Living an active lifestyle means you likely encounter aches and pains. Your knees are a crucial part of sports like running, basketball, and soccer, but these activities also put you at risk for painful knee injuries.
Hurting your knee may be as simple as some rest and ice or as severe as requiring surgery to heal correctly. No matter what the injury, it's essential to understand that the recovery period is critical in getting back on your feet.
If you've suffered a knee injury and are looking for the best recovery team, look no further than Orthopaedic Specialists in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Brandon Downs and his team provide conservative and surgical treatments for knee injuries like ACL tears and cartilage damage.
Dr. Downs is a board-certified and experienced orthopaedic surgeon who offers cutting-edge treatments such as PRP injections, physical therapy, and bone marrow concentrate (BMAC).
The knee joints are hinge joints that allow you to perform various activities like walking, running, and climbing. Although they seem like simple joints, the knees are highly complex, consisting of multiple bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
Because the knees bear much of your weight throughout the day and have so many components, they're highly susceptible to various injuries, including:
Many of these injuries happen during physical activity or sporting events. Even the best-trained athletes suffer ACL tears, meniscus injuries, and dislocations.
Knee injuries range from mild to severe and may require conservative measures like rest, physical therapy, or surgery in severe cases.
Rehabilitating a knee injury is essential to returning to normal activities, but it doesn't happen overnight. There are various steps to improve knee health and speed up your recovery.
After a knee injury, the first thing to do is stop doing what you're doing, rest, and get an evaluation. Before you do anything else, look at and feel the knee joint to determine if you need professional help. The following steps include the RICE protocol:
The first step in recovery is resting the injured knee, especially within the first few days after the injury. Avoid moving the knee too much or putting weight on it if it hurts.
Icing the injury is critical in the first several days after the injury. Most injuries swell initially as your body tries to protect the joint and repair the damage. Icing the knee several times a day helps control swelling and pain, which speeds up the recovery process.
Another way to control swelling and inflammation is by compressing the joint with a bandage. Be sure the bandage isn't too tight that it cuts off circulation; blood flow is essential to the healing process.
While sitting, keeping the knee elevated on a pillow is crucial to reduce swelling and improve pain. While you elevate the knee, apply ice and compression for optimal relief.
The next step in the recovery process is getting an evaluation by an orthopaedic specialist like Dr. Downs. He provides a detailed exam of the knee and imaging studies, such as an X-ray or MRI, to determine the extent of the injury.
The recovery period for knee injuries varies, depending on the type of injury and what parts of the knee are involved. In some cases, it can take months to a year to fully recover from serious knee injuries – but is there a way to speed up the healing process?
Dr. Downs offers several treatments that improve the recovery from a knee injury. Some of the ways you can get back to your life quicker include:
Physical therapy (PT) is one of the main treatments for knee injuries because it helps strengthen the areas around the joint to improve function. During PT, the therapist provides strengthening exercises, flexibility training, and range-of-motion therapy to speed up recovery.
Another treatment that aids in the recovery process is PRP therapy. Platelet-rich plasma is a treatment we get from your blood. We use growth proteins on the platelets to enhance the body's healing process and tissue recovery.
If you're struggling with persistent knee inflammation, corticosteroid injections can help. Steroids are potent medications that quickly reduce inflammation in the joint, helping you recover and participate in PT more effectively.
Conditioning programs are also essential in recovery, especially for athletes. Taking the time to condition the knee fully before returning to activities is critical in preventing further injuries to the joint.
Call Orthopaedic Specialists today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Downs for a knee injury or request a consultation on our website.
