Knee Injury in Avon, MO

Knee Injury in Avon, MO. A knee injury has the power to disrupt your daily life, and even your long-term well-being. A knee injury can happen to anyone in Avon, MO. People of all ages, genders, and activity levels can experience a knee injury. However, knee injuries are most commonly caused by age-related deterioration, exposure to repetitive motions, and trauma and damage caused by an accident or while engaging in physical activity.

Are you experiencing knee-related symptoms like pain, swelling, or buckling? You may have a knee injury, whether or not you can identify a specific moment of trauma that could explain the injury. Increase your chances of a full, successful recovery by trusting Axes Physical Therapy for help with your knee injury near Avon, MO. The experienced staff of physical and occupational therapists will release you from pain and restore your mobility.

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What Are Knee Injuries?

The knee is the largest human joint and is integral to executing so many of the actions, motions, and functions that distinguish us from other animals and allow us to performing the complex tasks we use every day to go about our lives. This body part consists of four distinct structures, all of which can be injured or damaged. The knee is made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

The bones of the knee include the tibia, femur, and patella. These bones are held together by groups of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that work together to make it possible for us to move our legs. In addition to connecting bones within the joint together, ligaments act to create stability and limit movement in certain directions. Within the joint, the end of each bone is capped in a layer of cartilage — essentially a cushion that protects the hard bones from one another and absorbs the shock of movement and weight that introduce pressure to the joint.

All the different components of the knee’s anatomy, whether soft tissue or bone, are critical to the healthy functioning of the knee joint, and damage to any one or more of these areas can result in a knee injury. If you or a family member recently suffered an acute trauma to your knee or surrounding area or have developed a chronic condition that could cause damage to any part of the knee, contact Axes Physical Therapy to discuss the best choice for the treatment of a knee injury in Avon, MO today or book an appointment online now.

Knee Injury Statistics in in Avon, MO and the US

The knee is a complex part of the human body — a beautifully constructed joint that allows us to move and act in ways that are unique to humans. But this complex joint is vulnerable to a variety of injuries. In fact, knee injuries are the most common of all sports injuries, making up 41 percent of all sports injuries. But sports injuries make up only one type of knee injury individuals in Avon, MO and throughout the US commonly experience. Though athletic activity is the more likely cause of knee injuries in young people, older adults more often get knee injuries after falling or due to the development of a chronic condition such as osteoarthritis.

Learn more about knee injuries through the following facts and statistics from Society for Academic Emergency Medicine:

Teens and young adults (patients ranging in age from 15 years old to their late 20’s) are the most likely to experience a knee injury
Men experience knee injuries far more often than women, with 68% of knee injury patients categorized as male
Half of all knee injuries occur in sports accidents
Among sports-related knee injuries, the sports activities most likely to lead to injury are soccer and skiing, each responsible for more than a quarter of all knee injuries related to sports
Other top knee injury causes are related to home structures at 30.2% and home furnishings at 13.6%
By far the most common type of knee injury is a strain or sprain, making up 42.1% of all knee injury cases; next are contusions and abrasions at 27.1% and lacerations and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Most Common Avon, MO Knee Injuries

Sprains and Strains. When you sprain or strain your knee, a muscle or ligament within the joint is affected. These injuries happen when the knee meets a sudden force or is suddenly forced in the wrong direction (for example, suddenly stopping to change directions or twisting).
Fractures. A fracture is a broken bone, which can be anything from a stress fracture or crack in the bone to something much more devastating such as a comminuted fracture when a bone shatters into multiple pieces. Even the kneecap bone, or the patella, can be broken in a knee injury, especially in events such as car accidents or forceful falls on hard surfaces.
Cartilage or Ligament Tears. Damage to the ligaments and cartilage in and around the knee are frequently caused by a blow to the knee from various directions. Twisting, pivoting, and other sudden changes in direction can also cause a tear to the meniscus — the cartilage padding the knee where the bones meet — and/or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear injuries. You can get more information about our Avon, MO physical therapy services for ACL tears in your area.
Arthritis. There are countless variations of arthritis and each patient’s experience of the condition is their own. However, if you live with a chronic condition like arthritis and have symptoms of a knee injury like pain or stiffness, you may have an arthritis-induced knee injury. You may even be at risk of developing bone spurs. Without the proper quality arthritis treatment for joint health, you face rapid and irreparable damage to your knee joint cartilage.
Tendonitis and Inflammation. Tendons in the knee area can become inflamed through overuse or repeated stress, common in individuals who frequently perform running, jumping, or cycling activities. A common form of tendonitis in the knee is what is known as jumper’s knee. This condition is caused by the repeated force of hitting the ground when landing a jump.

