What To Do For Knee Ligament Injuries
Your knees are two of the most important joints in your body, because they allow you to sit, stand, walk and run if they are in good shape. Since they have to bear all your weight when you stand, walk and run, they can be easily injured if they twist the wrong way or if they start becoming worn down by arthritis. Ligament tears are one of the most common knee injuries suffered by athletes or those involved in accidents.
Knee Ligament Injuries
There are four ligaments surrounding the knee, two on the outside and two on the inside of the knee. The two outside ligaments are the medial collateral ligament, which is located on the outside of the knee joint on the inner side of your body, and the lateral collateral ligament, which is located on the opposite side of your body on the outside of the joint. These two ligaments connect the two main bones of the leg, the femur and the tibia, and they help strengthen and stabilise the knee joint.
The other two ligaments, the posterior cruciate ligament and the anterior cruciate ligament, connect the tibia to the femur on the inside of the knee and help provide stability to the knee joint. Of the two, the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is injured more frequently than the PCL, and it is one of the most common injuries of the knee. Most injuries of the ACL involve playing sports when twisting or pivoting on the knee incorrectly. It can also be injured if your leg is locked and your body is forced forward, or if the knee is bent and is forced to move the opposite of its natural direction.
Symptoms of Ligament Injuries
Depending on which ligament is injured, you may feel and hear a pop or a clicking sound when the injury occurs. The knee will usually swell within a few moments of the injury, and you will feel some pain. Usually you won’t feel any pain while resting your knee, but if you try to stand or put weight on it, the pain will flare up.
The pain associated with a knee injury can last for several days or weeks, but when you injure your knee, especially if you cannot bear weight or walk without pain, you should have the injury assessed. If you are wondering how to get knee pain treatment in Singapore, you should go to a medical clinic or hospital if you don’t have a regular doctor in the city. Getting it treated right away can prevent further injuries to your knee.
When you sustain a knee injury, you should rest the knee and stay off it as much as possible for 24 to 48 hours. Apply an ice pack to the injured area for about 20 minutes every hour for up to 24 hours. You can also use a compression bandage to help support the knee and then elevate it above heart level when resting it.
