Knee Injury - Injury During Exercise
If one dabbles
in sports such as wrestling, basketball, competitive
swimming, American football, Australian rules,
skiing and soccer, or other sports that involve
great stress to the knees, then he or she is susceptible
to torn ligaments or cartilages at the knees.
Unfortunately common knee injuries are torn medial
collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments and
a torn medial meniscus, all incapacitating at
best.
The
advent of arthroscopy and arthroscopic
surgery paved the way for more expedient
techniques, in that patients may be walking
without crutches in two weeks, and playing
some sports in but a few months.
In search
of effective preventive measures, scientific
research is introspecting underlying problems
that may increase the likelihood of an
athlete suffering a severe knee injury.
Common knee injuries
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Situated deep within the knee joint, the Anterior
Cruciate Ligament connects the shin bone with
the thigh bone. The function of such ligament
is to avert excessive movement of the shin with
respect to the thigh and also prevent excessive
rotation at the knee joint.
The ligament can be
injured most notably by landing from a jump onto
a bent knee then twisting, or landing on a knee
that is over-extended.
Collision sports are liable
for this knee injury, since direct contact of
the knee from opponents can cause ligament damage.
The treatment of the knee injury is relative
to the extent of ligament rupture and the subsequent
functional impairment, the age of the patient
and the level of sporting activity.
In cases of
individuals affiliated with unflinching sporting
standards,
surgical reconstruction of the ligament
is the surest way to restore normal function. Based on the findings of surgeon Donald Shelbourne,
a four-stage rehabilitation protocol has been
devised.
It cannot be more emphasized that this
rehabilitation program is only appropriate if
the surgeon uses a bone patella tendon bone graft.
Early restoration of knee extension is considered
paramount, with the heel initially being propped
up unsupported in order to make the knee extend
fully.
Rehabilitation in the form of knee injury
exercises is started as soon as possible weeks
later. Once knee flexion is plausible at an angle
of 70 degrees, static cycling may be initiated.
Even during the late stage, strengthening and
proprioception exercises should be progressed.
Medial Collateral Ligament Sprain
The medial collateral ligament is the large ligament
bridging the thigh bone and the shin bone, which
is located on the inside of the knee.
Depending
on the severity of the knee injury, the sprain
is classified as first, second or third degree.
Relative to the gravity of the knee injury, the
convalescent must refrain from sporting activity
for between 3 to 8 weeks.
Third degree sprain involves complete rupture
of the ligament. In such cases, surgical procedure
is most recommended, followed by a three-month
rehabilitation period.
The rehabilitation program is not devoid of knee
injury exercises, beginning with ankle and hip
range-of-movement exercises. Later on, knee injury
exercises such as proprioception may be initiated.
Henceforth, straight line and 'figure-of-eight'
running may be performed, as well as 'fitter'
exercises.
Cartilage Tear
Football players are highly vulnerable to ripping
their meniscus. The term cartilage tear is only
common parlance as it is the meniscus within the
knee that is actually damaged. There are two menisci,
both made from vigorous fibrocartilage, within
each knee - hence the usage of “cartilage”.
Surgery is often prescribed in cases when the
flap causes locking or giving way. In other cases,
the joint can recuperate after the initial swelling
and pain, and normal activities can be resumed.
The length of rehabilitation is relative to the
affected meniscus, the location of the tear, the
size of the tear and the amount of meniscus that
is removed by the surgeon.
A compression device such as a cryocuff or flowtron
pneumatic unit must avert residual swelling. Isometric
quadriceps and hamstring knee injury exercises
may be initiated later on.
As soon as possible, range-of-movement exercises
should be initiated if the patient’s condition
permits.
