KNEE INJURIES

The Anterior cruciate Ligament (ACL) is one of the main ligaments inside the knee to keep it stable during twisting, pivoting and change of direction activities. 

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An ACL injury will commonly occur with landing from a jump/height, sudden stop, change of direction and direct contact in sport. Patients will often report feeling ore hearing a "pop", "crack", or "tear". Symptoms can include: Immediate pain and swelling , difficulty weight bearing and feeling of the knee giving way or being unstable. 

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A thorough assessment from a physio who can then refer for an MRI which is the gold standard for imaging. 

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After surgery the hard work begins! Regular physio and a strength and conditioning program will help you reach your goals. 

Less commonly injured the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) provides support and stability to stop the shin bones from moving backwards. in sports this can happen when someone falls on the the front of the shin or a direct blow on an extended knee. 

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Most injuries an be successfully management in a hinged knee brace and physiotherapy for rehab for return to play. 

Anterior knee pain 

Common in growing athletes, 

Medical Collateral and Lateral collateral ligaments provide support to the inside and outside of the knee. Common mechanisms are direct contact or twisting/landing awkwardly. These injuries may require a period of time in a hinged knee brace to allow for ligament healing.  

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Restoring ROM, strength and function will assist in return to sport and activity. 

The meniscus (medial + lateral) are important shock absorbers in the knee and helps to provide stability. Tears can happen during twisting, deep squatting or landing directly onto the knee. Sometimes they can just happen gradually. 

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Some people will describes a sharp pain, catching/locking/clicking and difficulty with full ROM. Swelling usually develops over overs post injury. 

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Degenerative changes