What Is a Knee Injury Sprain?
Knee injuries are common, especially for those who frequently participate in extreme sports or have suffered a bad fall. Knees are an incredibly important tool to our body’s functioning. Knees enable us to stand up, move about, walk short or long distances, and allow us to participate in hobbies and activities. An injury to one area of our body can result in other parts having to work harder in order to compensate. Muscles and ligaments each interact with the other and play a key role in knees’ abilities.
If you are in pain due to a knee injury, you should seek medical treatment from a doctor, like a knee doctor from Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania. Every patient is different, so you need a treatment plan that is acutely unique to your own individual needs.
A knee sprain can range from mild to severe, depending on the injury. You may be wondering what exactly a knee sprain is, and how it can happen to you.
Knee Sprain
Knee sprains occur when ligaments of the knee are injured. The anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate, medial collateral, and lateral collateral ligaments hold the knee joint in place. A sprain happens when ligaments tear or are abruptly stretched. There are three grades of knee sprains:
- Grade I Sprain: The knee ligament area is not painful, but has been stretched. Fibers are not torn and instability is not yet noticeable.
- Grade II Sprain: The knee ligament area is partly torn and a mild instability may be felt or noticed at this time.
- Grade III Sprain: A knee ligament is entirely torn and the knee is greatly unstable.
Diagnostic Questions
A knee doctor will likely ask how exactly the knee injury happened during the diagnosis process, and can include some of the following questions:
- What kind of movements were you doing right before the injury happened? (Twist, hyperextension, pivot, sudden stopping, or direct contact)
- Did you hear or feel a pop within your knee area at the time of injury?
- How many minutes or hours went by before you noticed swelling?
- Were you able to still bear weight immediately after the injury?
- Did the knee feel unsteady when trying to walk?
- Where did you feel pain when the accident initially happened?
For more information about what we have provided above about knee sprains, reach out to a knee doctor today. Do not sit and wait idly by while in knee discomfort or pain. By delaying treatment, it may be making the injury much worse. Call right away for treatment help!
