Knee Support For Meniscus Injury
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your shinbone and thighbone . A torn meniscus is a common injury.
Someone with a meniscus injury is looking to reduce excessive movement in the knee joint while still allowing for maximal function, Minnis says. Depending on the severity of the injury, any of the braces previously mentioned could be helpful.
Our Nyc Knee Injury Surgeons Can Help Schedule An Appointment Today
Learn more about how your New York orthopedic knee surgeons can help you. Contact us and make an appointment at one of our seven offices in greater New York City and Long Island. One of our experienced doctors can examine you and determine whats wrong with your knee. Contact us online or call us.
Our medical practice is in network and accepts coverage by most insurance providers. If you hurt your knee at work whether it was in an accident or due to long-term wear and tear your companys workers compensation insurance should cover all your medical bills related to your knee injury.
Count on the New York orthopedic knee surgeons at IMC Bone Doc when it matters most. Schedule an appointment today. Many of our doctors have immediate appointments available the same day. Call now or make an appointment online.
Knee Pain
Common causes Knee pain can be caused by a wide range of knee injuries, including ones caused by a single accident or due to long-term wear and tear. The physical structure of a persons knee, inflammation or swelling can also be common causes of knee pain.
Symptoms You know your body best. If your knee hurts or you have trouble walking due to severe knee, make an appointment with one of our experienced, New York knee surgeons. We can diagnose whats wrong and recommend the appropriate treatment.
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Overuse Injury #: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is one of the most common knee problems, affecting athletes and sedentary people alike. 25% of the population experiences this knee injury at some point. Studies suggest that close to 40% of the patients seen in sports medicine clinics for knee complaints have patellofemoral pain. It is common in adolescents, especially high school athletes.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a cause of pain in the front of the knee. You might have pain sitting with your knee bent for long periods of time. Going up and down stairs can hurt. You might notice a grinding or popping sensation when you bend your knee. Most patients do not need surgery. Working with a physical therapist and/or performing a home exercise program can help you overcome this problem.
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What Types Of Doctors Treat Knee Injuries
Often, knee injuries are cared for by primary care providers who have the knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat many of the common knee injuries that occur. Orthopedic surgeons are involved in knee injury care to determine whether surgery might be required. They are also the specialists to perform the surgery. Physical therapists have an important role in the treatment of knee injuries regardless of whether surgery is required.
When Should You Call The Doctor For A Knee Injury
Emergent medical care should be sought if, due to injury,
- there is almost immediate swelling in the knee,
- if the bones appear deformed,
- if there is inability to bear weight,
- if the pain is intolerable,
- if there is loss of sensation below the injury site,
- if the foot and ankle turn cold and no pulses can be felt.
Medical care should be considered if a knee injury does not resolve with routine home care, including rest, ice, compression, and elevation . Other symptoms that may suggest the need for medical care include recurrent pain and swelling.
A swollen joint is never normal, and if it is red and warm or if there is an associated fever, more urgent medical attention should be accessed because of the worry of infection being present. This is particularly a warning sign in infants and children, people who have had knee joint replacements, intravenous drug abusers, and those who have compromised immune systems.
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What Are The Types Of Arthritis Of The Knee
There are around 100 types of arthritis. The most common types that might affect your knees include:
- Osteoarthritis is the most common of the types on this list. Osteoarthritis wears away your cartilage the cushioning between the three bones of your knee joint. Without that protection, your bones rub against each other. This can cause pain, stiffness and limited movement. It can also lead to the development of bone spurs. Osteoarthritis gets worse as time passes.
- Post-traumatic arthritis is a type of osteoarthritis. The cartilage starts thinning after trauma to your knee . Your bones rub together, and that causes the same symptoms as osteoarthritis: pain, stiffness and limited movement. Your knee arthritis symptoms might not start until years after the trauma.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. A healthy immune system causes inflammation when it’s trying to protect you from an infection, injury, toxin or another foreign invader. The inflammatory response is one way your body protects itself. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you have an unhealthy immune system that triggers inflammation in your joints even though theres no foreign invader. The inflammation causes pain, stiffness and swelling of the synovial membrane, which can also wear away your cartilage.
How Are Cruciate Ligaments Injured
The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most common ligaments to be injured. The ACL is often stretched and/or torn during a sudden twisting motion . Skiing, basketball, and football are sports that have a higher risk of ACL injuries.
The posterior cruciate ligament is also a common ligament to become injured in the knee. However, the PCL injury usually occurs with sudden, direct impact, such as in a car accident or during a football tackle.
