Knee Injury in Barretts, MO

Knee Injury in Barretts, MO. Suffering a knee injury has the power to disrupt your everyday life, and often persists with long-term symptoms. There is nobody in Barretts, MO who is completely immune to the threat of a knee injury. Knee injuries can happen in any number of situations — often when you least expect it. However, the majority of knee injury victims experience damage due to age-related deterioration, repetitive motions (such as in certain occupations), and sudden movement or trauma that can happen in accidents and when engaging in physical activities.

Do you have knee pain, buckling, stiffness, swelling, or other symptoms related to the knee? You may have a knee injury, whether or not you can identify a specific moment of trauma that could explain the injury. For your swift and successful recovery, contact Axes Physical Therapy near Barretts, MO. Our team of physical and occupational therapists will design a treatment plan to maximize your recovery and restore you to optimal movement.

knee injury Barretts, MO | Barretts physical therapy for knee injury

What Are Knee Injuries?

The knee is the largest joint in the human body, and one that is integral to executing so many of the motions and actions that distinguish us from other animals, making it possible for us to carry out the complicated tasks our busy lives require. This joint is composed of four types of structures, none of which are immune to injury. The knee contains bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

There are a number of bones that make up the knee, including the tibia, femur, and patella. The bones are bound together by groups of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that make it possible for us to stand, sit, walk, and move. In addition to connecting bones within the joint together, ligaments act to provide stability and prevent movement in certain directions. Inside the joint, the end of each bone is capped by a layer of cartilage — essentially a cushion that protects the hard bones from one another and works as a shock absorber when movement or weight put pressure on the joint.

All parts that make up the knee, whether soft tissue or bone, are critical to the knee’s ability to function as a strong and healthy joint, and any kind of damage to the bones, muscles, tendons or ligaments within the joint can lead to a knee injury. If you or a family member recently experienced any kind of trauma in or around your knee or have a chronic condition that could lead to damage to the knee structure, contact Axes Physical Therapy to learn about the best choice for the treatment of a knee injury in Barretts, MO today or make an appointment online now.

Knee Injury Statistics in in Barretts, MO and the US

The knee is a sophisticated part of the human body — an impeccably designed joint that makes it possible for us to execute tasks and movements that are unique to humans. However, along with the intricate design comes an inherent susceptibility to a variety of injuries. In fact, knee injuries account for the most common type of sports injury, attributed with 41 percent of all sports injuries. And sports injuries are just one category of knee injury that people in Barretts, MO and throughout the US commonly experience. Though young people more often get knee injuries from sports and other physical activities, older adults who sustain knee injuries most often do so in acute injuries involving falls and ramps or through chronic conditions like osteoarthritis.

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

Adolescents and young adults (patients ranging in age from 15 years old to their late 20’s) are the most likely to suffer a knee injury
Men are more likely to have a knee injury than women, with 68% of knee injury patients categorized as male
Fifty percent of all knee injuries are caused by sports-related injuries
Of sports-related knee injuries, the sports activities most likely to lead to injury are soccer and skiing, each responsible for in excess of a quarter of all sports knee injuries
Other top knee injury causes are related to home structures at 30.2% and home furnishings at 13.6%
The overwhelmingly most common knee injury diagnoses are strains and sprains at 42.1%; next are contusions and abrasions at 27.1% and lacerations and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Common Types of Knee Injuries in Barretts, MO

Sprains and Strains. A sprain or strain knee injury involves a muscle or ligament within the joint structure of the knee. Injuries of this nature are caused by sudden force to the knee or a sudden or unintended motion of the knee (for example, suddenly stopping to change directions or twisting).
Fractures. A fracture is another word for a broken bone, which can be anything from a small, partial crack like a hairline fracture to a much more brutal break like a comminuted fracture when a bone is crushed into multiple fragments. Even the kneecap bone, or the patella, can be broken during a knee injury, especially in events such as car accidents or forceful falls on hard surfaces.
Cartilage or Ligament Tears. Blows to the knee from different directions can lead to a number of different knee injuries involving ligaments surrounding the joint. Sudden changes in direction such as twisting and pivoting motions can also cause a meniscus tear (the cartilage between the bones in the knee) and/or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear injuries. If you have been diagnosed with or believe you have suffered an ACL injury get more information about our treatment and therapy services for Barretts, MO ACL tears near you.
Arthritis. There are countless variations of arthritis and each patient has their own unique experience of their condition. However, if you live with a chronic condition like arthritis and experience knee injury symptoms like pain or stiffness, your arthritis may be causing a knee injury and can even lead to the potential development of bone spurs. Without the proper quality arthritis treatment for joint health, you face rapid and irreparable damage to your knee joint cartilage.
Tendonitis and Other Forms of Inflammation. Tendons in the knee area can become inflamed through overuse or repeated stress, common in patients who regularly perform activities like running, jumping, and cycling. 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 after jumping.

