Knee Injury
So you've injured you knee... Now what?
First, seek a medical diagnosis. You may have torn a ligament, damaged the cartilage or dislocated your kneecap. While these are all commonly treated with our knee braces, it is essential to identify the injury before choosing a brace to help you.There are varied levels of injury, which may determine how quickly you should resume activity. Use of Ossur braces may speed up your return; each offering different benefits. So, choose a brace that will provide the stability and security you need.
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See also Ligament bracing
The most commonly treated injury: the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL, is the first ligament to tighten when the knee is straightened. If the knee is hyper-extended, the ACL can be torn. The ACL also controls how far forward the tibia moves in relation to the femur. If it moves too far forward, the ACL can rupture. This tearing results in the loud pop and a feeling of instability in the knee.
Combination ligament and meniscal injuries
The ACL may not be the only ligament injured when the knee is twisted violently. Often the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the ACL are injured together. However, the ACL is the most disabling of ligament tears and often requires surgical treatment.
Other structures within the knee may also be damaged. At the time of ACL injury, approximately 1/3 of patients will also have meniscal (cartilage) tears. Anterior instability from an ACL tear can lead to longitudinal meniscal tears in the medial compartment.
- See also Ligament bracing
Patellar injury
Other injuries common to the knee are dislocation (movement of the kneecap completely out of the knee compartment) or subluxation (movement of the kneecap partially out of the knee compartment). You may be predisposed to an injury such as these as result of malaligment or biomechanical imbalance which results in improper tracking or an unstable kneecap. The acute cause is more likely a direct blow to the medial side of the patella, or sudden change in direction while running.