

Anatomically, there are four ligaments in the knee joint. These are: anterior lateral, posterior lateral, external and internal cruciate. If any violations occur, then a person feels stiffness and even the inability to perform many movements. In fact, this is a serious injury that must be eliminated in a timely manner. Because with a strong stretch, swelling is observed and over time, the inability to perform some movements. If timely assistance is not provided, this will entail serious consequences.

A sprained knee requires specialist intervention. Because the situation can get worse.

Stretching of the cruciate ligament of the knee joint

What is a cruciate ligament sprain of the knee joint, and what are the consequences of this phenomenon? First of all, it is worth noting that this occurs due to excessive impact on the ligament apparatus itself. This happens when performing complex loads and even movements that are not at all acceptable for the joints. This is why sprains and other troubles occur.

The main function of ligaments is to connect bones. This allows for "mobility". If we talk specifically about the knee joint, its ligaments connect the bones of the thigh and shin. What is the main function of ligaments? They provide stability to the joint. In the case of the knee joint, this is the ability to walk, run, squat, jump, turn, etc.

A sprained knee joint is a serious injury that requires immediate resolution of the situation. Because the consequences can be severe. When the first symptoms appear, you should immediately seek help from a medical institution.

Consequences of a sprained knee joint

What are the consequences of a sprained knee joint, and how to deal with it? If an injury occurs, you must immediately seek help. Because if you do not solve this problem in time, the treatment process can drag on for a long time.

So, if the swelling is not removed, it can develop into a more serious problem. Therefore, a visit to the doctor is mandatory. In fact, if a person seeks help in time, he is not in danger. But, again, everything depends on the degree of damage. Treatment can take months. The consequences of such an injury are varied. Someone will have to give up their favorite sport, but only for a while. It is worth noting that treatment is followed by a long rehabilitation process. Everything depends on the person and his desires.

In general, if you start everything on time, there will be no serious consequences. Much depends on the person. Stretching the knee joint ligaments is a serious problem, but if you deal with this issue right away, then nothing terrible will happen.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Diagnosis of knee sprains

What is the diagnosis of a knee ligament sprain? First of all, the doctor will ask why such an injury occurred. This is necessary to determine the severity of the injury. Additional diagnostic methods include MRI. This will allow you to take a series of images in different projections, thanks to which all structures will be visible, including cartilage, ligaments and tendons. In addition to MRI, computed tomography is performed. This method is somewhat similar to the previous one, but it is considered only as an alternative to MRI. After all, it is more effective.

• Ultrasound of the knee

Thanks to this diagnostic method, the doctor will be able to examine the joint area in more detail. This method is also the most accessible, because it requires professional training of doctors in this area. Otherwise, unreliable results may be obtained.

• Arthroscopy

Endoscopic method, with its help the examination of the joint cavity from the inside is carried out. This method is considered a minor surgical operation. Only here it is used not only for diagnostic purposes, but also for treatment.

• X-ray

It is used as an auxiliary method, because it does not allow you to see the ligaments themselves. When examining X-ray images, the doctor can only judge the nature of the injury. Moreover, this is done exclusively by indirect signs. In this case, a sprain of the knee joint may not be diagnosed quite correctly.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ]

Treatment of knee ligament sprains

What is the treatment for a sprained knee joint and is it possible to resort to independent actions? As a rule, several methods of treatment are used.

• Immobilization

The knee is wrapped with a tight bandage. In this case, you can use either an elastic bandage or a special bandage. Thanks to this effect, the immobility of the joint is maintained and its rest is maintained.

• Cooling

An ice pack is applied to the damaged joint. This will help reduce pain and relieve swelling. But this method is only an auxiliary one.

• Peace

The injured knee joint needs to be immobilized. This is achieved by using crutches. A person should not put weight on the "injured" leg for some time. Therefore, crutches are perfect as a support. You can also raise the knee in bed. To do this, a person needs to put his leg down and lift it slightly above the level of the heart. Naturally, it should not be held suspended, but something should be placed underneath it.

