Knee Injury in Ethlyn, MO

Knee Injury in Ethlyn, MO. A knee injury can wreak havoc on your everyday life, and often results in long-term harm. There is nobody in Ethlyn, MO who is completely immune to the threat of a knee injury. People of all ages, genders, and activity levels can experience a knee injury. However, the most common knee-related complaints are knee injuries related to age-related deterioration, repetitive motions, and sudden movement or trauma that can happen in accidents and when engaging in physical activities.

If you have any symptoms related to the knee — pain, buckling, stiffness, swelling or irritation — you could be suffering from a knee injury. For your swift and successful recovery, contact Axes Physical Therapy for help with your knee injury near Ethlyn, MO. The experienced staff of physical and occupational therapists will help you heal fully and safely.

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

What Are Knee Injuries?

The knee earns the title of the largest human joint, and one that is critical to many of the motions and actions that are unique to humans, making it possible for us to accomplishing the complex tasks we use every day to go about our lives. The knee is made up of four types of structures, all of which can be injured or damaged. The knee contains bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

There are multiple bones that make up the knee, including the tibia, femur, and patella. The three bones are attached by groups of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that make it possible for us to stand, sit, walk, and move. In addition to joining the separate bones together within the joint, ligaments also create stability and prevent movement in certain directions. Inside the joint, the end of each bone is capped in a layer of cartilage. The cartilage tissue cushions 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, both hard bone and soft tissue, 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 result in a knee injury. If you or a family member recently suffered any kind of trauma in or around your knee or have a chronic condition that could lead to damage to any part of the knee, contact Axes Physical Therapy to discuss how to care for and heal your knee injury in Ethlyn, MO today or schedule an appointment online now.

Knee Injury Causes and Prevalence in Ethlyn, MO and the US

The knee is a complex part of the human anatomy — an intricately constructed joint that allows us to execute tasks and movements other animals cannot. However, the intricate joint design brings with it an inherent susceptibility to a variety of injuries. In fact, knee injuries are the most common of all sports injuries, contributing to 41 percent of all sports injuries. But sports injuries make up only one category of knee injury that people in Ethlyn, MO and throughout the US commonly experience. Though athletic activity is the more common cause of knee injuries in young people, older adults who sustain knee injuries most often do so in acute injuries involving falls and ramps or through chronic conditions like osteoarthritis.

Consider these fast knee injury facts and statistics provided by 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
Nearly half (49.5%) of all knee injuries take place during physical activity
Among 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 knee injuries related to sports
Other top causes of knee injuries 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, followed by contusions and abrasions at 27.1% and lacerations and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Most Common Ethlyn, MO Knee Injuries

Sprains and Strains. When you sprain or strain your knee, a muscle or ligament within the joint is affected. 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 describes a broken bone, and these kinds of injuries range in extent from a stress fracture or crack in the bone to a much more brutal break such as a comminuted fracture when a bone shatters into several pieces. Even the patella, the bone commonly known as the kneecap, can be broken in 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. Twisting, pivoting, and other sudden changes in direction can also result in 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 learn more about our treatment and therapy services for Ethlyn, MO ACL tears in your area.
Arthritis. Many different types of arthritis exist and each patient has their own unique experience of their condition. However, if you live with a chronic condition like arthritis and have symptoms of a knee injury like pain and limited mobility, 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. The right care that targets the underlying cause of your pain can prevent further damage
Tendonitis and Other Forms of Inflammation. When under constant stress or overuse, tendons in the knee can become inflamed. This is common in individuals who engage in frequent running, jumping, or cycling activities. A common form of tendonitis in the knee is jumper’s knee because of the strain to the tendon that occurs as a result of the repeated force of hitting the ground after jumping.

Knee Injury Risk Factors in Ethlyn, MO

Being overweight. Being overweight or obese introduces inordinate stress on your knees and most other joints in the body, even during ordinary activities from walking, sitting and standing, and going up and down stairs. It also puts you at increased risk of osteoarthritis because of the premature breakdown of joint cartilage.
Muscle or bone weakness or stiffness. A lack of strength and flexibility can increase the risk of knee injuries. Strong muscles help stabilize and protect your joints, and adequate muscle flexibility can help you safely achieve full range of motion.
Certain activities and occupations. Some athletic and occupational activities put more stress on your knees than do others. Alpine snowboarding and skiing involve rigid boots and harsh landings, the near constant and rapid change of direction in basketball, and the relentless pounding your knees take when you run or jog all involve a risk of knee injury in Ethlyn, MO. Occupations that require activities that put stress on the knees such as maintenance or farming put you at an increased risk as well.
History of previous injury. Being injured in the past makes it more likely that you’ll injure your knee again.
Advanced age. As our bodies age, the tissues in our body wear down. The cartilage protecting your knee joint can wear thin, and diseases like osteoporosis make your bones weak and susceptible to injury.

Do I Need Knee Injury Treatment in Ethlyn, MO?

As always, each case is different and you should always 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 each injury and patient is different, some times immediate medical care is warranted. Specifically, when you suffer 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, extreme swelling that occurs in the three to four hours after an acute trauma impacts the knee is typically a sign that blood is trapped in the joint.

What To Do After a Knee Injury in Ethlyn, 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.

Getting Physical Therapy for your Knee Injury in Ethlyn, MO

As a valued knee injury treatment patient with Axes Physical Therapy in the Ethlyn, MO area, you will be assigned one dedicated physical therapist who will lead your knee injury recovery for the entirety of your knee injury physical therapy treatment plan in Ethlyn, MO. With extensive clinical success restoring knee injury patients back to full performance, your physical therapist will put their advanced education and the latest empirical data on the most up-to-date treatment practices to use to help you successfully heal from your Ethlyn, MO knee injury and return to all the activities you love so you can go about your regular life at home, at work, and in your personal time.

When you visit Axes near Ethlyn, MO for your first appointment after a suspected knee injury, your physical therapist will perform an evaluation of your overall condition, health history, and an injury screening. From ensuring that your physical therapist is operating with a complete picture of your condition and overall health to consistently engaging in the prescribed exercises, you are a critical piece in your knee injury treatment puzzle. 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 therapy treatment may involve a number of therapies to target the source of your knee injury.

Stretches and exercises
Training to correct posture, gait, or other movement technique
Heat and ice therapies
Ultrasound
Electric stimulation
Kinesiology taping
Soft tissue massages or knee joint mobilization

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

Recover from your Knee Injury in Ethlyn, MO Now

If you suffered an acute knee injury while being active or are suffering from any symptoms that you think may be caused by any type of knee injury, do not waste any time. Talk to a trustworthy medical professional right away. 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 Ethlyn, MO will take charge of your recovery. Contact our physical therapy clinics today or find the location nearest you in Ethlyn, MO to restore your mobility and acheive relief from your knee injury.

Knee Injury Ethlyn, MO