Knee Injury in Old Jamestown, MO

Knee Injury in Old Jamestown, MO. Suffering a knee injury can wreak havoc on your everyday life, and often persists with long-term symptoms. There is nobody in Old Jamestown, 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, and sudden movement or trauma that can happen in accidents and when engaging in physical activities.

If you have any symptoms related to the knee — pain, buckling, stiffness, swelling or irritation — you could be suffering from a knee injury. Increase your chances of a full, successful recovery by trusting the movement experts at Axes Physical Therapy for help with your knee injury in the Old Jamestown, MO area. Our team of physical and occupational therapists will help you heal fully and safely.

knee injury Old Jamestown, MO | Old Jamestown physical therapy for knee injury

What Do I Need to Know About Knee Injuries?

The knee is the largest human joint, and one that is critical to many of the motions and actions that are unique to humans, making it possible for us to performing the complex tasks we use every day to go about our lives. This joint consists of four distinct structures, all of which are susceptible to injury. The knee contains bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

There are multiple bones that make up the knee, including the tibia, femur, and patella. These bones are held together by groups of muscles, which are connected together by 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 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 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 any kind of trauma in or around your knee or suffer from a chronic condition that could lead to damage to the knee structure, reach out to Axes Physical Therapy to discuss how to care for and heal your knee injury in Old Jamestown, MO today or book an appointment online now.

Prevalence and Common Causes of Knee Injuries in Old Jamestown, MO and the US

The knee is a complex part of the human body — a beautifully designed joint that allows us to execute tasks and movements other animals cannot. However, the intricate joint design brings with it an inherent susceptibility to a variety of injuries. In fact, knee injuries account for the most common type of sports injury, contributing to 41 percent of all sports injuries. And sports injuries make up only one category of knee injury individuals in Old Jamestown, MO and throughout the US commonly experience. While athletic activity is the more likely culprit for 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.

Check out these fast knee injury 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 suffer a knee injury
68% of knee injury victims are male
Fifty percent of all knee injuries occur in sports accidents
Among sports-related knee injuries, soccer and skiing are the most dangerous sports and activities, each responsible for in excess of a quarter of all sports knee injuries
Other top causes of knee injuries are related to 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%, followed by contusions and abrasions at 27.1% and lacerations and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Most Common Old Jamestown, MO Knee Injuries

Sprains and Strains. When you sprain or strain your knee, a muscle or ligament within the joint is damaged. Injuries of this nature 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 describes a broken bone, which can be anything from a small, partial crack like a hairline fracture to something much more devastating such as a comminuted fracture when a bone is crushed into multiple pieces. Even the patella, the bone commonly known as the kneecap, 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. 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 result in a tear to the meniscus — 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 Old Jamestown, MO physical therapy services for ACL tears near you.
Arthritis. There are countless variations of arthritis and each patient has their own unique experience of their condition. However, if you live with a chronic condition like arthritis and have symptoms of a knee injury like pain and limited mobility, you may have an arthritis-induced knee injury. You may even be at risk of developing 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 frequently perform 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 severe force of hitting the ground after jumping.

Risk Factors for a Knee Injury in Old Jamestown, MO

Excessive weight. Heaviness or obesity introduces inordinate stress on your knees and most other joints in the body, even during what are generally considered light activities from walking, sitting and standing, and going up and down stairs. It also puts you at increased risk of 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, while adequately flexible muscles can help you enjoy full range of motion.
Certain activities and occupations. Some athletic and occupational activities put more strain on your knees than do others. Downhill skiing with its rigid ski boots and harsh landings, basketball jumps and pivots, and the repeated pounding your knees take when you run or jog all involve a risk of knee injury in Old Jamestown, MO. Occupations that involve repetitive stress on the knees like 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.
Advanced age. As we age, the tissues in our body 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 make your bones weak and susceptible to injury.

When You Need Old Jamestown, MO Knee Injury Treatment

As with any medical condition or injury, each patient is different and it is important that you consult with a licensed and practiced healthcare professional when a knee injury or any condition affects your ability to function normally or live comfortably. 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 your experience as a patient is unique, some times immediate medical care is warranted. Specifically, when you suffer 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 usually a sign that blood is trapped in the joint.

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

Knee Injury Physical Therapy in Old Jamestown, MO

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Old Jamestown, MO area, you will work with a dedicated physical therapist who will lead your knee injury recovery by administering a custom physical therapy treatment plan in Old Jamestown, MO. With extensive clinical success guiding knee injury patients back to optimal movement health, 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 Old Jamestown, MO knee injury and return to all the activities you value and need to be able to do for work, home, and recreation.

When you visit Axes near Old Jamestown, 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 critical that you are an active participant in your knee injury physical therapy treatment.

Your physical therapist will devise a custom treatment plan to eliminate pain and other symptoms, repair tissue damage, and restore your mobility. To this end, your physical therapist may employ a number 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 experts in movement health and the musculoskeletal system at Axes Physical Therapy in the Old Jamestown, MO area have experience guiding patients with all kinds of movement disorders, chronic pain, and injuries back to the life and activities they value. Find out more about the conditions we treat and the treatment methods we provide near Old Jamestown, MO, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Old Jamestown, MO Now

If you suffered an acute knee injury while being active or are suffering from symptoms of any type of knee injury, it is important to consult a trustworthy healthcare professional right away. As musculoskeletal specialists with expertise in movement and the human body, the physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy in Old Jamestown, MO will guide you in your recovery by creating a personalized treatment plan based on the latest proven practices in movement health. Contact our physical therapy clinics today or find the location nearest you in Old Jamestown, MO to begin your healing journey and obtain relief from your knee injury.

Knee Injury Old Jamestown, MO