How do Knee injuries happen?

In the general non-sporting population, the most common mode of knee injury is a fall or accident leading to twisting of the knee. This twisting leads to excessive force on the ligaments or the meniscus of the knee leading to tearing off one or more ligaments with or without the menisci.

The other cause is the direct forceful impact on the leg or the knee leading to the displacement of the knee which in turn causes rupture of the ligaments

What are the symptoms of a torn ligament in your knee?

The injury is usually followed by severe pain in the knee with swelling & difficulty in walking. Severe ligament injury will lead to a wobbly knee too. Swelling usually subsides in 2weeks. Any ligament injury takes around 6 weeks to heal if the ligament is suitable for healing. If the injury is not severe usually the knee is back to normal within 2 weeks with or without residual minor discomfort.

Another structure in the knee which is not a ligament is the meniscus which is the main shock absorber of the knee & any injury to the meniscus is potentially grave for the knee which is why it should be addressed as soon as possible. Meniscal injury presents as pain and or locking of the knee on bending & walking /standing & repeated knee swelling.

If there is persistent pain/swelling / unstable knee even after 2 weeks then one should visit an Orthopaedic / Knee specialist for further evaluation

Which are the most common knee injuries?

The ACL is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee which is more commonly seen in the younger population. Isolated Mensical injuries are more common in the older age groups & they commonly happen due to wear & tear of the knee due to increasing age

How can one prevent knee injuries from happening?

Preventible causes of knee injuries are those which occur in repetitive activities like sports injuries & lifestyle related.

Sports like football which knee a lot of cutting or pivoting manoeuvres are prone to knee injuries sportspersons need to work on core strength & overall strength of the muscles around the hip, knee & ankle to a certain extent to prevent undue stress on the knee while cutting manoeuvres which might lead to a fall or twisting injury. For lifestyle-related changes the most important knee preserving factor is weight. Obesity leads to increased pressure on the knees which causes early wear & tear of the knee. Some basic knee & hip exercises go a long way to preventing early arthritis-related meniscal tears of the knee. Similarly avoiding squatting position or sitting cross-legged for prolonged periods also helps to prevent excessive pressure on the knee.