Knee injuries are common whether they happen with sports or even regular activities. Some injuries are due to Overuse and some as a result of Acute Trauma.
Most injuries would heal with rest, ice and time but some may be difficult to resolve.
For those involved in active sports, a strong knee is very important for a good performance and to prevent injuries. Prevention is better than cure, thus having a good strength and conditioning program before you increase your activities is always helpful as it reduces the risk of injuries.
Good quadriceps and hamstring strengths help the knee function better and make it less likely to get caught off guard in a game leading to tears to ligaments or cartilage.

Common Knee Injuries:
Meniscus Injuries:
There are two menisci or cushions in your knee; each rests between the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). Their function to 1) assist in distributing your body weight across the knee joint, 2) increase joint stability and 3) shock absorption.
Acute injury involves twisting injury with foot anchored on ground. Medial (inner) injuries happen more frequently than the lateral (outer) meniscal injuries. Players usually experience mechanical problems with the knee, often with a "locking or giving way".
There may also be degeneration of the medial or lateral menisci with sports like running.
Ligament Injuries:
Ligaments connect one bone to the other and the knee has four major ligaments.
The ligaments inside your knee joint are called ACL and PCL which cross in the centre of the knee like a Crucifix. These two provide stability to the knee especially in forward and backward movements especially in sports that involve pivoting and quick turning or twisting on the knees.

ACL or Anterior Cruciate Ligament is a major stabilizer of the knee and leads to instability and pain when torn with twisting or hyperextension injuries.

PCL or Posterior Cruciate Ligament gets injured by direct impact on front of the knee, usually when it is slightly bent. This results in instability with the “giving way” feel.

The ligaments on either side of the knee are called MCL and LCL. They provide sideways stability to the knee.

MCL or Medial Collateral Ligament is on inner side of the knee. It can be sprained when the knee is twisted in the straight position as being knocked sideways, like when being tackled in football.

LCL or Lateral Collateral Ligament is on the outer side of the knee. It may get injured with sideward pressure on a straight knee.

Fractures:
A fracture may happen as a result of direct or indirect trauma and may involve: Patella, Femur or Tibia
Other Common Knee Problems:
Patello – Femoral Syndrome PFS or Chondromalacia Patella CMP: happens when the patella glides through the groove with a lateral shift during the knee movement. This causes irritation of the cartilage between the patella and the femur and thus pain.
Pain is mainly with stair climbing, prolonged sitting and knee bending with weight bearing exercises.
Pre disposing factors may include flat feet, overuse, tight muscles on outer side of the knee, injury or weak muscles on the inside of the knee (vastus medialis).
Iliotibial Band Syndrome: is often seen in runners. It is a tight band of muscle on the outer thigh which causes stress on the knee resulting in pain with movements.
Osgood Schlatter’s Disease: is seen in adolescents who develop pain and a bump just below the knee due to constant overuse and traction on the insertion of the patellar tendon.

Treatment
Immediate treatment should include: RICES Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and Support.
Medical treatment:
The doctor may prescribe
 *some anti – inflammatories for pain and swelling
 *X-rays or MRI depending on the injury
 *Surgery if required
 *Splinting or Support for the knee
 *Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy Treatment
In non-operated as well as operated knee injuries is useful in regaining the pain relief as well as function.
Early exercise with controlled movements prevents muscle atrophy.

Physiotherapy treatment may include:
Mobilisation & manual therapy: Significant effect to restore restricted mobility of the knee joint and kneecap. This aids to reduce pain, muscle spasm and stiffness.
Interferential therapy: The application of a medium-frequency electrical current that stimulates the peripheral sensory and muscle nerve fibers, to reduce pain and inflammation.
Electrical Stimulation: Re-establish / re-educate muscle activation and strength of the thigh (quadriceps muscle) though electrical stimulation. This reinforces stability and strength of the knee.
Ultrasound: The application of ultrasonic waves causing improved cell metabolism and cell membrane permeability, thereby enhancing tissue healing.
Exercise therapy: Depending on the different phases of rehabilitation program, exercises emphasizing on various therapy goals will be taught. This may include stretches, gait re-education, exercises to improve knee movement, strength, stability and stamina.

Appropriate education and activity progression of exercises (therapy/ home exercise program) enables one to return to their highest functional level through a personalized rehabilitation program.

Preventative Measures

Get a well planned exercise program for your knee muscles for preventing undue stress on the knee during sports.

Use of proper foot wear

Good practice and training for your sport will make accidents less common.

The risk of injury increase with a previous injury that hasn't healed.

Experienced physiotherapists in Singapore, with over 18 years of experience, help you to get relief from pain/weakness quickly and easily. You can book an appointment to see our Senior Physiotherapist. We are located right in the heart of Singapore, at Orchard, and are available Mondays through Saturday.