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Mcdavid 429x Knee Brace
The McDavid 429X is categorized as a level three maximum support knee brace. It comes with elastic crossing straps. These straps enhance rotational and collateral ligament support. It also allows a much better, customized fit compared to knee braces that only have horizontal straps across the top and bottom like the McDavid 429.
The bilateral hinges keep your knee in place and prevent excessive lateral movement to improve stability. The added stability reduces chances of knee casualty and assists in recovery from mild injuries.
The knee brace delivers warmth and compression to your knee area through the latex-free neoprene material. It has perforations in the back panel for moisture management so you should still feel dry in spite of the warming effect. All the edges of the knee brace are stitched and bound to prevent friction and irritation.
To measure, bend your knee to slightly less than a 45 degree angle then take the measurement of the circumference of your knee cap in this position. This knee brace is available in five sizes. It should feel snug and secure but not restrictive.
Pros
- Crossing straps provide added support and better fit
- Sturdy construction with metal hinges to keep the knee in proper position
- Warming effect can help with pain relief
- Does not restrict normal movement
Cons
Overuse Injury #: Tibial Plateau Stress Fracture
Stress fractures of the knee are not as common as they are in the lower leg, ankle and foot. The tibial plateau is the top part of the tibia at the knee. A runner can suffer a stress fracture in this area and face aggravating knee pain. Like most stress fractures, this one results from an increase in training or not enough time to rest. You will feel the pain in a small area in the bone just below the joint line. You might notice increasing pain during running that takes longer to go away. Treatment involves limiting impact on that area. Doctors usually advise patients to stop training until the fracture heals.
It can be a good idea to see a doctor or orthopedic surgeon soon after pain from a knee injury develops. Most of these overuse knee injuries do not need surgery if you havent had pain for long. Rest, activity modification, physical therapy and other treatments can usually eliminate your pain and allow you to work back to sports and exercise.
Discover The Solution To Your Biggest Knee Injury Challenge Even If You Have No Medical Knowledge and Youve Looked Everywhere and Havent Been Able To Find an Answer!
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Physiotherapy For Knee Injuries
If your injury is more severe, or it doesnt get better over time, your GP may refer you to a physiotherapist. You can also choose to see a physiotherapist privately.
A physiotherapist will create a programme of exercises to gradually strengthen your knee so you can move it normally again. The exact exercises will depend on how youve injured yourself, and how badly. But your physiotherapist will probably give you exercises to do every day at home, as well as at your follow-up appointments.
You may need to use a brace to support your knee while it recovers, usually if your injury was severe.
Get Help For Your Knee Pain Today
You dont have to continue to suffer from knee pain. At Peak Physiotherapy and Performance we treat knee pain in active adults and athletes every single day. After determining the cause of your problem, we use a wide range of techniques, such as dry needling, corrective exercise, joint manipulation, cupping and other therapies to get you back to doing the things you love, staying active without pain. Contact us today to schedule a free phone consultation.
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Which Athletes Are Most Susceptible For Acl Tears
The majority of ACL injuries are non-contact and due to faulty mechanics. Athletes more susceptible to ACL include:
- Competitive and recreational athletes between the ages of 15 and 25
- Female athletes, who are at risk four to six times greater than male athletes
- Female high school athletes, who have a ninefold increase injury risk
- Female collegiate athletes, who have a fivefold increase injury risk
- Female athletes who compete at a higher level of play, who have a five times higher risk than their male counterparts
- Athletes who play in sports that require high dynamic loading of the knee, such as soccer, volleyball, handball and basketball
Our expert athletic and physical trainers can help to ensure athletes avoid ACL injuries through injury prevention programs that include plyometrics, neuromuscular training and strength training.
When injury does occur, our team of fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians can advise the best course for repair whether its physical therapy or surgery and help athletes return to activity.
Pt Treatment For Knee Pain
After a focused examination has been completed, your physical therapist can work with you to initiate the correct treatment. It is very important for you to be active and engaged in the program. Often, exercises to help strengthen and improve the mobility of the knee will be prescribed. You may be required to perform exercises at home as well as part of a home exercise program.
Exercise should be your main tool for treating your knee pain. Exercises to help your knee pain may include:
- Quad sets and straight leg raises
- Short arc quads
- Exercises to strengthen your hips
- Lower extremity stretches
- Balance exercises
Your PT will tell you how often to perform your exercises at home, and he or she should monitor your progress when you visit the PT clinic. He or she may also perform other treatments while you are in the PT clinic. These may include:
- Ultrasound
- Application of heat or ice
- Soft tissue massages or knee joint mobilization
Keep in mind that passive treatments like ultrasound or estim have not been proven to be the most effective treatment for knee pain. They may feel good, but your focus with PT should be on restoring functional mobility. You should discuss the overall goal of each treatment so you have an understanding of what to expect.
