Knee Sprain

One of the most common injuries for athletes is a knee sprain. You’re at much greater risk if you play any kind of sport or do a lot of physical activity. Weight-bearing physical activities put you at an even higher risk for knee injuries. Knowing when it’s necessary to seek treatment for sprained knee pain is tantamount to how quickly you can recover from a knee injury.

There are four major ligaments in each of your knees, and each is susceptible to injuries such as a sprain or a tear. Common causes of a knee sprain include anything from a direct impact to the knee to the pressure of stopping or changing direction, such as playing basketball or tennis. A less common cause of knee sprain is hyperextension, which could happen during an activity such as cheerleading or gymnastics.

Sprained Knee Symptoms

With a knee sprain, the symptoms can vary in severity and impact your overall health. If the symptoms progress, talk to your doctor as soon as possible to get the right sprained knee treatment plan for you. The symptoms of a knee sprain can include:

• Mild to severe pain. Knee pain can range from a dull throb to constant, severe pain.
• The amount of swelling is also based on the severity of the sprain and should be checked periodically to see if the swelling increases or subsides.
• Limited leg movement. Weakness in the ligaments in your knee can inhibit mobility.
• Popping sounds. At the time of the injury, you may hear loud popping or snapping sound coming from your knee. This could suggest a more serious sprain such as a tear in a ligament.
• Buckling under your knee. When you place weight on the leg with a knee sprain, it may buckle out from under you, which could cause further damage to your knee.
• After the injury has happened, you may notice minor to major skin discoloration.

Diagnosis and Examination

Though common, knee sprains can be hard to diagnose because of how complex the knee joint is. Some ways that your Manhattan sports medicine doctor uses to examine your knee include a physical examination, imaging, and an evaluation into any past injuries to your knee. Each of these techniques helps determine a treatment for sprained knee that’s right for you.

During the physical exam, the doctor evaluates your injured knee ligaments by testing the extent of relaxation and mobility that your knee exhibits during various tasks. Explain clearly what happened to your knee and the symptoms you experienced as precisely as possible. This gives your doctor a more accurate path to sprained knee treatment options.

Knee Sprain Treatment and Aftercare

After your knee has been evaluated, knee sprain treatment methods then become available. Depending on the severity of the injury, different knee sprain treatment plans are recommended. Some immediate action plans include R.I.C.E.:

• Staying off your affected leg for prolonged periods of time helps aid the healing process. This strategy also prevents further risks of injury to your knee.
• Ice and compression. Keeping your knee wrapped in a bandage that provides compression helps decrease the risk of minor inflammation. Applying ice to your knee can reduce swelling and inflammation that may have emerged over time. Make sure to not wrap your knee so tight so as to cut off circulation. And don’t keep the ice on for longer than 15 minutes.
• When you’re lying down or resting, keep your affected knee elevated with a pillow to prevent further swelling.

Febin Melepura, MD is a top rated, best in class interventional pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New York City and the country. He is an award winning expert and contributor to a prominent media outlets.

Dr. Febin Melepura has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain and, among other accolades, has been named a “top pain management doctor in New York”, and one of “America’s Top Doctors™” for an advanced sports injury treatments.