Common Knee Injuries

Most Common Knee Injury

Who:

• Athletes (contact sports such as football, rugby, basketball)

Causes :

• Rapid change of direction
• Stopping suddenly
• Slowing down while running
• Direct contact or collision (football tackle)

Symptoms:

• pain with swelling (within 24h)
• loss of full ROM (range of movement)
• tenderness along the joint line
• discomfort while walking

ACL Tear

Who:

• Athletes (contact sports such as football, rugby, basketball)

Causes:

• Direct Blow to the outside of the knee (MCL tear)- Most common!
• Direct Blow to the inside of the knee (LCL tear)
• Slowing down while running
• Direct contact or collision (football tackle)

Symptoms:

• pain at the sides of the knee (MCL-inside; LCL- outside )
• swelling over the site of the injury
• instability- the feeling that the knee is giving way

MCL & LCL Tear

Who:

• Athletes (contact sports such as football, rugby, basketball)

Causes:

• contact injury (collision )
• non-contact (pivoting or cutting move)

Symptoms:

• feeling a pop in the knee
• might still walk on the injured knee
• 2-3 days post-injury- swollen and stiff knee
• catching/ locking of the knee
• the sensation of the knee giving way
• instability to move through the full ROM

Meniscus Tear