Knee Joint The Largest Joint In the Body
The knee joint is the largest joint in the body, and one of the most easily injured. It is made up of four main things: bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.
Common Types of Knee Joint Injuries.
Your knee is made up of many important structures, any of which can be injured. The most common knee injuries include fractures around the knee, dislocation, and sprains and tears of soft tissues, like ligaments. In many cases, injuries involve more than one structure in the knee.
Pain and swelling are the most common signs of knee injury. In addition, your knee may catch or lock up. Many knee injuries cause instability — the feeling that your knee is giving way.
Fractures
The most common bone broken around the knee is the patella. The ends of the femur and tibia where they meet to form the knee joint can also be fractured. Many fractures around the knee are caused by high energy trauma, such as falls from significant heights and motor vehicle collisions.
How many ACL injuries are there in a year?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured knee ligament. In the United States there are between 100,000 and 200,000 ACL ruptures per year, with an annual incidence in the general population of approximately 1 in 3500. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/anterior-cruciate-ligament-injury
What Sport Has The Highest Percentage of ACL Tears?
Basketball, football, soccer, and skiing are common sports linked to ACL tears. ACL injuries often occur with other injuries. For example, an ACL tear commonly occurs along with tears to the MCL and the shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee (lateral meniscus).
For most straightforward activities, such as jogging, the ACL isn’t involved.
Why Do You Tear Your ACL?
This can happen when someone makes a slightly awkward movement while planting his foot. The ACL tears more often than any other ligament because of the lack of muscle support for twisting or rotational movements around the joint.
How Can An ACL Injury Occur?
An ACL injury often occurs during sports. The injury can happen when your foot is firmly planted on the ground and a sudden force hits your knee while your leg is straight or slightly bent. This can happen when you are changing direction rapidly, slowing down when running, or landing from a jump.
Self-Care Techniques for Knee Pain
Before you pursue a medical evaluation, you may want try the following techniques at home: Take over-the-counter pain medications, and use a hot pack or a cold pack. Or alternate heat and ice on the area, 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. If you choose the self-care method Kelley’s Therapeutic Garments has a knee brace you will love.
It is always advisable to check with your doctor before pursing a self-care approach. If after two weeks there’s no improvement, or if new symptoms develop, see your doctor.
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