If we are talking about a mild sprain, then no other measures are required. But if the situation is more serious, then all of the above will not be enough. In this case, physiotherapy procedures are prescribed. Painkillers such as Ketanov are prescribed. As a rule, the treatment process lasts 3-4 weeks. But this is only for moderate damage. If we are talking about a serious sprain, then at least 2 months will be needed for recovery. In this case, a plaster cast is applied to the damaged joint. Sprain of the knee joint is a complex injury, which in some cases can lead to partial immobility for a long time.

Ointments for the treatment of knee ligament sprains

What ointments should be used to treat a sprained knee joint? First of all, it is worth noting the fact that you do not need to do anything on your own. Because the nature of the injury can be quite varied. As a rule, various therapeutic ointments are used. The most common group of drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

They are widely used for both stretching and rupture. The essence of their work is that in response to ligament damage, a whole cascade of various biochemical reactions can be launched. As a result, specific substances are formed, inflammation mediators, which are responsible for swelling and inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs fight this process perfectly. The most effective of them are: Diclofenac, Voltaren, Indomentacion and Ketoprofen.

All these remedies have both anti-inflammatory and cooling effects. They can be used independently, but diagnostics of the injury is still necessary. Because a sprain of the knee joint ligaments can be quite serious.

Rehabilitation for knee ligament sprains

Is rehabilitation difficult for a sprained knee joint and how long does it take? If the entire process is accompanied by a minor injury, then recovery occurs with the help of an ordinary bicycle. In addition, you need to straighten and bend the joint. Start riding the exercise machine gradually, no more than 20 minutes a day. An ordinary stationary bicycle will do. The range of motion in this case is minimal. This will be quite enough to achieve a certain result. You can straighten and bend the joint while sitting on a bench. Everything is very simple. You can lift your leg and hold it slightly in the air, 3 seconds is enough for this. It is quite possible to create the appearance of riding a bicycle. To do this, you just need to lie on your back, raise your legs and pretend to ride. This action can be repeated while sitting.

The purpose of these exercises is to strengthen the muscle, as well as return the knee to its full "working" condition. The rehabilitation process should not be neglected, it is mandatory. Stretching the ligaments of the knee joint is a serious injury, it requires appropriate treatment.

Prevention of knee sprains

What does knee ligament sprain prevention include? In order to reduce the risk of getting such an injury, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules. So, when playing sports, it is advisable to use protection. In this case, knee pads will do. In general, everything depends on a particular sport and the equipment intended for it. For training, it is necessary to wear only special shoes. The same applies to clothing, only everything is specialized. In this case, protection allows you to avoid an adverse injury.

When doing sports, and in general in everyday life, it is necessary to strengthen the muscles of the legs. For this, special exercises come to the rescue. Even ordinary squats can ease the situation and help achieve the desired. If we are talking about strength training, then the load should be increased gradually. No jerks, do not immediately overestimate your capabilities. And finally, you should always follow the recommendations of trainers. Thus, no stretching of the ligaments of the knee joint is scary.

Knee Sprain Prognosis

What is the prognosis for a knee sprain? If a person seeks help in time and it is provided, the prognosis is favorable. In most cases, everything can be resolved in a short time and without any "side" effects.

If the treatment is started on time and carried out properly, then improvements will not take long to appear. But, again, much depends on the nature of the injury. With a mild sprain, a state of rest for several days and nothing more helps. As a rule, in such cases, the prognosis is always favorable. As for a moderate injury. In this case, you will have to pay more attention to the treatment and rehabilitation process. For some period, you will need to give up sports. Usually, the "lull" is about a month. With a serious injury, the treatment is long, the prognosis is favorable only if everything is done exactly as the attending physician said. In general, a sprain of the knee joint always carries a positive prognosis. But much depends directly on the person.