Derek L. Hill, D.O.

Fellowship-Trained Orthopedic Surgeon and Specialist

Common Knee Injuries

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Time to Heal - Ornate ClockAccording to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, common injuries of the knee include fractures, dislocations and ligament tears.

Though the femur and tibia do break, the patella or kneecap is the bone that is most commonly fractured around the knee. These knee joint fractures usually occur as a result of high energy trauma from motor vehicle accidents and falls from heights. Most knee joint fractures are treated surgically with plates, screws and casts to keep the broken ends in their correct position until the knee heals.

Knee dislocations occur when the bones are knocked out of their correct anatomical position during sports related accidents, motor vehicle collisions and other high energy trauma. The patella can also slip out of its position during twisting movements. Dislocated knees are treated by returning the bone to its position and placing the joint in a splint or cast for a few weeks. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen are also prescribed to reduce the pain and swelling.

The medial and lateral collateral ligaments, as well as the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, are some of the ligaments that are torn in knee injuries. The U.S. National Library of Medicine states that the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is injured during activities that involve sudden twisting motions. This can occur while playing football, soccer, basketball and other sports that require changing directions rapidly. The collateral ligaments are often torn by blows from contact sports that push the knees sideways. Ligament injuries are usually treated surgically. This can either be the traditional open surgery or arthroscopic surgery which uses tiny instruments and small incisions.

The Knee Society reports that patella tendinitis is a common knee injury that follows repetitive trauma from activities like playing volleyball or basketball. The treatment of this tendon injury involves resting the knee for some time, followed by stretching and strengthening exercises. Ice may also be applied and NSAIDS prescribed.

Disclaimer: Always seek professional help or treatment from your doctor if you encounter any type of knee injury or pain.

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Yoga Benefits for Knee Pain

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Yoga or Stretch Spinal twistYour knees, one of the largest most complex joints in the body, are an important mechanical function. So if you experience chronic knee pain when you bend or extend them, it’s possible with all the wear and tear you put on your knees that you have a dislocated kneecap. It takes time for this to happen, but once it does the pain is excruciating and almost unbearable.

The kneecap is designed to fit perfectly into the groove of the femur. If it gets off track, it will grind away cartilage located under the knee and dislocate. The longer this goes on the more cartilage you lose and the greater your need for replacement surgery.

Of course, many people believe once cartilage is lost it cannot grow back, but it can at a slower pace. As long as the imbalanced pull of muscles on the knees is corrected to ensure that your cartilage does not diminish faster than you can replace it. According to Keller (2013), “If you want to keep the knee healthy you need to strengthen the vastus medialis (the inner quadriceps). In fact, physical therapists consider exercises that strengthen this neglected muscle key in the rehabilitation of knee injuries.”

You may ask yourself what causes of the kneecap to go off track, and can it be fixed without surgery? The main culprit of knee dislocation relates to the quadriceps, which include four muscles that merge together above the knee to form a single quadriceps tendon. This tendon runs over the kneecap like rope over a pulley. The kneecap acts as the pulley and increases the quadriceps, allowing the quadriceps to straighten the leg by 30 percent. By working together, the quadriceps and kneecap form the “extensor mechanism” for leg straightening. If the “rope” of the quadriceps ever pulls to the side of the kneecap “pulley” it will create friction within the mechanism, and result in a misalignment. Yoga, or in this case Hatha yoga standing poses, have been known to be very effective in correcting this misalignment. But like many exercises, it can lead to more problems depending on the extension of your knee injury.

1. A tradional asanas called The Warrior Pose, when done correctly, ensures that all four quadricep muscles harmoniously work together to keep the knee stabilized. This pose ensures that the vastus medialis receives the workout necessary to bring it in balance with the other quadriceps.

2. Another yoga straight-legged pose called trikonasana is also know to work the vastus medialis consciously in a way that makes the pose more challenging.

Overall, The Hatha yoga standing poses, when done using proper alignment and focus on working your quad muscles and knees in each pose, are known to strengthen and stabilize them. They will also help improve any structural imbalances you may be experiencing.

Medical Disclaimer: Always talk to a medical consultant before starting a new exercise routine or if you have any health care-related questions.

Reference:
Keller, D. (2013, September 25). Yoga Therapy for Your Knees. Retrieved from
http://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-therapy-for-your-knees1

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