Knee Injury in Preston Woods, MO

Knee Injury in Preston Woods, MO. Suffering a knee injury can wreak havoc on your day to day living, and is likely to cause long-term symptoms. A knee injury can happen to anyone in Preston Woods, 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 aging, exposure to 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 for help with your knee injury near Preston Woods, MO. Our team of physical and occupational therapists will help you heal fully and safely.

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What Are Knee Injuries?

The knee is the largest human joint and is integral to many of the actions, motions, and functions that distinguish us from other animals and allow us to performing the complicated tasks our busy lives require. The knee consists of four types of structures, none of which are immune 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 three bones are bound together by groups of muscles, which are connected together by tendons and ligaments, that allow us to stand, sit, walk, and move. In addition to joining the separate bones together within the joint, ligaments also create stability and prevent movement in certain directions. Inside the joint, the ends of the bones are capped by 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 essential to the healthy functioning of the knee joint, and damage to any one or more of these areas can cause a knee injury. If you or a family member recently suffered an acute 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 learn about your knee injury treatment options in Preston Woods, MO today or schedule an appointment online now.

Knee Injury Statistics in in Preston Woods, MO and the US

The knee is a complex part of the human anatomy — an intricately designed joint that makes it possible for us to move and act in ways that are unique to humans. But this complex joint is susceptible 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 type of knee injury individuals in Preston Woods, MO and throughout the US commonly experience. While physical activity is the more common 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.

Consider these fast knee injury 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
Men experience knee injuries far more often than women, with 68% of knee injury patients categorized as male
Nearly half (49.5%) of all knee injuries take place during physical activity
Among sports-related knee injuries, soccer and skiing are the most dangerous sports and activities, each responsible for over a quarter of all sports-related knee injuries
Other top causes of knee injuries are related to 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, followed by contusions and abrasions at 27.1% and cuts and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Most Common Preston Woods, MO Knee Injuries

Sprains and Strains. A sprain or strain knee injury involves a muscle or ligament within the joint structure of the knee. 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 is a broken bone, which can be anything from a hairline fracture or crack in the bone to something much more devastating such as a comminuted fracture when a bone is crushed into multiple fragments. Even the patella, the bone commonly known as the kneecap, can be fractured in a knee injury, especially in events such as car accidents or forceful falls on hard surfaces.
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 cause a meniscus tear — the cartilage padding the knee where the bones meet — and/or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear injuries. You can get more information about our Preston Woods, MO physical therapy services for ACL tears near you.
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 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. 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 common in people who regularly perform running, jumping, or cycling activities. A common form of tendonitis in the knee is what is known as 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.

Risk Factors for a Knee Injury in Preston Woods, MO

Being overweight. Being overweight or obese introduces inordinate stress on your knees and most other joints in the body, even during ordinary activities such as walking or going up and down stairs. Being at an unhealthy excessive weight 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 protect your joints and keep them properly aligned, while adequate muscle flexibility can help you reach full range of motion.
Certain activities and occupations. Some athletic and occupational activities put greater strain on your knees than do others. Alpine skiing with its rigid ski boots and potential for falls, basketball jumps and pivots, and the repeated force of running or jogging on hard surfaces like pavement all involve a risk of knee injury in Preston Woods, MO. Jobs that involve repetitive stress on the knees like auto work or farming also can increase your risk.
Previous Injury. Being injured in the past puts you at a higher risk of injuring your knee again.
Advanced age. As our bodies age, the tissues in our body wear down. The cartilage protecting your knee joint can wear thin, and diseases like osteoporosis leave your bones weak and susceptible to injury.

Do I Need Knee Injury Treatment in Preston Woods, MO?

As with any medical condition or injury, each case is different and it is important that you consult with a licensed medical 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, 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 is a hallmark sign that the injury is serious and medical care is warranted. Immediate, extensive swelling that occurs 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 Preston Woods, 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 Preston Woods, 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 Preston Woods, MO knee injury patient is different and every injury varies in severity, so your knee injury treatment plan in Preston Woods, 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 Preston Woods, MO

As a valued knee injury treatment patient with Axes Physical Therapy in the Preston Woods, MO area, you will work with one dedicated physical therapist who will work with you by administering a custom physical therapy treatment plan in Preston Woods, MO. With years of clinical experience restoring knee injury patients back to optimal performance, your physical therapist will draw upon their extensive education and the most current evidence-based practices to help you successfully heal from your Preston Woods, 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 Preston Woods, 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 engaging in the prescribed exercises, you are a critical piece in your knee injury treatment puzzle. It is critical 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 therapy treatment may involve a number of therapies 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 Preston Woods, MO area have experience guiding patients with all kinds of movement disorders, chronic pain, and injuries back to the life and activities they love. Find out more about the conditions we treat and the treatment methods we provide in the Preston Woods, MO area, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Preston Woods, MO Now

If you suffered an acute knee injury while being active or are experiencing any symptoms that you think may be caused by any type of knee injury, it is important to consult 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 Preston Woods, 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 Preston Woods, MO to restore your mobility and acheive relief from your knee injury.