Understanding Knee Sprains

A knee sprain develops due to stretching or tearing the ligaments or the strong bands of tissue that connect the bones of the knee. The four main ligaments of the knee that may be damaged are Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Posterior Cruciate Ligament(PCL), Medial Collateral (MCL) and Lateral Collateral Ligaments (LCL). Knee sprains may be the result of twisting the knee, stopping suddenly after a run, awkward landing following a jump or a blow to the knee.

Chances of a knee injury sprain are high for sports persons and people with joint problems, improper coordination, balance and flexibility. Among kids knee sprain is a common occurrence extreme cases of which may require surgical treatment. Inadequate strength of the ligaments also results in knee sprain and symptoms associated with it. Other than the pain in the knee the symptoms comprise of swelling, redness, warmth or bruising around the knee, impaired movement and tenderness of the knee. In some people hip pain caused by knee sprain may be just as intense as a physically injured hip joint. This is called a referred pain and is mainly due to trigger points on the muscles of the hip and the thigh.

The diagnostic tests for knee sprain include X-rays to assess bone damage and MRI scan to check for a ligament tear. Based on the severity of the symptoms the knee sprain and ligament tear are graded into three categories. In grade 1 there is stretching and micro tearing of the tissue while grade 2 and 3 are characterized by partial and complete tearing respectively. There is progressive instability of the joint from grade 1.

Treatment for knee sprain depends on detecting the exact nature of the injury and ligament (if any) involved. This will help in understanding the treatment options available and steps to be taken for rehabilitation. The various modes of knee sprain treatment are, rest, applying an ice pack, elastic compression bandage, keeping the knee elevated to reduce the swelling, anti-inflammatory medications and leg cast. Knee sprain exercises, an integral part of the treatment protocol help to restore flexibility, mobility and strength in the knee. However these exercises should be done only as recommended by the physician or therapist. Surgery is recommended when there is a complete ligament tear involved.

Simple tips for prevention of the knee sprain include following appropriate techniques of exercise including a warm-up and cool-down and a break when excessively tired.