7 Common knee injuries

Knee injuries may be common, but that doesn’t mean they’re not serious, painful, and often debilitating. There are a variety of ways you can damage your knee, from obvious traumas, like a car accident or sports injury to more subtle causes, like the wear and tear of life.

Learn more about the seven most common injuries.

1. Fractures. Knee fractures occur when the bones in your knee are broken. This can occur during an accident or fall, or for people with bones weakened by osteoporosis, by simply stepping the wrong way. This is marked by swelling, discomfort, and difficulty bearing weight. To diagnose a fracture, your doctor will get an X-ray, and possibly an MRI. Treatment will be dictated by the type of fracture.
2. Dislocation. When the bones in your knees slip out of place and are no longer in their proper alignment, it’s called a dislocation. This usually happens after a twisting injury, and usually involves the kneecap slipping out of place.
3. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The ACL is one of the major stabilizing ligaments (like a rope) inside the knee. An injury suffered by athletes like Tom Brady, Maria Sharapova, and Tiger Woods, an ACL tear is well known in sports. It often occurs when you change directions rapidly or land poorly after a jump. This can cause swelling and stiffness in your knee and is often accompanied by significant pain. Treatment can include anti-inflammatory drugs, use of a brace, physical therapy, and minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery.
4. Meniscus tears. The meniscus is a shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee. Like ACL tears, meniscus tears can be sports-related injuries and have happened to such well-known athletes as Alex Rodriguez and Adrian Peterson. These tears are a result of twisting, pivoting, or being tackled and are accompanied by sharp pain and a pop. Sometimes meniscus tears are the result of the wear and tear of life. Surgery is often required for meniscus tears and is done with the surgical camera called the arthroscope, or “scope.”
5. Collateral ligament injuries. When you suffer a direct blow to the outside of your knee that pushes it sideways, you may suffer a collateral ligament injury. The most common injury is to the MCL. This is often caused by sports-related contact and will lead to pain in the sides of your knee, swelling, and the feeling of your knee “giving way.” It is typically treated by applying ice, bracing your knee until it heals, and performing strengthening exercises, but rarely requires surgery.
6. Tendon tears. Common in older athletes, this is a tear of the soft tissue that connects muscles to the bones in your knee. It usually occurs after an awkward landing from a jumping position and can cause pain under the kneecap, swelling and bruising, and difficulty walking. Treatment almost always requires surgery.
7. Arthritis. Arthritis occurs when the bones in the knee rub against each other. A healthy joint has cartilage on the ends of the bones, so the cartilage glides on cartilage, like ice on ice. When arthritis occurs, it’s like a tire losing tread, and the bones start to rub and cause pain. Though arthritis is not reversible, there are many ways to keep people active and minimize the pain associated arthritis flare-ups.

Are you suffering from knee pain? Contact Orlin & Cohen, Long Island’s leading orthopedic practice with 19 fellowship-trained knee subspecialists. Immediate appointments are available: Schedule yours now.