Knee Injury in Grantwood Village, MO

Knee Injury in Grantwood Village, MO. Suffering a knee injury can wreak havoc on your everyday life, and often results in long-term harm. There is nobody in Grantwood Village, 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 aging, exposure to repetitive motions (such as in certain occupations), and trauma and damage caused by an accident or while being physically active.

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. Increase your chances of a full, successful recovery by trusting Axes Physical Therapy near Grantwood Village, MO. Our team of physical and occupational therapists will design a treatment plan to maximize your recovery and restore you to optimal movement.

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What Are Knee Injuries?

The knee earns the title of the largest human joint and is pivotal to many of the actions, motions, and functions that distinguish us from other animals, making it possible for us to accomplishing the complex tasks we use every day to go about our lives. This joint is made up of four distinct structures, any of which can be injured or damaged. The knee is made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

There are a number of bones that make up the knee, including the tibia, femur, and patella. The three bones are attached by muscle groups, connected by tendons and ligaments, that allow us to stand, sit, walk, and move. In addition to joining the separate bones together within the joint, ligaments act to create stability and prevent movement in certain directions. Within the joint, the ends of the bones are capped in a layer of cartilage — essentially a cushion that protects the hard bones where they meet 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 damage to any one or more of these areas can lead to a knee injury. If you or a family member recently experienced an acute trauma to your knee or surrounding area or have developed a chronic condition that could cause damage to the knee, reach out to Axes Physical Therapy to learn about how to care for and heal your knee injury in Grantwood Village, MO today or book an appointment online now.

Knee Injury Causes and Prevalence in Grantwood Village, MO and the US

The knee is a complex part of the human anatomy — an impeccably constructed joint that makes it possible for us to move and act in ways that are unique to humans. But this complex joint is susceptible to a variety of injuries. In fact, knee injuries are the most common of all sports injuries, attributed with 41 percent of all sports injuries. But sports injuries are just one type of knee injury individuals in Grantwood Village, MO and throughout the US can suffer. 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 such as 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
68% of knee injury victims are male
Nearly half (49.5%) of all knee injuries occur in sports accidents
Among sports-related knee injuries, soccer and skiing are the most dangerous sports and activities, together accounting for more than a quarter of all knee injuries related to sports
After sports injuries, 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 cuts and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Common Types of Knee Injuries in Grantwood Village, MO

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 another word for a broken bone, and these kinds of injuries range in extent from a hairline fracture or crack in the bone to something much more devastating such as a comminuted fracture when a bone shatters into several pieces. Even the patella, the bone commonly known as the kneecap, can be fractured during a knee injury, especially in events such as car accidents or forceful falls on hard surfaces.
Cartilage or Ligament Tears. Injury to the ligaments and cartilage in and around the knee are often 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 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 Grantwood Village, MO physical therapy services for ACL tears near you.
Arthritis. Many different types of arthritis exist 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 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 Inflammation. When under constant stress or overuse, tendons in the knee can become inflamed. This is commonly found in patients who engage in frequent running, jumping, or cycling activities. One of the most common types of tendonitis knee injuries is jumper’s knee. This condition is caused by the repeated force of hitting the ground after jumping.

Risk Factors for a Knee Injury in Grantwood Village, MO

Being overweight. Being overweight or obese introduces inordinate stress on the majority of your joints including your knees, even during what are generally considered light activities from walking, sitting and standing, and going up and down stairs. It is also a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis by accelerating the breakdown of joint cartilage.
Weakness or stiffness. A lack of strength and flexibility can put you at a heightened risk of succumbing to a knee injury. Strong muscles help stabilize and protect your joints, and adequate muscle flexibility can help you safely enjoy full range of motion.
Certain activities and occupations. Some athletic and occupational activities put greater stress on your knees than do others. Alpine snowboarding and skiing involve rigid boots and harsh landings, basketball jumps and pivots, and the relentless pounding of running or jogging on hard surfaces like pavement all increase your risk of knee injury in Grantwood Village, MO. Jobs that involve repetitive stress on the knees such as installation or farming put you at an increased risk as well.
Previous Injury. Being injured in the past makes it more likely that you’ll injure your knee again.
Old age. As we age, our tissues start to wear down. The knee is no exception. The protective cartilage cushioning the bones in your knee can wear thin, and conditions associated with advanced age like osteoporosis leave your bones weak and susceptible to injury.

Do I Need Knee Injury Treatment in Grantwood Village, MO?

As with any medical condition or injury, each case is unique and you should always speak with a licensed and practiced medical 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, there are certain times that immediate medical care is necessary. Specifically, when you suffer 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 indicates a serious injury that necessitates immediate medical care. Rapid, extensive swelling that happens in the 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 Grantwood Village, 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 Grantwood Village, MO

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Grantwood Village, MO area, you will work with one dedicated physical therapist who will work with you by administering a custom physical therapy treatment plan in Grantwood Village, MO. With extensive clinical success restoring knee injury patients back to optimal performance, your physical therapist will draw upon their extensive education and the most current evidence-based practices to treat the cause of your Grantwood Village, 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.

During your first Grantwood Village, MO appointment with Axes for your 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, it is imperative that you are an active participant 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 treatment modalities to target the source of your knee injury.

Therapeutic exercises and stretches
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 Grantwood Village, 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 care about. Discover more about our treatment capabilities and the types of conditions we specialize in for patients near Grantwood Village, MO, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Grantwood Village, MO Now

If you recently experienced a knee injury or are experiencing symptoms of any type of knee injury, do not waste any time. Talk to a knowledgeable healthcare professional right away. As musculoskeletal specialists with expertise in movement and the human body, the physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy in Grantwood Village, MO will help you understand your injury and design a tailored treatment plan that works for you. Contact our physical therapy clinics today or find the location nearest you in Grantwood Village, MO to take the first step toward healing and relief from your knee injury.