Knee joint ligaments help to stabilise and support the knee when it is moved into different positions.
The four primary ligaments of the knee joint and how ligaments injured are:
- The Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL): this ligament helps to limit the amount that the knee moves from side to side, and stabilise the knee joint against any blows or forces that may be directed on to the outer side of the knee. MCL injury when the outside of the knee joint is struck and MCL is stretched too far
- The Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL): this ligament helps to limit the amount that the knee moves from side to side, protect and stabilise the knee joint against any blows or forces that may be directed on to the inner side of the knee. LCL injury when too much force is placed on the inside of the knee causing the fibres in the ligament to tear.
- The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL): this ligament helps to stabilise the knee joint by controlling backward and forward movements of the knee (prevents tibia bone moving forward). ACL injury when the knee receives a direct impact from the front while the leg is in a stable position
- The Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL): this ligament helps to control the forward and backward movements of the knee. PCL injury when applying powerful force to the front of the upper shin
Tears of the ligaments usually occur following sporting injuries, e.g. football, basketball, netball and skiing and can have a significant impact on a persons mobility and independence with everyday activities, such as climbing the stairs.
During knee injury, a knee ligament may be stretched (sprain), or sometimes torn (ruptured). Ligament rupture can be partial tear or complete tear.
Signs and Symptoms of Knee Ligament Injury or Tear
– A popping sound, or a popping or snapping feeling during accident can sometimes be heard if a ligament is completely torn.
– Pain
– Swelling, tenderness, bruising
– Reduced knee joint movement: In complete ligament tears, movement can be severely reduced
– Knee joint unstable and feel ‘giving way’ on weight bearing
– Walk with a limp.
Effective treatments that can help Ligament Injury pain
The treatment of knee pain will entirely depends on the cause of knee problem. All conditions are different, and treatments may differ from each individual.
Treatment for knee pain may consists of:
– Physiotherapy: Your physiotherapist will understand about your knee pain and perform physical examinations. Your knee conditions will be diagnose and explain before implementing solutions to yourknee
– Manual therapy: Active and Passive Mobilisation or manipulation of knee joints, patella joint
– Massage Therapy: Hands on techniques such as soft tissue release, deep friction massage, myofascial release, trigger points release on knee surrounding muscles
– Pain Relief Therapy: Using pain relief treatment modalities such as Ultrasound , electrical stimulation, TENS, laser, heat therapy to heal and repair injured, inflammed, torn tissues or ligament
– Shockwave Therapy: Advanced high energy pulses effective for chronic, persistent knee muscle tightness, trigger points to stimulate healing. Proven treatment for tendonitis, calcification/ bone spurs
– Exercise Therapy: Guided 1-1 specific joint movement therapy, muscle stretching, progressive strengthening hip, conditioning back to sports, functional training
– Education: Advice to improve posture, lifestyle modifications
Our unique treatment approach for knee pain
At heal360 Physioclinic, our physiotherapist and rehabilitation therapist experts has developed a proprietary signature program for the knee pain –PainRelief360™ Program
Our therapist will perform a thorough assessment and determine the potential cause of the knee problem, and will develop a management and best treatment program for your knee pain: relief pain, regain your knee movement and give you a renewed, stronger knee!
