Knee Injuries and Conditions: Ligament and Tendon Injuries
Your knee contains four ligaments — tough bands of tissue that connect your thighbone (femur) to your lower leg bones (tibia and fibula). You have two collateral ligaments — one on the inside (medial collateral ligament) and one on the outside (lateral collateral ligament) of each knee. The other two ligaments are inside your knee and cross each other as they stretch diagonally from the bottom of your thighbone to the top of your shinbone (tibia). The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) connects to the back of your shinbone, and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects near the front of your shinbone. A tear in one of these ligaments, which may be caused by a fall or contact trauma, is likely to cause:
- Immediate pain that worsens when you try to walk or bend your knee
- A popping sound
- An inability to bear weight on the injured knee
- A feeling that the knee might buckle or give way
Tendinitis is irritation and inflammation of one or more tendons — the thick, fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones. Athletes, such as especially runners, skiers and cyclists, are prone to develop inflammation in the patellar tendon, which connects the quadriceps muscle on the front of the thigh to the larger lower leg bone (tibia). If your knee pain is caused by tendinitis, some of the signs and symptoms include:
- Pain, in one or both knees
- Swelling in the front of the knee or just below the kneecap
- Worsening pain when you jump, run, squat or climb stairs
- An inability to completely extend or straighten your knee
Quantum Neurology™ Rehabilitation rehabilitates the nerves that go to the muscles that stabilize the knee. As the muscles become strengthened, the knee begins to heal easier. Many times pain is reduced in minutes as motion returns to the joint. If all of the ligaments and tendons are stable, joint misalignments and restrictions could be corrected through gentle chiropractic care. To assist with swelling, and tissue repair, specific whole food based nutrition may be used in order to expedite the healing process of the knee. For example: omega-3 oils are great for decreasing inflammation, a complete vitamin C complex (different than ascorbic acid) helps to rebuild ligaments and tendons, and manganese is required to build strong connective tissue such as ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
Depending on the severity of your knee injury, it may be necessary to co-manage your injury or condition with another health care provider, such as an orthopedist. If there are tears that need to be surgically repaired, we will work together with the other doctor in order for your rehabilitation to move as smoothly as possible.