Risk Factors for a Knee Injury in Barretts, MO

Excessive weight. Heaviness or obesity increases stress on your knee joints, even during ordinary activities such as walking or going up and down stairs. Being at an unhealthy excessive weight also puts you at increased risk of 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 help stabilize and protect your joints, while adequately flexible muscles can help you enjoy full range of motion.
Certain activities and occupations. Some sports put more strain on your knees than do others. Alpine snowboarding and skiing involve rigid boots and potential for falls, basketball jumps and pivots, and the repeated pounding of running or jogging on hard surfaces like pavement all involve a risk of knee injury in Barretts, MO. Occupations that involve repetitive stress on the knees such as construction or farming also can increase your risk.
Previous Injury. Having a previous knee injury makes it more likely that you’ll injure your knee again.
Old age. As we age, the tissues in our body wear down. The cartilage protecting your knee joint can wear thin, and diseases like osteoporosis leave your bones weak, making you.

When You Need Barretts, MO Knee Injury Treatment

As with any medical condition or injury, each case is unique and it is important that you speak with a licensed healthcare professional when a knee injury or any condition affects your ability to function normally or live comfortably. 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 your experience as a patient is unique, some times immediate medical care is warranted. After suffering an acute knee injury, noticeable swelling is a warning sign that you need emergency medical attention. According to Yale Medicine, swelling after a knee injury is a hallmark sign that the injury is serious and medical care is warranted. Rapid, significant 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.

Types of Treatments for Knee Injuries in Barretts, MO

The right knee injury treatment for your condition depends on the nature of your injury, your overall medical condition, and many other factors that the trained eye of a clinically experienced, licensed Barretts, MO physical therapist with Axes Physical Therapy will identify and examine. Often, a knee injury can be managed with conservative treatment and, with the right movement medicine and timely intervention, you will be back up and running (and walking, standing, jumping, and everything else you love to do) within weeks. However, each Barretts, MO knee injury patient is different and every injury varies in severity, so your knee injury treatment plan in Barretts, MO should reflect that.

When you need knee injury treatment, you may be looking at the following common treatment options.

Medications. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve pain and to treat the conditions causing your knee pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Over the counter anti-inflammatory medications can also help manage symptoms as your knee injury heals.
Injections. Injections to the site of the knee injury, such as corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid, have, in some cases, been helpful in reducing pain and improving mobility.
Physical Therapy. Physical therapy focuses on movement health and correcting the problem at the source. For your knee injury, physical therapy may include treatments that strengthen and stabilize your knee and surrounding parts of the body, increase flexibility and range of motion, improve balance, and correct technique in physical activities.
Surgery. Surgery is reserved for severe knee injuries and patients who have not had success with less invasive treatment methods. For a knee injury, surgeries can range from partial knee replacement, total knee replacement, or surgeries removing aggravating tissue or bone. If your knee injury treatment team decides that surgery is your best option, other treatments such as physical therapy will be critical in the preparation of and recovery from the operation to help you return to strength and full use of your knee joint.

Getting Physical Therapy for your Knee Injury in Barretts, MO

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Barretts, MO area, you will be assigned a dedicated physical therapist who will lead your knee injury recovery for the entirety of your knee injury physical therapy treatment plan in Barretts, 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 help you successfully heal from your Barretts, MO knee injury and return to all the activities you care about and need to be able to do for work, home, and recreation.

During your first Barretts, MO appointment with Axes for your knee injury, your physical therapist will perform a full injury screening and evaluation of your condition. From providing a full and accurate picture of your overall health to consistently practicing the prescribed treatments and exercises, you are a critical piece in your knee injury treatment puzzle. It is imperative that you take an active role in your knee injury physical therapy treatment.

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

Stretches and exercises
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 Barretts, MO area have a track record of effectively addressing the source of our patients’ pain, injuries, and movement disorders and returning them to the activities they love. Learn more about our treatment capabilities and the types of conditions we specialize in for patients in the Barretts, MO area, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Barretts, MO Now

If you recently experienced a knee injury while being active or are suffering from any symptoms that you think may be caused by any type of knee injury, it is important to consult a experienced medical professional as soon as possible. As musculoskeletal specialists with expertise in movement and the human body, the physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy in Barretts, MO will help you understand your injury and design a tailored treatment plan that works for you. Contact our Barretts, MO treatment professionals or find our facility that is most convenient for you to restore your mobility and acheive relief from your knee injury.

Knee Injury Barretts, MO