KNEE LIGAMENT INJURIES

ABOUT KNEE LIGAMENT INJURIES

Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect bones in your body. The knee joint is made up of several ligaments that attach your thigh bone to the bones of the lower leg and the knee cap, these can get torn and damaged. We can treat knee ligament injuries in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Worksop .

The four main ligaments are:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) – connects the thigh bone and shin bone at the front of the knee.

• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) – connects the thigh bone and shin bone at the back of the knee.

• Medial collateral ligament (MCL) – connects the thigh bone and shin bone on the inside of your knee.

• Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) – connects the thigh bone to the shin bone on the outside of your knee.

Too much stress on the knee may cause one or more of these ligaments to stretch, tear or snap. The types of movements that can cause a knee ligament injury include:

• Twisting the knee

• Landing awkwardly

• An impact on the knee joint

• Hyperextending the knee

These types of movements are likely to occur whilst playing sports but can also happen if you trip or fall.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A KNEE LIGAMENT INJURY?

An injury to a knee ligament is painful, may cause swelling and make walking very difficult.

After the injury has settled a simple ligament injury may heal and be fine. However injuries to the Cruciate ligaments usually casue symptoms of instability (feels wobbly). The knee can give way during sports or even just doing normal daily activities.

WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE?

Damage to knee ligaments ranges from mild to severe so treatment will depend on your injury. Soft tissues like ligaments can take longer to heal than muscles so you will need to be patient with your body. Even a mild injury could take three months before you are pain-free.

For minor liagment injuries , a combination of rest, ice therapy, compression and elevation can initially treat your knee injury. Then, gentle exercises to promote the full range of knee motion will help with your recovery. A brace may be necessary to allow full healing and prevent further damage.

It may not be apparent to you how badly damaged your knee is so it is always a good idea to get it chekced out by a specialist so nothing important is ‘missed’.

Physiotherapists can put you on a knee exercise program that will be important for a full recovery.

For more severe cases, such as a complete tear of the ACL, surgical reconstruction may be the only option. Extensive physiotherapy may also be required before and after surgery. Book your appointment to treat knee ligament injuries in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster or Worksop. You can also follow us on social media.