The nuances of stretching the ligaments of the knee joint

During a quick walk or exercise there is always the possibility of abrupt awkward movement. Therefore, the stretching of the ligaments of the knee joint - injury is very common. This is particularly common injury in athletes.

The knee joint consists of several elastic ligaments (two side ligaments, two cruciate and the patellar tendon). Their function is to hold the leg bones together, providing stability of the joint during movement. The result is the unnatural twists of the knee tearing the fibers of the ligament, this injury called a sprain.

A sprain can be of varying severity. In mild injury the first degree occur small fiber breaks. A sprain of the second degree associated with damage a substantial fraction of the fibers of the ligament. A third degree injury involves complete rupture of the ligament.

What are the reasons which often lead to injury?

The risk of damage to the ligaments occurs when you need to bend the leg at the knee, with the rapid run and sudden stop, when a sudden change in the direction of running, while jumping and any other action associated with the sharp bending of the knees.

Very often, a sprain occurs while playing basketball, soccer, hockey, walking, skiing and during skating. Sprain of the knee can be obtained simply stumbling and falling to the knee, so from the bad injury no one is immune.

When should you suspect a sprain?

A sprain is a cause for immediate treatment for medical assistance. Therefore, after a fall or awkward movement of the legs it is important to pay attention to the following symptoms:

1. The problem with bending the knee. When you sprain flexion of the knee is difficult, and in severe cases (for complete rupture) bend and straighten the leg, and even impossible.
2. In the calf muscle feels stiff.
3. Expressed pain. During a sudden unnatural movements is always there the pain, but if it does not subsided with time and increases with pressure to the knee area, then most likely it's a sprain of the knee ligaments.
4. Discomfort like crackle and clicks when driving - are also characteristic signs of this injury.
5. Around the damaged knee there is swelling and puffiness.
6. A very unpleasant feeling of instability of the joint. The knee as "loose" and "drop out" when walking. Or, on the contrary, the jointbound.

The above symptoms do not ignore or self-medicate. To accurately determine the type and extent of injury can only be a specialist and trauma surgeon. He will appoint and adequate therapy. Diagnosis is usually enough information about the circumstances of the injury and the medical examination. In some cases, may require a clarification of diagnosis. Then the victim is sent for additional tests (x-ray or MRI). This is usually done in cases of suspected fracture and damage soft tissue.

Features of treatment in laxity of the knee ligaments

The healing process can take from several weeks to several months. Recovery time depends on the extent of the injury. Immediately after injury, the affected joint is needed complete rest, followed by active rehabilitation, whose goal is complete restoration of function of the damaged joint.

Thus, the treatment of sprain of the knee joint in the early days means four key things:

1. Rest.

It is necessary to limit the movement of the diseased joint. The rest decreases the swelling and relieves pain. When the pain subsides completely, you can gently start warm-up movements, their amplitude should be increased gradually. Remember, from sudden movements of the damaged ligament will stretch even more.

2. Cold.

At low temperatures constrict vessels and reduce swelling and redness.

Therefore, the diseased joint is necessary to put ice. It is placed in a bag and wrap a damp towel. Hold this compress on the leg for about twenty minutes three times a day. After a few days the pain and swelling usually take place, then ice packs can be canceled. In any case do not go to sleep with this pack - in addition to stretching you can get frostbite!

3. Fixation with bandage.

To stabilize the joint in the knee often impose elastic bandage. This way you can protect the joint from unwanted movements that cause knee pain and slow rehabilitation. The bandage should be tight, but not so much that blood flow was disrupted. Therefore, in the case of numbness of the fingers, the bandage should be immediately loosened.

4. Elevated position.

During the holidays it is desirable to put under the leg of a large pillow or other soft object. Then the swelling goes down much faster.

Further rehabilitation

After a few days passed and the unpleasant symptoms subsided, assigned to the complexrehabilitation measures aimed at the full restoration of joint function. To do this, doctors usually recommend special therapeutic gymnastics. These exercises are simple, they can be done at home by yourself. They are aimed at the development of the joint and improve its physical activity. Doing them usually three times a day.

Over time, the load on the knee can be increased by adding new exercises, including training on simulators. Along with physical exercises your doctor can recommend physical activities that will accelerate the healing process. In the same period, it is possible to carry out heat treatments at home. Do warm compresses, apply a heat pad (to the top and to the inner side of the knee). Useful and the hot tub.

If there is a complete rupture of the ligament to restore knee may require surgical intervention. In some cases, resorted to puncture in order to remove a joint from the accumulated liquid.

To reduce inflammation and swelling apply a non-steroidal drug "Diclofenac", "Ibuprofen" and some others. They are dispensed without a prescription but before purchase it is better to consult with your doctor. To treat joint such drugs need only instructions.

Folk remedies from stretching

To alleviate the unpleasant symptoms in the knee it is possible to resort to traditional medicine, but it should be done only with the approval of a physician. Here are the most popular recipes.

1. Pureed potatoes. It is applied in the evening and leave until morning.
2. Garlic with lemon. Chopped garlic, pour water, add the juice of one lemon. Insist about an hour, strain and apply as a compress. Procedures have a sore knee heal faster.
3. Onions with sugar. Grated onion to mix with a couple tablespoons of sugar. The resulting mixture is applied to the knee.
4. Elder. In the summer very well help packs of pureed fresh leaves of this plant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j1EHZ-iiOs

Ways to prevent stretching of the knee ligaments is quite simple. If you decide to engage in any sport, increase the intensity of exercises gradually.

You also need to regularly swing the leg muscles, because strong muscles stress risk is significantly reduced. Before training it is desirable to perform stretching exercises to warm up the muscles. We should not forget about the shoes, pick athletic shoes of good quality, designed specifically for this type of training.Caution when exercise should be people suffering from obesity, because extra weight has on the joints of the feet simply enormous load.