It is crucial for individuals who have an active lifestyle to be mindful of the most common knee injuries that athletes experience. This knowledge helps you understand what to anticipate from a treatment plan. Remember that a slight soreness you dismissed today might lead to your demise tomorrow.
Knee Bursitis
The fluid-filled sacs located near your knee joint are the knee bursae. When the bursae function properly, they aid in the smooth movement of the joints, preventing the ligaments and tendons from rubbing against the bone.
Knee bursitis occurs when the bursae swell, and it is more common among athletes because they are very active and constantly put pressure on their knees. Persistent pressure, jarring blows, and repeated movements may generate unpleasant friction and contribute to bursitis. The condition worsens if you keep the joint in one position for an extended period.
Warning signs of this condition include swelling and redness around the front of the knee, pain when kneeling, and trouble straightening the knee.
Patellar Tendonitis
Typically, athletes get tendonitis by playing sports that require a lot of leaping or landing. This condition may also occur if you abruptly increase the number of workouts or train on hard surfaces like concrete. The additional strain on the tendon causes microscopic rips that inflame the muscle.
Pain from patellar tendonitis usually begins gradually. Even athletes with mild to severe symptoms often continue to compete. The injury may not create any complications at first and will frequently heal rapidly, but this can cause the tears to form quicker than the body can recuperate. The damage will worsen over time, resulting in discomfort and dysfunction.
Varying Dislocations
Knee dislocations are either high-velocity or low-velocity. High-velocity knee dislocations are usually the result of a violent event, such as a car collision. Conversely, low-velocity knee dislocations are common in sports.
A knee dislocation happens when athletes place the foot on the ground, and there is a sudden change of direction or rotational action. Some of the gnarliest injuries you’ll see in a competition involve dislocating knees.
Multiple Ligaments
The three most dreaded letters in sports are ACL, as a torn ACL will sideline you or your favorite athlete from competition for months. Ligament injuries, often known as knee sprains, are a prevalent sports injury that causes the knee joint to become unstable. They also substantially restrict knee mobility.
The four primary ligaments that bind the thigh bone to the shin bone to stabilize the knee are:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) – The middle part of the knee that allows forward movement
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) – This ligament is also in the middle part of the knee but allows you to move backward
- Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) – The LCL provides stability in the knee
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) – The MCL supports the outside portion of your knee and is treatable without surgery
Patellar Fractures
Patellar fractures are severe knee injuries that may cause significant disability. They occur when you fall directly on your kneecap because of overuse or direct damage. A fracture may occur when the amount of force applied exceeds the capacity of the bone. The location, intensity, and type of injury may vary.
Understanding the most common knee injuries that athletes experience allows you to notice any warning signs while training, evading a potentially debilitating injury.
