Knee Injuries and Conditions: General Overview
According to the Mayo Clinic, if you are suffering knee pain, you are not alone. It is estimated that one in three Americans over the age of 45 have knee pain. Knee pain could have many causes. Falling, over use, trauma, and other medical conditions such as gout, arthritis, and infections are common causes of knee pain. Through a thorough evaluation, the cause of the knee pain can usually be determined.
A knee injury can affect the ligaments, tendons, meniscus, cartilage and bones. Because there are so many structures in the knee joint, it is not uncommon for an injury to affect multiple areas. Some of the more common knee injuries are:
- Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Injuries
- Bursae Injuries
- Dislocated Kneecap
- Hyperextension
- Osteoarthritis
- Chondromalacia
Since there are many potential causes to knee pain it is important to determine the reason that it is injured. A few reason to visit a doctor include: inability to bear weight on the knee, marked knee swelling, an obvious deformity of the knee or leg, have a fever in addition to redness, pain, and swelling on the knee, or if you have a worrisome pain.
At The Hayden Institute, a comprehensive exam is performed to determine the type of injury that is present in your knee. Muscle testing evaluates the integrity of the nerves that control the muscles that support the area, orthopedic tests determine the structures involved (which ligament, tendon, meniscus, etc), and the chiropractic exam evaluates the movement of the specific joints, looking for any restrictions that may be contributing to the injury. Based on your presentation, X-Rays are also available.