Knee injuries are among the most common injuries not only among athletes, but also among ordinary people. They can occur at any time for the slightest reason, even with normal walking, and among the most famous of these injuries knee sprain Learn about its symptoms and methods of treatment.

What is a knee sprain?

It is a type of injury that occurs in the ligaments of the knees that connect the bones to each other as a result of their abnormal wrong position, and the knee contains four ligaments, two in front and back (the anterior cruciate ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament) and two ligaments on both sides, and this twist may develop in the long term to cause Arthritis.

Types and degrees of knee injuries

• Simple first degree: which causes a slight stretching of the ligaments, which leads to a very small tear that does not affect the ability of the knee to support the weight of the body.
• Intermediate second degree: which causes a partial rupture of the ligament, which leads to loss of balance and slight or moderate instability in the knee while standing or walking.
• The third degree (severe sprain): which causes a total rupture of the ligament and its separation from the bones, which leads to loss of balance and complete instability of the knee.

Symptoms of a knee sprain

There are several signs that can appear with a knee injury depending on the damaged ligament. In the case of an anterior cruciate ligament injury, symptoms such as:

• Crackling occurs inside the knee as soon as the injury occurs.
• Noticeable knee swelling a few hours after the injury.
• Severe knee pain that prevents you from doing your usual activities.
• Blue or black bruising around the knee.
• Knee instability with walking or standing.

In the case of a knee sprain and posterior cruciate ligament injury, you may notice:

• Slight swelling in the knee.
• Difficulty moving the knee with its instability.
• Mild pain behind the knee that gets worse with bending.

If the collateral ligaments are injured, you may notice:

When do you go to the doctor immediately?

These symptoms should contact the doctor immediately or go to the emergency room:

• Feeling of coldness, numbness, and pale skin in any part of the leg.
• Increased swelling, bruising, and pain.
• Symptoms do not improve after 6 weeks, even with treatment.

Causes of knee sprain

The injury occurs when direct pressure and shock occurs in the knee as a result of several accidents and positions, and the most injured ligament is the cruciate ligament, which occurs with a sudden change in the direction of the leg at a high speed, such as what happens with soccer practice. The knee on one side, such as what happens with a direct fall on the knees or injury in an accident.

Diagnosis of knee injuries

The doctor will ask you about the time of the injury, the time the swelling or pain appeared, and the activity you were practicing when the injury occurred to you. He will also ask you if you felt a crack in the knee. After the physical examination, he may ask you to perform some x-rays such as X-rays to look for bone fractures, and other rays to determine the degree of injury. Sprains and injuries.

Knee sprain treatment

The first step to treatment is application The RICE rule for treating a knee injury at home Which includes 4 steps:

1. Rest: excursion of the knee joints.
2. Ice: Putting ice packs on the knee to reduce swelling.
3. Compress: Use a compressive and elastic bandage on the knee to reduce swelling as well.
4. Elevate Knee Raise: Place the injured knee straight up.

To relieve pain and other symptoms such as swelling and high fever, the doctor may prescribe some medications and procedures to treat a knee sprain, such as:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Acetaminophen (paracetamol).
• A splint may be required to limit movement until the injury heals.
• Physiotherapy to improve mobility and rehabilitate the injured knee.
• Surgical intervention such as knee arthroscopy may be required to find and repair damage if other treatments fail.

Learn about the ACL reconstruction process in detail

Prevention of knee sprain again

In order to protect yourself from this infection again, you can follow some tips such as:

• Do the exercises gradually in speed, time and intensity so as not to make a sudden movement that causes injury.
• You can wear some protective braces that are flexible but supportive for the knee while playing sports.
• Do warm-up exercises before exercising that help relax the muscles and reduce pressure on the knees.
• Wear appropriate training shoes that provide support and proper foot position.

Finally, in the event that your knee sprain injuries recur, you should make sure to consult a doctor or seek help from a professional if you exercise regularly, so that you do not have a recurrence of the injury, causing chronic joint problems.