Knee Injury in Labadie, MO

Knee Injury in Labadie, MO. A knee injury can wreak havoc on your day to day living, and often persists with long-term symptoms. A knee injury can happen to anyone in Labadie, MO. 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 (such as in certain occupations), and sudden movement or trauma that can happen in accidents and when engaging in physical activities.

Are you experiencing knee-related symptoms like pain, swelling, or buckling? 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 the movement experts at Axes Physical Therapy in the Labadie, MO area. The experienced staff of physical and occupational therapists will design a treatment plan to maximize your recovery and restore you to optimal movement.

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

What Are Knee Injuries?

The knee is the largest human joint, and one that is critical to executing so many of the motions and actions that distinguish us from other animals and allow us to accomplishing the complex tasks our busy lives require. This body part is made up of four types of structures, all of which are susceptible to injury. 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. These bones are attached by groups of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that make it possible for us to move our legs. In addition to joining the separate bones together within the joint, the ligaments also create stability and prevent movement in certain directions. Within the joint, the end of each bone is capped by a layer of cartilage — essentially a cushion that protects the hard bones where they meet and absorbs the shock of movement and weight that introduce pressure to 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 result in 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, speak with Axes Physical Therapy to discuss how to care for and heal your knee injury in Labadie, MO today or schedule an appointment online now.

Prevalence and Common Causes of Knee Injuries in Labadie, 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 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, attributed with 41 percent of all sports injuries. And sports injuries are just one category of knee injury individuals in Labadie, MO and throughout the US can suffer. While athletic activity is the more common culprit for 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 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 experience knee injuries far more often than women, making up 68% of all knee injury sufferers
Fifty percent of all knee injuries occur in sports accidents
Of all sports-related knee injuries, soccer and skiing are the most dangerous sports and activities, together accounting for in excess of a quarter of all sports knee injuries
Other top knee injury causes are 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 Labadie, MO

Sprains and Strains. When you sprain or strain your knee, a muscle or ligament within the joint is damaged. 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 describes a broken bone, and these kinds of injuries range in severity from a hairline fracture or crack in the bone to something much more devastating 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 car accidents, hard falls against solid objects, assaults and other traumatic events.
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 result in 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 Labadie, MO physical therapy services for ACL tears in your area.
Arthritis. There are countless variations of arthritis 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.
Tendonitis and Inflammation. When under constant stress or overuse, tendons in the knee can become inflamed. This is common in people who regularly perform activities like running, jumping, and cycling. A common form of tendonitis in the knee is jumper’s knee. This condition is caused by the severe force of hitting the ground after jumping.

Knee Injury Risk Factors in Labadie, MO

Being overweight. Being overweight or obese increases stress on your knee joints, even during ordinary activities from walking, sitting and standing, and going up and down stairs. It is also a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis because it speeds up 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 protect your joints and keep them properly aligned, while adequately flexible muscles make it possible to safely enjoy full range of motion.
Specific activities and occupations. Some sports put more strain on your knees than do others. Downhill snowboarding and skiing involve rigid boots and harsh landings, the near constant and rapid change of direction in basketball, and the repeated force your knees take when you run or jog all increase your risk of knee injury in Labadie, MO. Occupations that involve repetitive stress on the knees such as installation or farming also can increase your risk.
History of previous injury. Having a previous knee injury puts you at a higher risk of injuring your knee again.
Old age. As our bodies age, our tissues start to wear down. The knee is no exception. The protective cartilage cushioning the bones in your knee can degrade, and diseases like osteoporosis make your bones weak and susceptible to injury.

Do I Need Knee Injury Treatment in Labadie, MO?

As always, each patient is unique and it is important that you speak with a licensed 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, some times immediate medical care is warranted. 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, extensive swelling that happens within 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 Labadie, 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.

Knee Injury Physical Therapy in Labadie, MO

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Labadie, MO area, you will work with one dedicated physical therapist who will lead your knee injury recovery by administering a custom physical therapy treatment plan in Labadie, MO. With years of clinical experience restoring knee injury patients back to optimal 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 Labadie, 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 Labadie, MO appointment with Axes for your knee injury, your physical therapist will conduct 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 critical 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 therapist may employ a number of methods 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 movement health professionals at Axes Physical Therapy in the Labadie, 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. Discover more about our treatment capabilities and the types of conditions we specialize in for patients in the Labadie, MO area, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Labadie, MO Now

If you recently experienced a knee injury or are suffering from symptoms of any type of knee injury, it is important to consult a experienced healthcare 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 Labadie, 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 Labadie, MO area to begin your healing journey and obtain relief from your knee injury.

Knee Injury Labadie, MO