Knee injuries are responsible for sending millions of people to the doctor’s office every year. Most of the cases, however, are from some common problems that worth knowing about so that you know how you can prevent them.
Also, some cases are usually mild and could go away without a visit to the doctor, while others are serious to the point that they may require surgical interventions. Read below to learn about some of the common knee injuries and how to prevent them.
Knee dislocations
Knee dislocation happens when the bones of the knees are out of proper alignment and placement. Some of the reasons that can lead to some of the bones of the knees slipping out of place include falls, car accidents, and contact sports among others. Due to these causes, dislocations should never be ignored because apart from the physical pains, there could be fractures or tears that should be checked by a physician.
Fractures
Fractures are another common knee injury experienced by millions of people every year, with the most affected parts being the kneecap or the patella. Some of the common causes of fractures in knees include high impact trauma such as serious falls or car accidents. Also, patients suffering from osteoporosis may also end up with fractures when they trip or step the wrong way. Some fractures may require surgeries, and the patient may need to use a knee pad for some time to support healing.
Ligament and cartilage injuries
Ligaments and cartilage form some of the most important support structures to the knee. A sprain is one of the most common ligament injuries known to affect the medial collateral ligament, MCL. Sprains are most often experienced when the person is hit from the outside of the knee with enough force to make the knee bend inwards. Most of the anterior collateral ligament sprains can usually be treated without any surgical interventions, and sometimes, the use of a suitable knee pad could be sufficient for the less serious cases.
Meniscal Tears
You have probably heard about people talking about torn cartilages. In most of the cases, they are usually talking about meniscal tears. The menisci refer to the two rubbery cartilage that sits between the shinbone and the thighbone. Due to sporting activities or trauma, these cartilages may sometimes tear abruptly and they can also tear slowly as a result of aging.
When the tear happens are a result of the natural aging process, then they become known as a degenerative meniscus tear. When they tear abruptly, a pop sound may be heard or felt in the knee region, and pain, tightness, and swelling may also be experienced after some time.
Tendonitis
The tendons are the connective tissues that connect the shinbone to the knee cap. Tendonitis refers to an inflammation of these tissues and it is a very common problem usually experienced by athletes who frequently jump. In addition to the inflammation, the tendons may also suffer tears when the tendons are overstretched due to high impact activities, a fall, or a hit.
Iliotibial band syndrome
This is a very common knee injury among long-distance runners. The Iliotibial band is usually located on the outside of the knee. This condition happens when this band begins to rub against the outside of the knee joint. Usually, the pain will first be experienced as a minor irritation, but it will keep on building slowly up to a point where the person cannot go on with the physical activity or running until proper treatment is administered.
Posterior cruciate ligament injuries
The posterior cruciate ligament is a ligament found on the back of the knee. It is among the numerous ligaments responsible for connecting the shinbone to the thighbone. It is the main ligament responsible for stopping the shinbone from moving too far backward.
Injury to this ligament will require a considerable amount of force when the knee is bent. Such may be due to hard falls on a bent knee or impacts resulting from accidents when the knee is in a bent position.
Bursitis
Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs responsible for cushioning the knee joints and making it possible for both the ligaments and the tendons to easily slide over each other. Sometimes the sacs can swell and become inflamed. This usually happens there is an overuse or repeated pressure on the knee region as a result of kneeling.
The good news is that most of these cases are never considered serious, and proper self-care is sufficient to heal them. In some cases, however, it may be necessary to use aspirations or antibiotic treatments as potential remedies of the problem persist.
How to prevent knee injuries
Now that you know some of the most common known injuries, it is also a good idea to know how to prevent them so that they don’t have to stop you from moving freely. Here is a brief overview of some of the things that you can do to prevent most of the knee injuries and knee pains-:
- Maintain a proper weight- too much weight may put you at risk of quite a number of joint pains, including knee pains, back pains, ankle pain, and feet pain among others. Also, overweight people tend to have weak quadriceps muscles, implying that their knees don’t have enough support.
- Don’t kneel on hard surfaces without a cushion or a knee pad – this is one of the best ways to avoid conditions such as bursitis and also for protecting your ligaments and tendons so that you never have to worry about using supporting devices such as patellar knee brace.
- Keep your hip, butt, core, and leg muscles strong – stronger muscles will lend a lot of support to your joints, including the knees, hence, helping you avoid most of the knee injuries.
- Learn to stretch the muscles that support your knees – muscles such as hip flexors, hamstrings, quadriceps, calf, and butt muscles should be as flexible as possible to encourage joint mobility since staying flexible is one of the best ways to avoid knee pains and enjoy healthy joints as you age.
Know when to see a doctor
Never ignore any pain in the knee region. If it persists, then be sure to seek medical advice.
About Paramedic Canada
Paramedic Canada is your one-stop-shop for high quality knee pads, arm supports, ankle braces, medical
tape, and other supplies you may need for joint pain relief and to maintain proper posture.
Our products have been scientifically designed to support safe, comfortable healing and the right posture for improved movement.
You will find our products in most pharmacies across the country, including Familiprix, Access Pharma, and Brunet, among others.
You can pick these products up at our affiliated retailers, or you can order directly from our company warehouse.
If you order from the warehouse, please note that you should do so in advance, by calling our customer care department at 1–800– 465–1255. The shipping fee is only $15 for Canadian orders.
Deliveries usually take 2 to 3 working days in Ontario or Quebec, and 3 to 5 working days in the rest of the country.
