Knee Injury in Herculaneum, MO

Knee Injury in Herculaneum, MO. Suffering a knee injury can wreak havoc on your day to day living, and often results in long-term harm. Anyone could be at risk of a knee injury in Herculaneum, MO. A knee injury can happen in any number of situations — often when you least expect it. However, knee injuries are most commonly caused by age-related deterioration, exposure to repetitive motions (such as in certain occupations), and trauma and damage caused by an accident or while being physically active.

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 the movement experts at Axes Physical Therapy in the Herculaneum, MO area. The experienced staff of physical and occupational therapists will help you heal fully and safely.

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What Are Knee Injuries?

The knee earns the title of the largest human joint, and one that is pivotal to many of the actions, motions, and functions that are unique to humans and allow us to accomplishing the complex tasks our busy lives require. The knee is made up of four different structures, none of which are immune to injury. The knee contains bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

The bones of the knee include the tibia, femur, and patella. These three bones are bound together by groups of muscles, which are connected together by 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, the ligaments act to create stability and prevent movement in certain directions. Inside the joint, the end of each bone is 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 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 lead to a knee injury. If you or a family member have recently experienced an acute trauma in or around your knee or have developed a chronic condition that could lead to damage to any part of the knee, contact Axes Physical Therapy to learn about your knee injury treatment options in Herculaneum, MO today or request an appointment online now.

Knee Injury Statistics in in Herculaneum, MO and the US

The knee is a sophisticated part of the human body — an impeccably constructed joint that allows us to move and act in ways that are unique to humans. But this intricate joint is susceptible 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 are just one category of knee injury individuals in Herculaneum, 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 provided by 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
Of sports-related knee injuries, the sports activities most likely to lead to injury are soccer and skiing, together accounting for more than a quarter of all knee injuries related to sports
Other top knee injury causes are related to home structures (30.2%), and home furnishings (13.6%)
The overwhelmingly most common knee injury diagnoses are strains and sprains at 42.1%, followed by contusions and abrasions at 27.1% and cuts and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Most Common Herculaneum, MO Knee Injuries

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 the bone is crushed into multiple 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. Sudden changes in direction such as twisting and pivoting motions 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 learn more about our Herculaneum, MO physical therapy services for ACL tears in your area.
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 or stiffness, you may have an arthritis-induced knee injury. You may even be at risk of developing bone spurs. Arthritis can result in rapid and irreversible degeneration of the cartilage and in your knee joint. 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 common in individuals who engage in frequent running, jumping, or cycling activities. A common form of tendonitis in the knee is jumper’s knee. This condition is caused by the repeated force of hitting the ground after jumping.

Knee Injury Risk Factors in Herculaneum, MO

Excessive weight. Heaviness or obesity increases stress on the majority of your joints including your knees, even during ordinary activities such as walking or going up and down stairs. It is also a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis by accelerating the breakdown of joint cartilage.
Weakness or stiffness. Inadequate strength or flexibility can increase the risk of succumbing to a knee injury. Strong muscles help stabilize and protect your joints, while adequately flexible muscles make it possible to achieve full range of motion.
Some activities and occupations. Some sports put more strain on your knees than do others. Downhill snowboarding and skiing involve rigid boots and harsh landings, basketball jumps and pivots, and the repeated force your knees take when you run or jog all increase your risk of knee injury in Herculaneum, MO. Jobs that involve repetitive stress on the knees like construction 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.
Advanced age. As our bodies age, the tissues in our body wear down. The knee is no exception. The protective cartilage cushioning the bones in your knee can break down, and diseases like osteoporosis make your bones weak and susceptible to injury.

When You Need Herculaneum, MO Knee Injury Treatment

As always, each patient is different and it is important that you consult with a licensed medical professional any time you experience a condition such as a knee injury that 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, in some cases emergency medical attention should be sought. 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 indicates a serious injury that necessitates immediate medical care. Immediate, significant swelling that happens within three to four hours after an instance of acute trauma to the knee is typically a sign that blood is trapped in the joint.

Types of Treatments for Knee Injuries in Herculaneum, 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 Herculaneum, 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 Herculaneum, MO knee injury patient is different and every injury varies in severity, so your knee injury treatment plan in Herculaneum, 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 Herculaneum, MO

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Herculaneum, MO area, you will be assigned a dedicated physical therapist who will lead your knee injury recovery by administering a custom physical therapy treatment plan in Herculaneum, MO. With extensive clinical success restoring knee injury patients back to optimal 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 Herculaneum, MO knee injury and return to all the activities you care about so you can go about your regular life at home, at work, and in your personal time.

During your first Herculaneum, MO appointment with Axes for your knee injury, your physical therapist will perform a full injury screening and evaluation of your condition. From ensuring that your physical therapist is operating with a complete picture of your condition and overall health to consistently practicing the prescribed treatments and exercises, it is critical 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 variety of treatments to target your knee injury.

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

The experts in movement health and the musculoskeletal system at Axes Physical Therapy in the Herculaneum, MO area have experience guiding patients with all kinds of movement disorders, chronic pain, and injuries back to the life and activities they love. Discover more about our treatment capabilities and the types of conditions we specialize in for patients near Herculaneum, MO, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Herculaneum, MO Now

If you recently experienced a knee injury or are experiencing any symptoms that you think may be caused by any type of knee injury, do not waste any time. Contact a trustworthy healthcare 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 Herculaneum, MO will guide you in your recovery by creating a personalized treatment plan based on the latest proven practices in movement health. Contact our Herculaneum, 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.