Knee Ligament Injury Can Be Permanent

A knee ligament injury can occur especially when you exercise or have heavy physical activity. Some knee injuries risk disrupting knee function. One result, the strength of the knee to support the body is reduced. The knee is the part of the body that works hard when you are active, especially when doing sports like running. The burden on the knee when working hard can cause injury to the knee ligaments. Ligaments are hard bands that connect bones to bones in the body.

Causes of Knee Ligament Injury

Ligaments in the knee are ligaments that are prone to injury and can cause permanent changes in one's ability to move. Injuries that are often experienced by these athletes can also be experienced by anyone who does or experiences the following conditions:

• Knee hit by a blow or a hard impact.
• Turn your knees with your feet still on the ground.
• Transfer weight from one leg to another suddenly.
• Spread your knees too far.
• Jump and land with knees bent.
• Sudden stop when running.

A knee ligament injury can cause sudden pain, knee swelling, a rattling sound from an injured knee, a knee joint that feels loose, and pain when lifting weights. Examination to detect injuries can be done with a physical examination by a doctor plus a supporting examination with X-rays or MRI. In some cases, your doctor may use a needle to suck up and dry the blood in the swollen knee.

Knee Injury Cannot Recover on Its Own

If not treated immediately, the impact of this knee ligament injury can be felt that the injured ligament should not be left alone, but take care immediately. Here are some things you can do to speed up recovery:

• Compress the knee with an ice cube wrapped in a cloth. Place the compress for 20-30 minutes every four hours.
• Rest your knees by not making him bear excessive loads.
• When lying down, raise your knees on the pillow.
• If needed, take pain medication.
• Wear knee pads to prevent further injury. You can use bandages to rest and protect your knees, but don't band them too tight.
• Your doctor may invite you to practice stretching and movement to exercise strength.
• Physiotherapy may be needed on the advice of a doctor.

The speed of recovery depends on the severity of the injury and the treatment provided. In some types of injury, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), reconstructive surgery is needed to recover. This ligament connects the femur with the tibia or the shin bone (one of the lower limb bones). ACL injuries are very common among all forms of sports injuries. This knee ligament injury cannot be completely repaired and can only be reconstructed. Reconstructive surgery has the opportunity to restore more than 80 percent of knee function. In other words, it will not be completely the same as before the injury. The patient may also continue to experience pain and swelling. In addition, reconstructive operations carried out also risk causing other health problems, such as infections and blood clots. After getting treatment, avoid rushing back to active activities before, until your knees return to the following conditions:

• No more swelling.
• The injured knee is as strong as the uninjured.
• No pain in the knee when walking, running, and jumping.
• Can bend and straighten the knee without feeling sick.

Do not underestimate the recovery period, because if you are in a hurry to move as before when the knee has not completely healed, there will be a risk of permanent knee injury. Therefore, it is important to prevent knee ligament injuries before they occur. This can be done by warming up before exercising or doing activities, doing stretches and strength training regularly to maintain muscle flexibility, and avoid increasing the intensity of exercise suddenly. If a knee injury occurs during exercise or activity and does not improve immediately after resting, especially if the injury causes difficulty walking, unable to straighten or bend the knee, badly swollen knee, or there is severe pain that is unbearable, immediately consult a doctor so you can quickly handled.