Risk Factors for a Knee Injury in Avon, MO

Excessive weight. Being overweight or obese increases stress on your knee joints, even during what are generally considered light activities from walking, sitting and standing, and going up and down stairs. Being at an unhealthy excessive weight is also a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis by accelerating the breakdown of joint cartilage.
Weakness or stiffness. Inadequate strength or flexibility can put you at a heightened risk of succumbing to a knee injury. Strong muscles protect your joints and keep them properly aligned, while adequately flexible muscles can help you safely achieve full range of motion.
Specific activities and occupations. Some athletic and occupational activities put more stress on your knees than do others. Alpine skiing with its rigid ski boots and harsh landings, the near constant and rapid change of direction in basketball, and the repeated pounding your knees take when you run or jog all increase your risk of knee injury in Avon, MO. Occupations that involve repetitive stress on the knees like maintenance or farming also can increase your risk.
Previous Injury. Having a previous knee injury puts you at a higher risk of injuring your knee again.
Old age. As we age, the tissues in our body wear down. The knee is no exception. The protective cartilage cushioning the bones in your knee can degrade, and conditions associated with advanced age like osteoporosis leave your bones weak, making you.

Do I Need Knee Injury Treatment in Avon, MO?

As with any medical condition or injury, each patient is different and you should always speak with a licensed medical professional any time you experience a condition such as a knee injury that makes it difficult or impossible for you to function as normal or causes you serious pain. After all, who wants to go through life with chronic pain or any sort of physical limitation, especially in a part of the body as critical to movement and daily life as the knee?

While each injury and patient is different, some times immediate medical care is warranted. After suffering an acute knee injury, the biggest warning sign that you need immediate knee injury treatment is swelling. According to Yale Medicine, swelling after a knee injury is a hallmark sign that the injury is serious and medical care is warranted. Quick, extensive swelling that occurs within three to four hours after an instance of acute trauma to the knee is usually a sign that blood is trapped in the joint.

What To Do After a Knee Injury in Avon, MO

When in doubt, err on the side of caution and seek out medical care right away after you notice a potential knee injury. Especially in the case of an acute or sudden injury, the commonly known RICE method can help mitigate the damage and support your knee injury recovery with a swift response to the trauma.

The RICE method refers to:

Rest. If you experience pain or suspect a knee injury, do not force any activity or introduce any additional undue stress to the joint. If possible, avoid putting weight on the affected knee and minimize movement.
Ice. The application of ice or a cold compress after an injury like a knee injury can help temporarily ease the pain and reduce swelling. When using ice on an injury, do not apply the ice directly on bare skin and remember to follow an alternating schedule of 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
Compression. It may be helpful to wrap the injured knee with a soft, elastic bandage or ace wrap. Take care not to wrap the area so tight that it causes pain or cuts off blood and oxygen circulation to the injured area.
Elevate. During the initial resting time after the occurrence of your knee injury, you can use pillows, a stool, or another prop or structure to help keep your injured knee elevated higher than your heart. This elevation can stimulate reparative blood flow to the injury, reduce pressure and throbbing, and encourage the removal of waste from the area.

Knee Injury Physical Therapy in Avon, MO

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Avon, MO area, you will work with a dedicated physical therapist who will lead your knee injury recovery by administering a custom physical therapy treatment plan in Avon, MO. With years of clinical experience guiding knee injury patients back to full movement health, your physical therapist will draw upon their extensive education and the most current evidence-based practices to treat the cause of your Avon, MO knee injury at the source, successfully returning you to all the activities you love and need to be able to do for work, home, and recreation.

When you visit Axes near Avon, MO for your first appointment after a suspected knee injury, your physical therapist will conduct a full injury screening and evaluation of your condition. From providing a full and accurate picture of your overall health to consistently engaging in the prescribed exercises, it is imperative that you take an active role in your physical therapy treatment of your knee injury.

In order to eliminate pain and other symptoms, heal the damaged tissue, and return you to optimal physical performance, your physical therapist may employ a number of treatment modalities to target your knee injury.

Therapeutic exercises and stretches
Gait and posture training
Heat and ice applications
Ultrasound
Electric stimulation
Kinesiology taping
Soft tissue massages or knee joint mobilization

The physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy in the Avon, MO area have successfully treated hundreds of patients with pain, injuries, and chronic conditions and have restored their ability to do the activities they value. Discover more about the conditions we treat and the treatment methods we provide near Avon, MO, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Avon, MO Now

If you suffered an acute knee injury while being active or are suffering from symptoms of any type of knee injury, it is important to consult a knowledgeable medical professional as soon as possible. As licensed physical and occupational therapists with decades of clinical experience restoring the mobility of our patients, the physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy in Avon, MO will help you understand your injury and design a tailored treatment plan that works for you. Contact our Avon, MO treatment professionals or find our facility that is most convenient for you to take the first step toward healing and relief from your knee injury.