Knee sprain, also known as knee sprain, is due to excessive stretching of knee ligaments that in some cases end up breaking, causing severe pain and swelling.
This can happen during the practice of certain sports, by making sudden movements or by an injury caused by the impact of an object with the knee. Treatment consists of rest, ice, and compression to the site, however, in more severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Signs and symptoms of a knee sprain include
In some cases, a noise may be heard at the time of injury and, in some situations, there may be a small hemorrhage in the joint, which causes the area to turn purple or blue.
In youth, knee sprains occur most often during physical exercise, in sports such as basketball, football, tennis, volleyball, or gymnastics, for example, when something hits the knee from the outside, when there is a sudden change of direction, when the body rotates on the supported foot, or when it lands in a sudden jump.In these cases, abnormal rotation of the femur may occur with respect to the tibia, resulting in excessive stretching of the ligaments and meniscus, and a rupture of these ligaments may occur.In the elderly, twisting can occur due to a sudden change in gait, as can happen when crossing the street, for example.
Diagnosis of knee sprain should be made by your doctor and consists of a physical exam that values knee movement, swelling, and sensitivity to healthy one, if necessary diagnostic methods such as X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound may be used.It can also be used to evaluate whether ligaments, meniscuses, and tendons have ruptured or are severely compromised.
Treatment begins with rest, avoiding as much as possible resting the foot on the ground, so as not to support weight on the knee, for this the leg must remain raised and for people to move can use crutches.it involves sleeping with your leg raised, so that your knee is higher than your heart height, to help deflate your knee faster.
During the rest period, ice blocks can be applied to the knee for approximately 20 to 30 minutes every 2 hours, and the application interval should increase as the days go by Elastic stockings or compression bandages should be used to immobilize the knee for about 5 to 7 days, and your doctor may recommend pain relievers and anti-inflammatories to relieve pain.
Once immobilization is removed, it is important to perform 10 to 20 physiotherapy sessions to help recover movement, strength and balance, using electronic equipment such as ultrasounds and TENS, as well as joint mobilization techniques and stretching and bodybuilding exercises.
In some cases surgery may be necessary, especially if the person is young or if an athlete wants to continue playing sports, it is also recommended in situations where the injury compromises daily activities or when the injury is very serious.
Recovery time depends heavily on the severity of the turn, but usually athletes can return to the sport between 3 and 6 months after the injury, but this will depend on the severity of the injury and the type of treatment performed.Physiotherapy sessions recover faster.
In case of rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, another type of treatment is recommended.Find out what can be done in physical therapy for an ACL break.