Knee Injuries: Knee Sprain Symptoms and Treatment (continued)

Am I at risk for knee sprains?

The risk of sustaining a knee sprain increases with contact sports, sports that require running, jumping and/or explosive changes of direction. Obesity, poor nutrition, previous knee injury or poor muscle conditioning also increase the risk. The likelihood of sustaining a knee sprain can be decreased by participating in a strengthening, flexibility and conditioning program appropriate for your sport or athletic activity, by adequately warming up before practice or competition and by using proper protective equipment, such as knee braces and ankle braces with the proper shoes(high tops), during participation in contact sports.

What is the proper care for a knee sprain?

The appropriate health care for a knee sprain is a doctor's care, application of tape, cast or an elastic bandage. Your own self-care during rehabilitation, proper physical therapy (for moderate or severe sprain), or surgery for a severe sprain/ligament rupture. The condition is most commonly diagnosed through your own observation of symptoms, your medical history and exam by a doctor and x-rays of the knee, hip and ankle to rule out fractures. MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to identify meniscal cartilage tear.

Are there any complications with knee sprains?

Some possible complications can be (1) prolonged healing time if activity is resumed too soon, (2) proneness to repeated injury, (3) inflammation at the attachment to bone (periostitis); or sometimes, prolonged disability. (4) Unstable or arthritic knee following repeated injury. With a first-time injury, proper care and sufficient healing time before resuming activity should prevent permanent disability.

Continued