Knee Injury in Woodhine Heights, MO

Knee Injury in Woodhine Heights, MO. Suffering a knee injury can wreak havoc on your everyday life, and even your long-term well-being. There is nobody in Woodhine Heights, MO who is completely immune to the threat of a knee injury. Knee injuries can happen in any number of situations — often when you least expect it. However, the majority of knee injury victims experience damage due to aging, repetitive motions, and trauma and damage caused by an accident or while being physically active.

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 in the Woodhine Heights, MO area. The experienced staff of physical and occupational therapists will help you heal fully and safely.

knee injury Woodhine Heights, MO | Woodhine Heights physical therapy for knee injury

What Do I Need to Know About Knee Injuries?

The knee earns the title of the largest joint in the human body and is critical to executing so many of the motions and actions that distinguish us from other animals and allow us to carry out the complicated tasks we use every day to go about our lives. This joint is made up of four distinct structures, none of which are immune to injury. The knee contains bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

The bones of the knee include the tibia, femur, and patella. These bones are attached by muscle groups, connected by tendons and ligaments, that allow us to move our legs. In addition to joining the separate bones together within the joint, ligaments also create stability and prevent movement in certain directions. Within the joint, the ends of the bones are capped by a layer of cartilage. The cartilage tissue cushions the hard bones from one another 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 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 an acute trauma to your knee or surrounding area or have a chronic condition that could lead to damage to any part of the knee, contact Axes Physical Therapy to discuss your knee injury treatment options in Woodhine Heights, MO today or schedule an appointment online now.

Prevalence and Common Causes of Knee Injuries in Woodhine Heights, MO and the US

The knee is a complex part of the human anatomy — an impeccably designed joint that makes it possible for us to execute tasks and movements that are unique to humans. However, along with the intricate design comes an inherent susceptibility to a number of different 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 are just one type of knee injury individuals in Woodhine Heights, MO and throughout the US can suffer. While physical activity is the more popular 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:

Adolescents 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
Men are more likely to have a knee injury than women, with 68% of knee injury patients categorized as male
Half of all knee injuries occur in sports accidents
Among sports-related knee injuries, the sports activities most likely to lead to injury are soccer and skiing, each responsible for more than a quarter of all sports knee injuries
After sports injuries, 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%; next are contusions and abrasions at 27.1% and cuts and puncture wounds at 10.5%

Common Types of Knee Injuries in Woodhine Heights, MO

Sprains and Strains. A sprain or strain knee injury involves a muscle or ligament within the joint structure of the knee. Injuries of this nature 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 stress fracture or crack in the bone to something much more devastating like a comminuted fracture when the bone is crushed into multiple fragments. Even the kneecap bone, or the patella, 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 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 treatment and therapy services for Woodhine Heights, MO 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 or stiffness, 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 common in people who frequently perform activities like running, jumping, and cycling. 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 after jumping.

Knee Injury Risk Factors in Woodhine Heights, MO

Excessive weight. Being overweight or obese puts undue 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 because it speeds up the breakdown of joint cartilage.
Muscle or bone weakness or stiffness. Inadequate strength or flexibility can put you at a heightened risk of knee injuries. Strong muscles help stabilize and protect your joints, while adequate muscle flexibility can help you safely achieve full range of motion.
Some activities and occupations. Some sports put more stress on your knees than do others. Downhill snowboarding and skiing involve rigid boots and harsh landings, basketball jumps and pivots, and the repeated pounding of running or jogging on hard surfaces like pavement all increase your risk of knee injury in Woodhine Heights, MO. Jobs that involve activities that put stress on the knees like construction or farming also can increase your risk.
History of previous injury. Being injured in the past makes it more likely that you’ll injure your knee again.
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 degrade, and conditions associated with advanced age like osteoporosis make your bones weak and susceptible to injury.

When You Need Woodhine Heights, MO Knee Injury Treatment

As always, each case is different 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, 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, in some cases emergency medical attention should be sought. 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 is a hallmark sign that the injury is serious and medical care is warranted. Rapid, extensive swelling that happens within three to four hours after an instance of acute trauma to the knee is usually a sign that blood is trapped in the joint.

What To Do After a Knee Injury in Woodhine Heights, 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 Woodhine Heights, MO

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for knee injury treatment near you in the Woodhine Heights, 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 Woodhine Heights, MO. With years of clinical experience restoring knee injury patients back to full performance, your physical therapist will draw upon their extensive education and the most current evidence-based practices to help you successfully heal from your Woodhine Heights, 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 Woodhine Heights, MO for your first appointment after a suspected knee injury, your physical therapist will conduct 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, you are a critical piece in your knee injury treatment puzzle. It is imperative that you take an active role in your physical therapy treatment of your knee injury.

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 variety of methods to target 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 experts in movement health and the musculoskeletal system at Axes Physical Therapy in the Woodhine Heights, MO area have experience guiding patients with all kinds of movement disorders, chronic pain, and injuries back to the life and activities they care about. Learn more about our treatment capabilities and the types of conditions we specialize in for patients in the Woodhine Heights, MO area, such as:

Recover from your Knee Injury in Woodhine Heights, MO Now

If you recently experienced a 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 as soon as possible. As musculoskeletal specialists with expertise in movement and the human body, the physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy in Woodhine Heights, MO will take charge of your recovery. Contact our Woodhine Heights, 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.

Knee Injury Woodhine Heights, MO