Every athlete will suffer from a sports injury. Of course, the injury will depend on the sport you play and so will the severity of the injury. However, knee injuries are extremely common for athletes. Sports medicine doctors see knee injuries in all sports like football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis and much more. A knee injury is painful, but it does not have to be a season-ending injury. Get off the bench with your knee injury and learn how you can get back in the game. Follow these treatments for your type of knee injury and any of your symptoms. Show
How to Return from a Knee SprainA knee sprain occurs when the ligaments in your knee overstretch. The human body is only meant to bend to a certain degree and everyone has their own level of flexibility. So, if the overextends itself, athletes will experience pain and discomfort from a knee sprain. The best way to return from a knee sprain is by:
How to Return from a Knee ContusionIn short, a knee contusion is a bruise to the knee bone. There is usually swelling and a discoloration around the knee. Many football players and soccer players suffer from knee contusions due to contact with other players on the field. For serious knee contusions, call a sports medicine specialist. In most cases, you can treat your knee contusion at home with:
How to Return from a Knee FractureAthletes suffer from knee fractures when a knee bone breaks. There are several bones that make up the knee. If any of these bones break or chip, you will feel major knee pain. There are different kinds of knee fractures and this knee injury is also seen outside of sports. Knee fractures need immediate medical attention so visit a sports medicine doctor who will treat your knee. Sports medicine specialists treat knee fractures by:
Above all, knee sprains, knee contusions and knee fractures are some of the most common knee injuries in sports. Athletes handle their injuries in different ways, but you can easily get back in the game after your knee injury. NASA Bone & Joint Specialists is a sports medicine clinic in Southeast Houston, Texas that treats athletes of all ages. If you want to return to your sport as soon as possible, contact our sports medicine specialists. Dr. Monmouth and Dr. O’Neill are experts in sports medicine for Houston, Texas. Being active is one of the best things you can do for your joints and the rest of your body. But injuries can happen, and they often involve the knees. Some of the most common problems are sprained ligaments, meniscus tears, tendinitis, and runner's knee. If you have an old knee injury that wasn’t properly treated, it may flare up now and then or hurt all the time. What Else Can Cause Knee Pain?
If you or someone you’re with has a knee injury, call 911 if:
Obviously, it hurts! But the type of pain and where you feel it can vary, depending on what the problem is. You may have: If you have these symptoms, see your doctor. They will check your knee. You may also need X-rays or an MRI to see more detail of the joint. Your plan will depend on your specific injury. Mild to moderate issues will often get better on their own. To speed the healing, you can: Make an appointment with a doctor if you still have pain after 2 weeks of home treatment, if the knee becomes warm, or if you have fever along with a painful, swollen knee. Some people with knee pain need more help. For instance, if you have bursitis, your doctor may need to draw out extra fluid from the bursa in your knee. If you have arthritis, you may need an occasional corticosteroid shot to settle down inflammation. And if you have a torn ligament or certain knee injuries, you may need surgery. The recovery time depends on your injury. Also, some people naturally heal faster than others. While you get better, ask your doctor if you can do an activity that won't aggravate your knee pain. For instance, runners could try swimming or other types of lower-impact cardio. Whatever you do, don't rush things. Don’t try to return to your regular level of physical activity until you notice these signs:
How Can I Prevent Knee Pain?Although you can’t prevent all injuries, you can take these steps to make them less likely.
SOURCES: JAMA: “For Some Injuries, It's All in the Name.” American Family Physician: “Evaluation of Patients Presenting with Knee Pain: Part I. History, Physical Examination, Radiographs, and Laboratory Tests.” |