2. PROMOTION european championship
joint venture
T
he knee joint lies between the thigh bone (femur) and the
shin bone (tibia) with the kneecap (patella) lying in front of it.
It is a complex joint that moves in various directions. It is held
together by strong soft tissue called ligaments and is surrounded by a
sac called the joint capsule which protects the joint and helps produce
fluid to lubricate the joint.
The knee is often injured in sports people. These injuries can range
from a simple sprain to more serious damage, where major structures
can be torn.
The meniscus is a ‘shock absorbing’ cartilage between the femur
and tibia and can be torn in twisting injuries of the knee. The knee
swells up but this is gradual and often in a localised area. Patients will
complain of pain in one side of the knee or locking. If the meniscus
is damaged or torn, the athlete may need an arthroscopy (key-hole
surgery) to take away or repair the damaged tissue.
The cruciate and collateral ligaments are strong ligaments that
stabilise the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament is often injured
and if this torn, surgical reconstruction is often required to allow
a footballer to go back to playing at his pre-injury level. In these
injuries the knee swells up all over and rapidly, and sometimes
there is a ‘popping’ sound. Often these injuries are linked with a
feeling of weakness in your knee and fear of it giving way.
The collateral ligaments are often injured when the knee is hit
from one side or the other. The articular cartilage is the smooth
lining of the knee and this can also be damaged in twisting injuries,
or direct impact to the knee.
Patella dislocations (knee-cap dislocations) can occur after any
significant trauma or just a twisting injury to the knee, with the knee
slightly bent. Often these patients don’t need surgery, but a small
sub-group do.
a knee injury is common in sport, but the olympia clinic can help
A knee sprain is an injury where
structures are stretched but not torn.
These can occur after an unusual
level of activity or with significant
trauma that is not enough to tear a
ligament. But beware, it is unusual
to suffer from only a sprain. There is
often underlying damage which is
important to find out about and deal with.
Depending on the severity of your injury, your specialist may want
to put a brace on your knee to help protect it and organise X-rays
or MRI scans. Once a diagnosis is made, some patients do well with
strengthening, tone work and physiotherapy. Others benefit from
surgery, which is often arthroscopic (keyhole).
CONTACT INFOrmation
You can make an appointment with
Mr Ziali Sivardeen for assessment at
the Olympia clinic in: London, Essex,
Birmingham, Leicester and Stoke-On-Trent.
Call 020 8551 6215,
visit www.theolympiaclinic.com
or email admin@theolympiaclinic.com
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