About this topic
The knee is a large, complex joint. It is made up of four bones: the thigh bone (femur), two lower leg bones (tibia and fibula), and the kneecap (patella). Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that join one bone to another. They keep your knee stable and able to move well. A knee sprain happens when ligaments of the knee are torn or stretched too far. Knee sprain is most often caused by some kind of trauma. You may have twisted your knee or had a sports injury. You may notice that your knee is sore. It may also be swollen or bruised. ‚
There are many ways to treat a knee sprain. Your doctor may order drugs or exercises. You may need to wear a brace to limit your movement. Some knee sprains may need surgery to repair the injured knee joint. It is important to follow your doctors treatment plan to avoid more problems. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Rest your sprained knee. Your doctor may want you to avoid putting any pressure on your knee. You may be told not to walk on your leg. You may be given crutches or a walker to help with this.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Wrap your knee in an elastic bandage. Wrap tightly enough to support your knee, but not too tight. Always start to wrap at the lowest part below your knee and wrap the bandage up your leg. This will help with swelling and give support to your knee.
- Prop your leg up above the level of your heart. This will help swelling and pain.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Your doctor may send you to physical therapy (PT). The PT will teach you exercises to help you get back your strength and motion.
- If you have a cast or splint, your doctor will advise when to remove it.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to wear a brace to control movement of your knee. You may need to rest your knee for a while. You should not do physical activity that makes your health problem worse. If you run, work out, or play sports, you may not be able to do those things until your health problem gets better. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Joint deformity
- Less leg motion
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Stay active and work out to keep your muscles strong and flexible.
- Keep a healthy weight . Being too heavy puts more stress on the knee joint. This makes the knee more at risk for injury.
- Stand with your weight equal on both legs.
- Bend your knees when you lift.
- Wear the right equipment when playing sports. This includes protective equipment and padding.
- Warm up slowly and stretch before you work out. Use good ways to train, such as slowly adding to how far you run. Do not work out if you are overly tired. Take extra care if working out in cold weather.
- Stay away from activities that could result in twisting, sudden stops and starts, and blows to the knee. Sports such as basketball, skiing, football, and jogging are some common sports that can lead to knee injuries.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Pain or swelling gets worse
- Not able to walk
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain or swelling.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00551 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