Knee Ligament injuries

What causes a knee ligament sprain?

A sprain is usually caused by a direct injury or sudden twisting of the knee joint. This may happen while playing sports, or it may be due to a specific accident like a fall. The following may also increase your risk of a knee ligament sprain:

• Overuse of your muscles leading to muscle fatigue
• A sudden increase in the amount or intensity of sports training
• Wearing ill-fitting shoes that that are not well-suited for the activity
• Being overweight
• Using sports equipment the wrong way

What are the signs and symptoms of a knee ligament sprain?

• You may hear or feel a pop or snap at the time of the sprain.
• The knee joint may give way, especially during heavy physical activity. 
• You will experience sudden pain or swelling in the knee.
• The injured area may be bruised and feel warm when touched.
• You will have trouble moving the knee joint.

How is a knee ligament sprain diagnosed?

Dr Allfree will ask you about your injury and examine your knee thoroughly. He will check the movement and strength of your joint. You may be asked to move the knee yourself. You may also need more investigations including:

• X-ray: A knee x-ray will indicate whether there is a fracture caused by the injury. X-rays can be arranged by the staff at The Mansfield Clinic.
• MRI: An MRI is very useful to look for knee ligament tears or other injuries. The Mansfield Clinic is able to arrange MRI scans at various centres, including clinics that specialise in open MRI scans for those with claustrophobia.
• Arthroscopy: Sometimes you may need a keyhole surgical procedure called an arthroscopy to look inside your knee for signs of injury. This will have to be done in hospital by an orthopaedic surgeon. The surgeon will make a small incision in your knee and insert an arthroscope through it. This is a long thin tube with a magnifying glass, a camera, and a light on the end. If you need to be seen by a surgeon, Dr Allfree will help you with the arrangements.

How is a knee ligament sprain treated?

Treatment depends on which ligament in the knee is injured and if more than one are affected, and also  on how severe your injury is. You may need any or all of the following:

• Support devices: Such as an elastic bandage, splint or brace to limit your movement and protect your knee. You may need to use crutches.
• Pain medicine: Dr Allfree may advise you to use anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen, or Naproxen. Anti-inflammatory drugs help decrease swelling and pain. Anti-inflammatories are not without their risk, and can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If you take blood thinning medicine, they may not be safe for you, but Dr Allfree will advise you.
• Osteopathy: Dr Allfree may choose to treat your injured knee with manual therapy such as osteopathy, to help improve strength and decrease your risk for loss of function. He may also teach you special exercises to help improve movement and decrease pain.
• Localised steroid injections: If the pain does not improve, steroid injections around the injured ligament can encourage the pain and inflammation to settle down.

How can I manage my knee ligament sprain?

• Rest: Rest your knee adequately to allow it to heal. Only return to normal activities as advised.
• Ice: Ice helps decrease swelling and pain and prevent tissue damage. Purpose-made ice packs are available from the Mansfield Clinic
• Compress: An elastic bandage provides support and helps decrease swelling and movement so your joint can heal.
• Elevate: Keep your leg raised above the level of your heart as often as you can. This will help decrease the swelling. Elevate the leg by resting it on pillows.

How can another ligament sprain be prevented?

Regular exercise can strengthen your muscles and help prevent another knee injury. Do the following before you return to regular exercise or sports training:

• Ask Dr Allfree: Find out how long your ligament needs to heal. Do not do any physical activity until you are advised that it is okay. If you start activity too soon, you may develop a more serious injury.
• Always warm up: Always warm up and stretch before your regular exercise.
• Take it slow: Slowly increase how often and how long you exercise or train. Sudden increases may cause you to overstretch or tear your ligament.
• Use the right equipment: Always wear shoes that fit well and are made for the activity that you are doing. You may also use knee supports or braces.