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Knee
Knee pain can come from an inflammatory condition such
as arthritis, bursitis, or tendonitis. It can also be
the result of a sprain or strain, dislocated kneecap,
injury to the cartilage tissue in the knee, (called the
meniscus), or any number of conditions particular to the
knee. Knee pain can even be a symptom of gout, or may
be caused by disorders of other parts of the body such
as the hip. Conditions involving the knee can be minor
disorders or bigger problems requiring serious attention.
Knee injuries generally fall into one of two categories:
• Traumatic: a sudden injury caused by either exterior
impact (such as a football tackle) or an unintended twisting
or hyperextension of the knee (such as a skiing fall)
• Repetitive: problems such as "runner's knee"
(patello- femoral syndrome) or iliotibial band syndrome
that are created over time by doing a damaging motion
again and again.
In addition, knees may suffer from pathological conditions
(those that seem to be genetically predetermined or related
to a disease). Some conditions, such as osteoarthritis,
may result from a combination of genetics and traumatic
or repetitive injury.
At Random Lake Spine & Sports Clinic in downtown Random
Lake, Dr Rudelich is an expert at diagnosing and treating
knee conditions. We apply the most appropriate therapy
to treat and cure the condition. If you are experiencing
knee pain, please call us today to make an appointment.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
Anterior cruciate ligament injury (injury to the ligament
on the front of the inside of the knee) is primarily a
result of a sudden twisting or hyperextension of the knee.
Approximately 70 percent of all traumatic knee injuries
are of the anterior cruciate ligament. They occur most
frequently during sports that require the foot to be planted
while the body changes direction rapidly.
Another, less common, cause of ACL injuries is a direct
blow, for example, if the knee is slammed into the dashboard
during a car accident or is hit in a high-contact sport
such as football.
One of the most brutal knee injuries is O'Donoghue's triad.
Occurring most often on the football field, this injury
results when a player is hit from the side, leading to
a series of tears: an ACL rupture plus tears of the medial
meniscus and the medial collateral ligament.
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury
Medial collateral ligament injury (injury to the ligament
on the inner side of the knee outside the knee joint)
primarily results from an outside blow, such as a tackle
from the side in football. This ligament is more easily
injured than the ACL, but the injury is far less common
than an ACL rupture because most of us don't engage in
activities that would put us on the receiving end of such
a blow. MCL injury may be caused by a valgus stress, which
means the knee is pushed inward (knock-knees are a valgus
deformity).
Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury
Lateral collateral ligament injury (injury to the ligament
on the outer side of the knee outside the knee joint)
occurs from a varus stress applied from the inside that
forces the knee toward the outside. The immediate symptoms
and treatment are the same as for MCL injuries.
Meniscal Injury
Meniscal injuries damage the cushioning tissue between
the tibia and the femur, inside the knee joint, on both
sides (medial and lateral) of the knee. The menisci are
two crescent-shaped discs that act as shock absorbers
and enhance knee stability. They are highly vulnerable
to injury from abrupt rotations of the knee while it is
bearing weight, for example, when you turn to hit a tennis
ball, rotating your thigh (femur) while leaving your foot
stationary.
With a minor injury of the menisci you may experience
some pain when you move the knee, but usually you can
continue with your activity. If ignored, the initial pain
may abate but erupt again later and lead to more severe
degeneration. With a severe injury of the meniscus—for
example, if a meniscal fragment catches between the femur
and the tibia—you will have extreme pain and may
have swelling or bleeding in the knee. Over time, you
may develop arthritis in the affected area. Unfortunately,
removal of the meniscal fragment may also increase your
chances of arthritis by leaving less cushion between the
bones.
Patellofemoral Syndrome (Runner's Knee)
Runner's knee is known clinically as patellofemoral syndrome.
(Iliotibial band syndrome, is also called runner's knee.)
In this injury, the tendon and the retinaculum (a fibrous
band covering the front of the knee), which help keep
the kneecap in place, may be too tight when the knee is
flexed and may jam the patella into the femoral groove.
Or the tendon and retinaculum may stretch out and become
inflamed in reaction to the stress of repetitive movement—running,
squatting, jumping, or twisting activities. When this
happens, tracking of the patella may go slightly off course
and drift, slip, or tilt, causing further inflammation.
Over time, this patellar condition may begin to erode
the cartilage on the undersurface of the kneecap, causing
even more abrasion, inflammation, and pain.
One symptom indicating that you may have runner's knee
is knee pain that is aggravated by any repetitive movement,
particularly stair climbing. The condition is exacerbated
by prolonged periods of sitting with the knee flexed,
for example, in an airplane or a movie theater (your doctor
might call this symptom the positive theater sign, meaning
that discomfort during long sitting periods is a positive
indicator of runner's knee). You may also feel the knee
catching or slipping. |
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