If knee pain persists for more than two to three weeks or occurs as the result of major trauma, a visit to a physician or healthcare provider is recommended.
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Unable To Bear Weight
In some situations, you may be left unable to bear weight through your knee. Often times this is the case after a ligament sprain or a tendon strain.
Because these structures add stability to the joint and prevent excessive movement, when they are damaged you may experience shifting in the knee or giving way when you try to put pressure on your leg. The severity of the issue may impact how frequently these sensations occur.
In addition, some types of fractures can also make it very painful to put pressure through your leg. Regardless of the cause, imaging is usually appropriate to determine why bearing weight is so difficult.
Why Does My Knee Hurt When I Bend Or Straighten My Leg
If your knee hurts when you get off the toilet or get out of a car, for example, you mayhave an inner knee injury. Your knee may feel as if its about to give way, or it maylock or catch when you bend your leg.
If youre under 50, your knee pain may be caused by a tear that has resulted in ajagged piece of tissue getting in between the joints.
If youre over 50, it may be caused by the onset of arthritis in the kneecap. Yourdoctor can help identify arthritis by excluding other issues that can send pain to theknee, such as back or hip problems.
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Why Do I Have Pain Behind My Knee
Pain behind the knee may be caused by several things, from age or the presence ofosteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, to a knee injury or an infection in the joint.
If youre under 50 and your pain is in the crease at the back of your leg behind theknee, it may be the result of an injury, such as a hamstring or other knee-relatedissue.
If youre over 50 and you have a creaking, squeaking pain behind the kneecap, or acyst on the crease at the back of your leg behind the knee, it may be arthritis. Again,your doctor can help identify arthritis by excluding other issues.
Most Common Knee Injuries
The knee is the largest joint of the body, and is also one of the most commonly injured joints. Bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons work together to form your knee joint and allow you to bend your leg. Because of all the moving parts on the knee and the sensitive nature of the joint, its very prone to multiple types of injuries.
If youre experiencing knee pain, its likely that youre suffering from one of the most common knee injuries. Well help you understand the makeup of the knee, as well as how to identify the symptoms of a knee injury. However, only your orthopaedic doctor can determine what injury youre dealing with.
Anatomy of the Knee
Within the knee joint are three bones: the femur , the tibia , and the patella . These three bones meet to form the knee joint. Articular cartilage covers the ends of the femur and the tibia, as well as the back of the patella. The cartilage allows the bones of the knee joint to smoothly glide against one another as you bend or straighten your leg. The meniscus is a tough and rubbery wedge-shaped cartilage located between your femur and tibia. The meniscus cartilage cushions the joint and also acts as a shock-absorber between the femur and tibia bones.
The tendons within your knee connect the muscles to the bones. The quadriceps tendon is located in the front of your thigh and connects those muscles to the patella. The patellar tendon connects your patella to your shinbone.
Knee Injuries
1. Knee Fracture
2. Knee Dislocation
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When Should I See A Doctor About Knee Pain
If youre under 50, you should see a doctor about knee pain if:
- you have severe knee pain because of injury
- You can’t put weight on your knee
- Your knee looks abnormal
If youre over 50, you should see a doctor about knee pain if:
- its causing you pain at night
- it affects your day-to-day activities and quality of life
- you already know you have arthritis and you experience a flare-up of pain
How Is Arthritis Of The Knee Treated
Healthcare providers can’t cure knee arthritis. But they have some tips that might reduce the severity of your symptoms and possibly stop the arthritis from getting worse, including:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise using low-impact activities instead of high-impact activities . Aim for about 150 minutes of exercise per week.
- Wear shock-absorbing inserts in your shoes.
- Apply heat or ice to the area.
- Wear a knee sleeve or brace.
- Physical therapy exercises that help with flexibility, strength and motion.
- Use a cane.
Most people have stage 4 arthritis when they get surgery.
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Acl Injury Treatment & Braces
If a person just has a partial tear, a doctor may just recommend repairing the ACL tear without surgery and use physical therapy and an ACL brace to strengthen the muscles. This then leaves one at risk for additional injuries.
If you were required to have surgery, we would recommend wearing a post-op knee brace and crutches until properly healed. The rehab process for an ACL tear is fairly lengthy and could take anywhere from six months up to a year. After you are recovered you may be advised to still wear an ACL Knee Brace while playing sports. We make many ACL support braces that can be worn during sporting activities including running that can be worn after ACL surgery.
For more information on ACL recovery, read more on our blog post ACL Tear Recovery.