The knee is a joint made up of four ligaments; when a knee sprain occurs, it is because one of these ligaments has undergone a total or partial stretch—either making a sudden movement or having suffered a direct blow on it, being a frequent injury in people who play sports such as soccer or basketball. The treatment and recovery of this ailment will depend on the cause that has produced it and the severity of it. At FastlyHealwe will explain the symptoms and treatments of a knee sprain.
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Causes of knee sprain
There are two causes of knee sprain :
- Injuries or sudden movements: generally in which the foot is supported, and the knee is turned quickly, or those that require jumping and landing, which causes an abnormal stretch of the ligament and occurs over too in the practice of sports such as skiing, basketball, soccer or hockey.
- Direct blows to the joint: when disappointments occur either from the front, side, or back of the knee, especially in violent sports such as rugby, they can also cause a knee sprain.
Classification of knee sprains
Knee sprains can be classified according to the degree to which the ligament has been affected.
Grade I: This is a mild sprain in which only a few ligament fibers are torn.
Grade II: in this case, the sprain is moderate and makes it difficult for the person to walk, which means that the ligament has been torn, but not torn.
Grade III: The ligament is torn, producing a severe sprain and a total ligament tear.
Knee Sprain Symptoms
The symptoms of a knee sprain are particular and usually appear immediately after the injury has occurred; these are:
- Tenderness in the area when trying to touch it.
- Internal bleeding and bruising.
- I was clicking when making movements with the knee.
- I was feeling tiredness in the knee as if it were locked.
- Inflammation.
Diagnosis of a knee sprain
The diagnosis of a knee sprain is made by analyzing the mobility of the knee; in this way, abnormal movements will be detected in it, and this will indicate the degree of the injury. The next step will be to carry out an X-ray to rule out more severe bone injuries. Finally, an MRI can be done if there is a suspicion of any damage to the meniscus or other ligaments.
Treatments for knee sprain
The treatment for a knee sprain depends on the degree of the sprain and ligament that has been affected. The first thing will be to reduce pain and inflammation and then regain mobility with rehabilitation and physical therapy exercises, recovery from a knee sprain is between 2 and 4 weeks. Some of the most common treatments are:
- Rest: it is the most important thing for a correct recovery; it will also allow you to reduce inflammation and pain, so you should not support your weight on the affected knee. Preferably keep your knee up; start walking with slow movements once the swelling is gone.
- Cold application: placing ice on the knee sprain helps to improve blood circulation, which will reduce inflammation, redness, and pain. To treat the sprain in this way, you can use a bag with crushed ice, cover it with a towel, and put it on the affected area for 20 minutes 3 times a day.
- Using the brace: Your doctor may recommend using a knee brace to allow the knee not to move.
- Hot compresses: once the swelling has subsided, apply heat with a hot water bottle or a heating pad. Apply it for 20 minutes 3 times a day.
- Anti-inflammatories: although they are medicines that can be bought without a prescription and will relieve pain and inflammation, it is necessary that their consumption be moderate to avoid damage of another type.
- Physical therapy: your doctor will tell you to attend physical therapy sessions 2 or 3 times a week, depending on the severity of the sprain. These exercises will help you strengthen your knee muscles and regain your knee mobility.
- Fluid Removal – Draining fluid from the knee can significantly improve mobility.
- Surgery: it will depend on the degree of the sprain, and it will be your doctor who will tell you if it is necessary to perform it. This consists of replacing the ligament that has been torn.
Recommendations to avoid knee injuries
These injuries cannot be avoided. However, there are some recommendations that will allow you to take care of your knee from other blows:
- Wear the right shoes when exercising; an orthopedic doctor will tell you if it is necessary to use insoles or other accessories.
- If you practice any sport with risks of injury, use the protective equipment that this activity requires.
- Stretch your muscles before doing any exercise.
- Maintain the right weight; being overweight can affect your joints.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Knee Sprain: Symptoms and Treatments, we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints and Muscles category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.