Acute knee injury

In short

• An acute knee injury can be caused by twisting your knee, stumbling, falling or overusing your knee
• There is usually acute pain in or around the knee and sometimes the knee is swollen
• An acute knee injury is the most common sports injury
• Most acute knee injuries can be effectively treated if they are tended to without delay
• A physiotherapist will be able to diagnose and treat the injury
• If the knee is only sprained, you will be able to resume all your activities in six to twelve weeks
• You may have torn knee ligaments, broken your meniscus or fractured your knee
• Sometimes a medical knee brace or surgery is required

What is an acute knee injury?

Roughly one in ten sports injuries are acute knee injuries. This makes it the most common sports injury. More than half of these knee injuries are treated by doctors, physiotherapists and specialists in hospitals. The other half do not require treatment. In many cases, it is simply a sprain that heals fully in six to twelve days. Torn knee ligaments, a broken meniscus, a torn muscle and a fractured knee are more serious injuries that do not always heal by themselves. You may have to wear a medical knee brace or undergo surgery.

Symptoms after an acute knee injury

An acute knee injury can cause one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pain immediately or shortly after twisting your knee, stumbling, falling or overusing your knee
• Immediate swelling or swelling that develops a day later. Sometimes the lower leg is also swollen
• Bruising of the knee
• Difficulty stretching and/or bending the knee fully
• Tingling in the lower leg or foot
• Difficulty walking and climbing stairs
• Feeling that the knee will give way
• Feeling that the knee will lock

Treatment of an acute knee injury

If there is acute pain in or around the knee, it is important to understand the nature of the injury so you know if it is simply a sprain or if you are dealing with something more serious. For example, you may have torn knee ligaments, broken your meniscus or fractured your knee.

How can a physiotherapist help?

A physiotherapist will be able to diagnose the injury. They will want to know exactly what happened and will ask you to perform a series of movements with both knees to compare the range of movement. Once the diagnosis is clear, the physiotherapist will decide, possibly after conferring with your doctor, if you need to be referred to a specialist in a hospital.

To begin with, the physiotherapist will mainly advise you on how to gradually increase the amount of weight you put on your knee. They will also use certain techniques and prescribe exercises to maintain and improve mobility. They will slowly introduce exercises to improve the stability and strength of the knee and accelerate the healing process. Your physiotherapist will also guide you through the process of returning to sport.

If your physiotherapist believes you may have fractured your knee, torn a knee ligament or broken your meniscus, you may have to go to a hospital for an X-ray or scan. The physiotherapist will always discuss this with your doctor first.

Our physiotherapists are available nearby to provide immediate treatment for your symptoms. We have a practice in your company or in the area, so you can start treatment straight away and do not have to spend time travelling. Our physiotherapists are familiar with your workplace. They know a great deal about the workstations, working postures, workloads and strains that the employees within the company have to deal with. They will assess your condition and determine the right treatment and guidance to best meet your needs.