Knee Injuries
LIGAMENT INJURIES
These injuries are often caused during sports play and may include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and the medial collateral ligament (MCL).
Ligament injuries to the knee can often be caused by:
- Twisting your knee with the foot planted
- Direct contact or collision
- Extending the knee too far
- Landing from a jump incorrectly
- Stopping suddenly when running
- Changing directions rapidly
MENISCUS TEARS
A common knee injury that is caused when certain tissue in the knee tears as a result of forceful twisting. The tear occurs in the rubbery knee cartilage that cushions the shinbone from the thighbone. The majority of these injuries occur during contact sports. However, anyone at any age can tear a meniscus.
Meniscus Tears can be caused by the following actions:
- Squatting and twisting a knee that causes a tear during contact sports
- Direct forceful contact to the knee, like a tackle
- Degenerative meniscus tears are also common in older patients
PATELLA (KNEE CAP) DISLOCATION
When the patella slips out of place — whether a partial or complete dislocation — it typically causes pain and loss of function. Even if the patella slips back into place by itself, it will still require treatment to relieve painful symptoms.
Your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatments, such as exercises and braces. Exercises will help strengthen the muscles in your thigh so that the kneecap stays aligned. Cycling is often recommended as part of the physical therapy. A stabilizing brace may also be prescribed. The goal is for you to return to your normal activities within 1 to 3 months.
A chronic condition, in which the knee continues to be unstable, can often be corrected by surgery. For example, surgery can be used to realign or tighten or reconstruct ligaments to keep the kneecap on track.
(Source: AAOS)
SHOULDER INJURIES
LABRUM/ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES
Injuries to the tissue rim surrounding the shoulder socket can occur from acute trauma or repetitive shoulder motion. Athletes that repetitively throw or lift heavy weights can experience these type of shoulder injuries as a result of repetitive shoulder motion.
Labrum, Rotator Cuff and Bicep Injuries can be caused by the following actions:
- A direct blow to the shoulder
- Repetitive stress to the shoulder
- Lack of blood supply - often caused by aging
- A fall onto an outstretched arm
- Bone spurs
- Lifting weight that causes a sudden pull on the shoulder
- Reaching overhead abruptly
SHOULDER INSTABILITY
Shoulder instability occurs when the head of the upper arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket. Once a shoulder has been dislocated it is vulnerable to repeat episodes sometimes resulting in chronic shoulder instability.
Shoulder Instability can be caused by the following actions:
- Shoulder dislocation
- Repetitive strain to the shoulder
- Multidirectional instability
knee arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. Pain, swelling, and stiffness are the primary symptoms of arthritis. Any joint in the body may be affected by the disease, but it is particularly common in the knee.
Knee arthritis can make it hard to do many everyday activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. It is a major cause of lost work time and a serious disability for many people.
The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but there are more than 100 different forms. In 2012, more than 51 million people reported that they had been diagnosed with some form of arthritis, according to the National Health Interview Survey. Treatment includes medications, injections, physical therapy and knee replacement surgery.
(Source: AAOS)