Knee Injury in Mehlville, MO

Knee Injury in Mehlville, MO. A knee injury has the power to disrupt your daily life, and even your long-term well-being. Anyone could be at risk of a knee injury in Mehlville, MO. Knee injuries can happen in any number of situations — often when you least expect it. However, knee injuries are most commonly caused by advanced age, repetitive motions, 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 Axes Physical Therapy in the Mehlville, MO area. The experienced staff of physical and occupational therapists will guide you in a recovery plan that leaves you stronger and healthier than ever before.

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What Do I Need to Know About Knee Injuries?

The knee is the largest human joint, and one that is pivotal to executing so many of the motions and actions that distinguish us from other animals, making it possible for us to performing the complex tasks our busy lives require. The knee consists of four distinct 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. The three bones are held together by groups of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that work together to make it possible for us to stand, sit, walk, and move. In addition to connecting bones within the joint together, ligaments act to create stability and limit 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, whether soft tissue or bone, are essential 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 have recently suffered any kind of trauma in or around your knee or suffer from a chronic condition that could lead to damage to any part of the knee, speak with Axes Physical Therapy to discuss the best choice for the treatment of a knee injury in Mehlville, MO today or request an appointment online now.

Knee Injury Statistics in in Mehlville, MO and the US

The human knee is a sophisticated part of the human body — an impeccably designed joint that makes it possible for us to execute tasks and movements other animals cannot. However, the intricate joint design brings with it an inherent susceptibility to a number of different injuries. In fact, knee injuries are the most common of all sports injuries, making up 41 percent of all sports injuries. And sports injuries make up only one type of knee injury that people in Mehlville, MO and throughout the US commonly experience. Though physical activity is the more popular 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 such as osteoarthritis.

Learn more about knee injuries through the following 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
68% of knee injury victims are male
Fifty percent of all knee injuries are caused by sports-related injuries
Among all 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 sports-related knee injuries
Other top knee injury causes are home structures (30.2%), and home furnishings (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 Mehlville, MO

Sprains and Strains. When you sprain or strain your knee, a muscle or ligament within the joint is affected. These injuries 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 hairline fracture or crack in the bone to something much more devastating such as a comminuted fracture when the bone is crushed 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. Sudden changes in direction such as twisting and pivoting motions can also cause a meniscus tear — the cartilage padding the knee where the bones meet — 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 Mehlville, MO physical therapy services for ACL tears in your area.
Arthritis. There are countless variations of arthritis and each patient has their own unique experience of their condition. However, if you live with arthritis or a similar condition and have symptoms of a knee injury like pain or stiffness, 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 Other Forms of Inflammation. Tendons in the knee area can become inflamed through overuse or repeated stress, common in individuals who frequently perform running, jumping, or cycling activities. One of the most common types of tendonitis knee injuries is what is known as jumper’s knee. This condition is caused by the repeated force of hitting the ground after jumping.

Risk Factors for a Knee Injury in Mehlville, MO

Being overweight. 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. Being at an unhealthy excessive weight 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 increase the risk of knee injuries. Strong muscles help stabilize and protect your joints, while adequately flexible muscles can help you safely achieve full range of motion.
Specific activities and occupations. Some athletic and occupational activities put more strain on your knees than do others. Alpine snowboarding and skiing involve rigid boots and potential for falls, basketball jumps and pivots, and the repeated pounding your knees take when you run or jog all involve a risk of knee injury in Mehlville, MO. Jobs that require repetitive stress on the knees such as maintenance or farming also can increase your risk.
Previous Injury. Having a previous knee injury makes it more likely that you’ll injure 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 conditions associated with advanced age like osteoporosis leave your bones weak and susceptible to injury.

When You Need Treatment for your Knee Injury in Mehlville, MO

As always, each case is unique and you should always speak with a licensed medical professional any time you experience a condition such as a knee injury that makes it difficult or impossible for you to function as normal or causes you serious pain. 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 knee injury sufferer is unique, in some cases emergency medical attention should be sought. After suffering 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, significant 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.

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

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Mehlville, 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 Mehlville, MO. With extensive clinical success guiding 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 Mehlville, 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 Mehlville, 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 providing a full and accurate picture of your overall health to consistently practicing the prescribed treatments and 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 therapist may employ a number of treatment modalities to target the source of your knee injury.

Stretches and exercises
Training to correct posture, gait, or other movement technique
Heat and ice applications
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 Mehlville, MO area have successfully treated hundreds of patients with pain, injuries, and chronic conditions and have restored their ability to do the activities they love. Discover more about the conditions we treat and the treatment methods we provide near Mehlville, MO, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Mehlville, MO Now

If you suffered an acute knee injury or are suffering from symptoms of any type of knee injury, it is important to consult a experienced medical 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 Mehlville, MO will guide you in your recovery by creating a personalized treatment plan based on the latest proven practices in movement health. Contact our Mehlville, MO treatment professionals or find our facility that is most convenient for you to begin your healing journey and obtain relief from your knee injury.