 Your
knee — it’s the biggest joint in your body, made up
of a lot of parts that can get injured in all kinds of sports.
The knee connects the lower end of the thighbone (femur) to
the upper end of the shinbone (tibia). Several large ligaments
— strong, elastic bands of tissue that join bone to bone
— make this connection, bracing and controlling the motion
of the joint. The kneecap (patella) slides in a groove at the
end of the thighbone; it protects the knee and gives leverage
to various leg muscles. Cartilage at the ends of the leg bones
helps to cushion the joint, like a shock absorber.
Sprains — stretched or torn ligaments — are an especially
common knee injury; the "anterior cruciate ligament"
(ACL) is the one most often damaged. This can happen, for example,
when you change direction quickly, twist a leg or fall, slow
down when running, or land from a jump. Typically, a torn ACL
will be immediately disabling: you’ll feel or hear a "pop,"
and the knee seems to "give way." Even though it might
not be painful, see a doctor right away. Surgery may be necessary.
Knee pain can also come on gradually from overuse of the joint.
For example, "patello-femoral syndrome," or kneecap
pain caused by the kneecap being pushed against the sides of
its groove, can occur if you do a lot of running. It usually
causes pain, either sharp or dull, in the front of the knee.
Squatting or walking down stairs often makes it worse, and you
might feel a grinding or "clicking" in the joint.
A sports medicine specialist can help you to rebalance the kneecap
and prevent further pain through proper training, stretching
and strengthening exercises.
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