What is it?
Knee pain can be caused by a variety of things which can lead to inflammation, pain, and, ultimately, dysfunction.
A knee sprain happens when the ligaments in the knee are overstretched and tear to a certain degree. There are three degrees of a sprain: mild, moderated, and severe. Ligaments are fibrous tissue cords that attach the upper leg bone to the lower leg bones.
Information and causes?
Knee pain can have various causes such as arthritis, overuse injuries, sprains, weakness, and obesity.
Knee sprains can lead to knee pain no matter what degree of tear you may have. Many people think of a knee sprain as being caused by overuse or trauma injuries in sports. These things can happen outside of sports as well. Weakness, poor flexibility, poor balance, improper gait or running form are among some of the causes of knee sprains. Without proper training for a sport or daily life, a sprain is more likely to happen. Improper footwear, prior sprains, and contact sports can increase your chances of sustaining a sprain.
The signs and symptoms?
The signs and symptoms or a sprain include the following:
- pain and tenderness in the knee
- stiffness, bruising, and swelling in the knee
- instability when walking
- “popping” noise at the time of injury
Treatment?
It is key that a person receive physical therapy following a knee sprain to professionally restore strength and mobility. The Physical therapist will initially focus on educating the patient about the sprain. Research shows that people who are knowledgeable about their condition have better coping abilities. Furthermore, your therapist will work to initially decrease pain and improve mobility and gradually improve strength and function for sport or occupation. The physical therapist will design a program that is right for you and your goals.
Expectations?
At your first visit you should expect a physical therapist that is there to get to know you, your current complaints, and your goals. Using this information and the information they gather during their evaluation they will set up an individualized treatment plan that will help you reach your goals and get back to your life faster. Treatments could include modalities for pain control, manual therapy to help relieve muscle tension and promote healing, exercises to restore strength and motion, and muscular retraining to improve core activation and stabilization.