Knee Injuries

Knee injuries commonly occur as a result of;

1. Acute direct trauma – sports related trauma, motor vehicle accident related, sudden fall
2. Sustained flexion compression – poor habitual postures e.g while sitting or gardening with the knee in flexion for extended periods
3. Progressive overuse – regularly lifting and moving beyond the physiological limits of the knee joint e.g long distance walking or running, power-lifting, repetitive habitual aberrant movement patterns.

Patient presenting with knee injuries may describe sensations of;

• Clicking
• Popping
• Giving way
• Catching
• Pinching
• Ache
• Throbbing

Upon examination, there may be signs of;

• Swelling
• Instability
• Deformity
• Weakness

The common musculoskeletal injuries of the knee include;

• Anterior cruciate ligament tears and/or strains
• Posterior cruciate ligament tears and/or strains
• Medial collateral ligament tears and/or strains
• Lateral collateral ligament tears and/or strains
• Medial plica ligament tears and/or strains
• Medial meniscus tears
• Lateral meniscus tears
• Pre and/or suprapatellar bursitis
• Infra patellar bursitis
• Patella tendonitis
• Pre anserine tendonitis and/or bursitis
• Patella maltracking

Depending on the specific diagnosis, management of treatable injuries should focus on addressing the pain and/or dysfunction at the pain/injury site as well as  improving the functionality of the foot, ankle, and hip.

This is achieved via a conservative hands-on approach involving;

• Passive joint mobilisation
• Targeted adjustments
• Soft tissue therapy
• Progressive rehabilitation