Knee Conditions
Arthritis: Arthritis is a prevailing disease that causes swelling, stiffness, and often, excruciating discomfort in the joints. Most commonly, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the leading culprits of this condition that will afflict the knees.
Bursitis: Within every knee (shoulder and elbow) is a small sac of fluid called the bursa. When overused, this sac can become inflamed and cause great discomfort in the knee. Bursitis is identified by symptoms of swelling, soreness when moving the knee, and tenderness.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome: This condition occurs when there’s inflammation in tight bands of tissue that run along each side of your legs from your hip to your shinbone. The Iliotibial Band can become irritated due to repetitive motion, such as running or walking, which causes aggravation in your outer thigh area that may extend into your knees. Symptoms often start gradually but can worsen over time if left untreated. Common signs are tightness, tenderness, weakness, clicking, or sharp stinging in the knee or thigh during activity.
Patellofemoral Syndrome: Also known as “runner’s knee,” this syndrome occurs when there is excessive pressure placed on your patella (kneecap), creating irritation between it and the femur (thighbone). Symptoms include localized tenderness, difficulty straightening the leg fully without feeling discomfort, an occasional popping sound coming from the back of the knee with flexion/extension movements, hopping gait, or abrupt onset of shooting during physical activities.
Knee Injuries
Torn Meniscus: The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that provides cushioning and stability in the knee joint between the thigh and shin bones. A torn meniscus usually results from sudden twists and force applied through contact sports injuries or playing other physically demanding activities. Symptoms include a locking grinding feeling, a catching sensation felt while extending limbs, instability, swelling, and stiffness around the joint.
Torn ACL, PCL, MCL, or LCL: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligaments are the ligaments stabilizers of the knee. The ACL and MCL are two common parts of the knee that can become injured. An ACL tear occurs when a force is applied to the ligament, causing it to tear away from the bone. An MCL tear can happen during a fall or while playing sports, and the ligaments are stretched beyond their natural limits, forcing them to strain or tear apart. Symptoms associated with these tears depend on severity but could include intense piercing & swelling, difficulty straightening the leg fully without feeling discomfort, instability, lack of full-range motion, and strength.
Dislocation of Kneecap: When the kneecap (patella) is moved from its ordinary position and cannot return, it has been dislocated. This can be caused by strong muscle contractions, especially after a fall, impact, or blow to the knee joint. Indications of an injury include extreme sensitivity, swelling, visible redness, and a loss of mobility in the knee.
Fracture: A fracture is a type of impact trauma that can occur to the knee joint during sports or after a fall when the bone is cracked or broken. Symptoms vary depending on which bone was fractured but most commonly include severe pain in and around the affected area, both with movement and without movement, swelling and bruising around the injured area, immobility, and deformity around the joint.