Knee Injury in Wilbur Park, MO

Knee Injury in Wilbur Park, MO. Suffering a knee injury can wreak havoc on your everyday life, and even your long-term well-being. There is nobody in Wilbur Park, 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, 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 the movement experts at Axes Physical Therapy near Wilbur Park, MO. Our team 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 joint in the human body and is integral to executing so many of the actions, motions, and functions that are unique to humans and allow us to performing the complicated tasks our busy lives require. The knee is made up 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 a number of bones that make up the knee, including the tibia, femur, and patella. These bones are held in place by groups of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that work together to make it possible for us to move our legs. In addition to joining the separate bones together within the joint, the ligaments act to provide stability and limit movement in certain directions. Within 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 parts that make up the knee, both hard bone and soft tissue, are essential 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 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 any part of the knee, speak with Axes Physical Therapy to learn about how to care for and heal your knee injury in Wilbur Park, MO today or request an appointment online now.

Prevalence and Common Causes of Knee Injuries in Wilbur Park, MO and the US

The human knee is a complex part of the human body — an intricately designed joint that allows us to execute tasks and movements that are unique to humans. But this complex joint is vulnerable to a number of different injuries. In fact, knee injuries are the most common of all sports injuries, contributing to 41 percent of all sports injuries. And sports injuries are just one category of knee injury individuals in Wilbur Park, MO and throughout the US can suffer. Though 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.

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
68% of knee injury victims are male
Nearly half (49.5%) 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, each responsible for over a quarter of all sports-related knee injuries
After sports injuries, top causes of knee injuries are related to 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, followed by contusions and abrasions at 27.1% and lacerations and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Common Types of Knee Injuries in Wilbur Park, MO

Sprains and Strains. When you sprain or strain your knee, a muscle or ligament within the joint is affected. Injuries of this nature are caused by sudden force to the knee or a sudden or unintended motion of the knee (for example, planting the foot and pivoting, twisting the knee in the wrong direction).
Fractures. A fracture is another word for a broken bone, and these kinds of injuries range in extent from a stress fracture or crack in the bone to a much more brutal break like a comminuted fracture when the bone shatters into multiple fragments. Even the patella, the bone commonly known as the kneecap, can be broken during 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 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 treatment and therapy services for Wilbur Park, MO 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 suffer from arthritis or a similar condition and have symptoms of a knee injury like pain or stiffness, you may have an arthritis-induced knee injury. You may even be at risk of developing bone spurs. Arthritis can result in rapid and irreparable damage of the cartilage and in your knee joint.
Tendonitis and Other Forms of Inflammation. Tendons in the knee area can become inflamed through overuse or repeated stress, common in individuals who regularly perform running, jumping, or cycling activities. One of the most common types of tendonitis knee injuries is jumper’s knee because of the strain to the tendon that occurs as a result of the severe force of hitting the ground when landing a jump.

Knee Injury Risk Factors in Wilbur Park, MO

Being overweight. Being overweight or obese puts undue stress on your knees and most other joints in the body, even during ordinary activities from walking, sitting and standing, and 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.
Muscle or bone 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 adequate muscle flexibility make it possible to achieve full range of motion.
Certain activities and occupations. Some sports put greater strain on your knees than do others. Alpine skiing with its rigid ski boots and potential for falls, the near constant and rapid change of direction in basketball, and the repeated force of running or jogging on hard surfaces like pavement all involve a risk of knee injury in Wilbur Park, MO. Jobs that involve activities that put stress on the knees like maintenance or farming put you at an increased risk as well.
Previous Injury. Having a previous knee injury puts you at a higher risk of injuring your knee again.
Old 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 break down, and diseases like osteoporosis leave your bones weak, making you.

Do I Need Knee Injury Treatment in Wilbur Park, MO?

As always, each case is different and it is important that you consult with a licensed and practiced 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, 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 is a hallmark sign that the injury is serious and medical care is warranted. Rapid, extensive 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.

What To Do After a Knee Injury in Wilbur Park, 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 Wilbur Park, MO

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Wilbur Park, MO area, you will be assigned a dedicated physical therapist who will work with you for the entirety of your knee injury physical therapy treatment plan in Wilbur Park, MO. With extensive clinical success 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 Wilbur Park, MO knee injury and return to all the activities you value so you can go about your regular life at home, at work, and in your personal time.

When you visit Axes near Wilbur Park, 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 physical therapy treatment of your knee injury.

Your physical therapist will devise a custom treatment plan to eliminate pain and other symptoms, repair damaged tissue, and restore your mobility. To this end, your physical therapy treatment may involve a variety of treatments to target the source of your knee injury.

Therapeutic exercises and stretches
Gait and posture training
Heat and ice applications
Ultrasound
Electric stimulation
Kinesiology taping
Soft tissue massages or knee joint mobilization

The physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy in the Wilbur Park, 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. Find out more about our treatment capabilities and the types of conditions we specialize in for patients near Wilbur Park, MO, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Wilbur Park, 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 experienced medical 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 Wilbur Park, MO will guide you in your recovery by creating a personalized treatment plan based on the latest proven practices in movement health. Contact our Wilbur Park, MO treatment professionals or find our facility that is most convenient for you to take the first step toward healing and relief from your knee injury.