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Knees: A Joint for Mobility Throughout the course of their lives, most people will go through keen pain in one fashion or another. While many knee injuries are a result of sports, work, outdoor activities, or home projects; often time’s knee problems occur as a result of everyday wear and tear. The knees are the largest joint in the human body, with only two discs of menisci separating the upper and lower bones of the leg, connected by various muscles, tendons and ligaments. The knee joint is covered by cartilage that absorbs impact trauma while providing a smooth inner surface for the knee to move and flex. Most sudden and acute injuries are the most common cause of knee problems, which are usually cause by bending the knee at an awkward angle, falling on the knee, the knee being struck directly by an object, or severe twisting. As a result, swelling, acute pain, bruising, and pinching could develop quickly after the injury, leading to further injury. Other acute injuries may include: - A sprain or strain that injures the tendons and ligaments that support the knee and the kneecap.
- A fracturing of the kneecap, fracturing of the lower portion of the femur, or upper tibia. These fractures are most commonly caused by an severe force that causes the knee to bend.
- A dislocation of the knee occurs when there is great force placed on the joint.
- A tear that occurs in the cushions of the knee joint is a case of meniscus.
A knee might also suffer injury because overuse, such as when there are repetitive stress injuries or when there is too much continuous stress placed on the knee. This may occur while riding a bycycle, jogging, climbing stairs, or jumping. Emergency or medical treatment for a knee injury will include first aid response training, bracing, rest, and possibly surgery. The mode of treatment depends on the type of injury, location within the knee, and the grievous nature of the injury.
Most knee pain is the result of an injury involving ruptured ligaments and torn cartilage, including other knee joint conditions such as gout, infection, and arthritis. Nearly all injuries involve the ligaments, tendons, bursae (or fluid-filled sacks), bones, cartilage, and ligaments. It is because the knee joint is so intricate that any damage – no matter how minute – can cause long lasting, chronic pain and ambulatory challenges.
- You may need contact a physician if you…
- Cannot put any weight on your knee
- Experience severe pain even when there is no weight on the leg
- Cannot use your knee without it clicking, buckles, locks, or feels as if it is slipping
- Have a knee joint that is swollen or misshapen with significant swelling
- Feel pain, numbness, swelling, tingling and if there is a blue discoloration in the calf below the knee
- If for after three days of constant home treatment there is still pain
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