One of the most common parts of the body that people injure during the summer is the knee. With the weather getting warmer, people tend to be more active following a more restful period during the winter. Many knee injuries occur while participating in sports, starting new workouts, or just an overall increase in activity.
Your knees are one of the most complex joints in your body. The knee joint is made up of bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons and with so many different components working together, a small injury to one part of your knee can lead to major problems. So, what are the most common injuries a NY knee injury doctor sees?
These are 4 of the most common knee injuries that occur during the summer:
ACL Tear
It’s common for the first injury you think of when you hear knee injury to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four ligaments in the knee that provides stabilization for the knee joint. ACL injuries commonly occur during sports such as soccer, football and basketball due to the fast paced, quick movements needed to perform these sports. Quick changes of direction or landing incorrectly after a jump are two of the top ways for one to tear an ACL.
Patellar Tendonitis
Jumper’s knee, also known as patellar tendonitis, is a condition characterized by inflammation of your patellar tendon. The patellar tendon connects your kneecap to your shin bone, and when you have patellar tendonitis it weakens your tendon and can lead to a tear if untreated. This condition is commonly found in sports, specifically in volleyball and basketball where players jump a lot. The most common symptoms of patellar tendonitis are pain or tenderness at the base of your kneecap.
MCL Injury
A medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury is another common knee injury we see in the summer, but it is more likely to heal on its own depending on the severity of the injury. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a fibrous band of tissue located on the inside (medial) of the knee joint, connecting the bottom of the thigh bone with the top of the shinbone. MCL tears and sprains typically occur when the knee collapses inward from an outside impact, like a football tackle, or from other stresses on the knee, like a foot catching the ground when attempting to kick a soccer ball.
Meniscus Tear
The meniscus is tough, rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between your shinbone and thighbone. Meniscus tears often occur when cutting, pivoting, or being tackled. Sometimes rest, ice, and medication can be enough to relieve your pain and allow your meniscus to heal on its own, but in other cases you may need surgery to repair a meniscus tear. If you believe you’ve suffered a meniscus tear, we recommend seeing a knee orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible to figure out the best course of action.
If you’ve recently suffered a knee injury or have been living with knee pain for an extended period of time, please reach out and make an appointment with our NY knee injury doctor! All of our doctors explore all non-surgical options before recommending a surgical procedure, so it may not take much at all to get you back to pain-free living. To make an appointment, contact us during business hours or submit a contact form in the top right corner of this page.