Knee Injury in Jefferson Barracks, MO

Knee Injury in Jefferson Barracks, 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 Jefferson Barracks, MO. A knee injury can happen in any number of situations — often when you least expect it. However, the most common knee-related complaints are knee injuries related to aging, repetitive motions, 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 Axes Physical Therapy for help with your knee injury near Jefferson Barracks, 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 Jefferson Barracks, MO | Jefferson Barracks physical therapy for knee injury

What Do I Need to Know About Knee Injuries?

The knee is 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 performing the complicated tasks we use every day to go about our lives. This joint consists of four types of structures, any of which can be injured or damaged. The knee is made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

There are multiple bones that make up the knee, including the tibia, femur, and patella. These bones are attached 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 provide stability and limit movement in certain directions. Within the joint, the ends of the bones are capped in a layer of cartilage. The cartilage tissue cushions 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, both hard bone and soft tissue, are essential to the healthy functioning of the knee 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 suffer from a chronic condition that could lead to damage to the knee, speak with Axes Physical Therapy to learn about your knee injury treatment options in Jefferson Barracks, MO today or request an appointment online now.

Knee Injury Causes and Prevalence in Jefferson Barracks, MO and the US

The knee is a sophisticated part of the human body — an intricately designed joint that makes it possible for us to move and act in ways that are unique to humans. However, along with the intricate design comes an inherent susceptibility to a number of different injuries. In fact, knee injuries are the most common of all sports injuries, attributed with 41 percent of all sports injuries. And sports injuries are just one type of knee injury individuals in Jefferson Barracks, MO and throughout the US commonly experience. While young people more often get knee injuries from sports and other physical activities, older adults more often get knee injuries after falling or due to the development of a chronic condition like 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 suffer a knee injury
68% of knee injury victims are male
Fifty percent of all knee injuries occur in sports accidents
Of sports-related knee injuries, soccer and skiing are the most dangerous sports and activities, together accounting for over a quarter of all sports knee injuries
Other top knee injury causes are 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 cuts and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Common Types of Knee Injuries in Jefferson Barracks, MO

Sprains and Strains. A sprain or strain knee injury involves a muscle or ligament within the joint structure of the knee. These injuries happen when the knee meets a sudden force or is suddenly forced in the wrong direction (for example, planting the foot and pivoting, twisting the knee in the wrong direction).
Fractures. A fracture is a broken bone, which can be anything from a small, partial crack like a hairline fracture to a much more brutal break such as a comminuted fracture when a bone shatters into multiple fragments. Even the patella, the bone commonly known as the kneecap, can be broken in a knee injury, especially in car accidents, hard falls against solid objects, assaults and other traumatic events.
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 result in a tear to the meniscus (the cartilage between the bones in the knee) and/or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear injuries. You can learn more about our Jefferson Barracks, 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 suffer from 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. Arthritis can result in rapid and irreparable damage of the cartilage and in your knee joint.
Tendonitis and Inflammation. When under constant stress or overuse, tendons in the knee can become inflamed. This is common in people who engage in frequent activities like running, jumping, and cycling. 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 when landing a jump.

Knee Injury Risk Factors in Jefferson Barracks, MO

Excessive weight. Being overweight or obese increases stress on the majority of your joints including your knees, even during ordinary 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 because it speeds up the breakdown of joint cartilage.
Weakness or stiffness. Inadequate strength or flexibility can increase the risk of succumbing to a knee injury. Strong muscles protect your joints and keep them properly aligned, and muscle flexibility can help you reach full range of motion.
Specific activities and occupations. Some sports put greater strain on your knees than do others. Downhill snowboarding and skiing involve rigid boots and potential for falls, the near constant and rapid change of direction in basketball, and the relentless pounding of running or jogging on hard surfaces like pavement all involve a risk of knee injury in Jefferson Barracks, MO. Occupations that require repetitive stress on the knees such as maintenance or farming also can increase your risk.
History of previous injury. Having a previous knee injury makes it more likely that you’ll injure your knee again.
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.

When You Need Jefferson Barracks, MO Knee Injury Treatment

As with any medical condition or injury, each case is unique and it is important that you consult with a licensed medical professional when a knee injury or any condition makes it difficult or impossible for you to function as normal or causes you serious pain. After all, if there was a treatment solution that could treat your chronic pain and restore your mobility in a joint as important as the knee, wouldn’t you try it?

While each injury and patient is different, 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. Quick, extreme swelling that happens in the three to four hours after an instance of acute trauma to the knee is typically a sign that blood is trapped in the joint.

What To Do After a Knee Injury in Jefferson Barracks, 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 Jefferson Barracks, MO

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Jefferson Barracks, MO area, you will work with one dedicated physical therapist who will lead your knee injury recovery for the entirety of your knee injury physical therapy treatment plan in Jefferson Barracks, MO. With years of clinical experience 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 Jefferson Barracks, MO knee injury and return to all the activities you love and need to be able to do for work, home, and recreation.

When you visit Axes near Jefferson Barracks, 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 practicing the prescribed treatments and exercises, 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 variety of therapies to target the source of your knee injury.

Stretches and exercises
Gait and posture training
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 Jefferson Barracks, MO area have experience guiding patients with all kinds of movement disorders, chronic pain, and injuries back to the life and activities they love. Learn more about the conditions we treat and the treatment methods we provide in the Jefferson Barracks, MO area, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Jefferson Barracks, MO Now

If you suffered an acute knee injury while being active or are experiencing symptoms of any type of knee injury, do not waste any time. Talk to a knowledgeable 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 Jefferson Barracks, MO will help you understand your injury and design a tailored treatment plan that works for you. Contact the professionals at any of our accessible treatment locations in the Jefferson Barracks, MO area to begin your healing journey and obtain relief from your knee injury.