A human beings knee is made up of a lot of entwined ligaments and tendons, and a rupture or a tear anywhere along this line can lead to a serious case of knee instability. This is a medical condition that needs to be looked into immediately, as knee instability and pain can seriously hamper the movement of an individual, apart from the obvious discomfort of the pain.
Medical science has advanced enough for doctors to be able to accurately ascertain what the exact cause behind knee pain is, and the rehabilitation of such problems can be carried out simply and quickly as well. This of course depends on the severity of the condition.
Knee Instability Causes
Before we delve into the exact causes of a knee injury, let's understand the various ligaments that support the knee joint. There are 4 such ligaments that support the knee joint in addition to the menisci and the condyles, and these are the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and the Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL). Significant contributions are also made to the knee joint by the posteromedial and posterolateral capsular components and the iliotibial tract.
The primary reason for knee instability will always be traced back to some sort of trauma or condition such as Iliotibial Band Syndrome, either direct or indirect, to the knee. This can occur as a result of a direct force impacting the knee, or even as a result of the knee slowly taking damage over time due to a simple act like walking. Athletes and sportsmen are more likely to face this problem as they have to routinely undergo some rigorous training regimes, and ultimately this begins to take a toll on the knee joints. A sudden movement sometimes results in a very painful twist in the knee that leads to ligament damage such as medial collateral ligament sprain, and this occurs most commonly due to sudden jumping or deceleration.
The most common cause of knee instability though is the sudden twisting of the knee. There are a variety of reasons that lead to this situation, the most obvious being some strenuous physical activity. Other events like turning too fast or twisting to get out of a car can also lead to such a scenario, and it is simply impossible to predict what action can lead to such an occurrence. It goes without saying that the pain is just excruciating, and one is left with a distinct sensation that the knee is just going to fall off or give way. In extreme cases, arthroscopic knee surgery or knee replacement surgery is the only option available.
Knee Instability Treatment
The true extent of the damage can only be assessed by a qualified and experienced medical expert, and once this has been assessed, the suitable mode of treatment can be suggested. There are several grades into which an injury can be placed, and the higher the grade, the longer the knee will take to heal. The assessment begins with many knee instability tests to try and determine how much damage is actually done, and this begins with a clear description of the way the injury was sustained. If there is a distinct 'popping' noise heard then the damage is certainly pretty high, and any other observations by the patient can also come in handy.
The patient's lifestyle habits and routine is also assessed thoroughly in order to determine what could be the exact cause of the knee instability, and what corrective and rehabilitative measures can be taken. The age and the previous medical history is also studied in detail to obtain some more clues, and a plain radiography of the knee is also vital. Read on knee support braces.
Once the causes and the extent of the knee instability have been determined, a suitable course of action for treatment can be set upon. As soon as the diagnosis is complete the rehabilitative process begins and this may take a few weeks to a several months. This process aims at restoring the complete range of motion for the patient without putting any stress on the graft. A number of knee instability exercises are demonstrated to the patient and some other exercises and movements that are prohibited are told to him.
In some cases the restructuring of the ligaments is also necessary, and on an average it is fair to assume that the total time period for recovery from knee instability while doing recommended knee exercises is anything between 5-7 months. Advances in science are constantly being made as well, and new ways of preventing such knee damage have also been made available in the public domain.
Medical science has advanced enough for doctors to be able to accurately ascertain what the exact cause behind knee pain is, and the rehabilitation of such problems can be carried out simply and quickly as well. This of course depends on the severity of the condition.
Knee Instability Causes
Before we delve into the exact causes of a knee injury, let's understand the various ligaments that support the knee joint. There are 4 such ligaments that support the knee joint in addition to the menisci and the condyles, and these are the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and the Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL). Significant contributions are also made to the knee joint by the posteromedial and posterolateral capsular components and the iliotibial tract.
The primary reason for knee instability will always be traced back to some sort of trauma or condition such as Iliotibial Band Syndrome, either direct or indirect, to the knee. This can occur as a result of a direct force impacting the knee, or even as a result of the knee slowly taking damage over time due to a simple act like walking. Athletes and sportsmen are more likely to face this problem as they have to routinely undergo some rigorous training regimes, and ultimately this begins to take a toll on the knee joints. A sudden movement sometimes results in a very painful twist in the knee that leads to ligament damage such as medial collateral ligament sprain, and this occurs most commonly due to sudden jumping or deceleration.
The most common cause of knee instability though is the sudden twisting of the knee. There are a variety of reasons that lead to this situation, the most obvious being some strenuous physical activity. Other events like turning too fast or twisting to get out of a car can also lead to such a scenario, and it is simply impossible to predict what action can lead to such an occurrence. It goes without saying that the pain is just excruciating, and one is left with a distinct sensation that the knee is just going to fall off or give way. In extreme cases, arthroscopic knee surgery or knee replacement surgery is the only option available.
Knee Instability Treatment
The true extent of the damage can only be assessed by a qualified and experienced medical expert, and once this has been assessed, the suitable mode of treatment can be suggested. There are several grades into which an injury can be placed, and the higher the grade, the longer the knee will take to heal. The assessment begins with many knee instability tests to try and determine how much damage is actually done, and this begins with a clear description of the way the injury was sustained. If there is a distinct 'popping' noise heard then the damage is certainly pretty high, and any other observations by the patient can also come in handy.
The patient's lifestyle habits and routine is also assessed thoroughly in order to determine what could be the exact cause of the knee instability, and what corrective and rehabilitative measures can be taken. The age and the previous medical history is also studied in detail to obtain some more clues, and a plain radiography of the knee is also vital. Read on knee support braces.
Once the causes and the extent of the knee instability have been determined, a suitable course of action for treatment can be set upon. As soon as the diagnosis is complete the rehabilitative process begins and this may take a few weeks to a several months. This process aims at restoring the complete range of motion for the patient without putting any stress on the graft. A number of knee instability exercises are demonstrated to the patient and some other exercises and movements that are prohibited are told to him.
In some cases the restructuring of the ligaments is also necessary, and on an average it is fair to assume that the total time period for recovery from knee instability while doing recommended knee exercises is anything between 5-7 months. Advances in science are constantly being made as well, and new ways of preventing such knee damage have also been made available in the public domain.
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