Knee Injuries & Conditions
Knee pain can make every movement difficult – from participating in sports to climbing stairs. Athletes and highly active people often experience knee injuries or have chronic conditions that affect the knee.
But these injuries or conditions don’t have to interfere with your performance or daily activities. At Memorial Healthcare System, our orthopedic sports medicine team offers specialized care to help restore function so you can get back in the game.
Knee Injuries and Conditions We Treat at Memorial
Our doctors and other care providers have extensive training in sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, primary care, physical therapy and other specialties. You’ll receive care from a team with years of experience in diagnosing and treating all types of knee injuries, such as:
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury
The anterior cruciate ligament is one of several ligaments (tissue that connects bones) that connect upper and lower leg bones and support the knee. ACL injuries are sprains or tears in the ligament that can result from a direct impact, a sudden stop or change in direction or an incorrect landing from a jump.
Knee fractures
Bones in the knee joint that can break include the patella (kneecap) and the ends of the thigh bone and shinbone (femur and tibia, respectively). Knee fractures don’t often occur in sports. They usually result from high-impact trauma such as traffic accidents or falls from great heights.
Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome
The IT band is a tendon (tissue that connects muscle to bone) that runs along the outside of the leg to connect the top of the pelvic bone to the knee. IT band syndrome develops when the IT band rubs against the bone and becomes inflamed and swollen. The condition often occurs in runners and cyclists because of frequent, repetitive knee bending.
Knee pain and instability
Pain or instability in the knees can result from injuries to knee ligaments, chronic conditions such as arthritis or overuse due to repetitive movements. A dislocated knee occurs when bones in the knee joint move partially or completely out of place.
Dislocations can result from abnormalities in the knee’s structure or from high-impact trauma such as sports injuries or traffic accidents.
Meniscus tear
The meniscus is cartilage in the knee that acts as a shock absorber between the bones. Meniscus tears can result from a direct impact or a forceful twist of the knee, especially when your full weight is on the knee.
Patellar tendon injuries
The patellar tendon is actually a ligament that connects the patella (kneecap) to a lower leg bone (tibia) and helps you straighten and extend your leg. Patellar tendonitis and patellar tendon tear are injuries that can result from overuse, a forceful impact or an incorrect landing from a jump.
Runner’s knee
Known as chondromalacia patellae or patellofemoral pain syndrome, runner’s knee is deteriorated or damaged cartilage under the kneecap. The condition can result from direct impact, overuse, weak thigh muscles or improper kneecap alignment due to congenital factors.
Sprains and strains
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, and a strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Sprains and strains can result from overuse, falls, sudden twists, poorly fitting footwear or forceful impacts such as tackles or other contact during sports.
Diagnosis and Treatments for Knee Injuries
For your initial evaluation, you’ll meet with one of our doctors for a physical exam and discussion of your symptoms. Your doctor will likely order imaging tests to help diagnose the injury and plan your treatment.
Our sports medicine doctors use advanced imaging technologies. We can do X-ray and mini-fluoroscopy (live X-ray, like a video) right in our office, so you don’t need to go anywhere else.
If you need a specialized injection for treatment, we offer those in our office as well, using ultrasound to guide the procedure so it’s as precise as possible. Learn more about your treatment options at the Memorial Sports Medicine Center, including:
Contact Us
To schedule an appointment or learn more about sports medicine at Memorial, call 954-265-8326.
