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Your knee joint is a complex and vulnerable joint. It bears your bodyweight, supports movement, and acts as a shock absorber. It’s also one of the most easily injured joints. In fact, millions of people each year see their doctor for a knee injury.
Dignity Health provides complete care for knee injuries using the latest medical procedures and therapies. If you need a specialist to diagnose your knee injury, Find a Doctor near you.
Knee pain and swelling are the most common symptoms of any kind of knee injury. Other signs and symptoms include:
The knee may also be unstable, meaning it feels like your knee is loose or gives way when you use it. In fractures and dislocations, the knee may appear deformed or out of alignment.
Knee injuries typically result from a trauma of some kind. Often, the trauma affects more than one structure in the knee. High-energy trauma, such as car accidents and sports injuries, are usually responsible for fractures, dislocations, and ligament and tendon tears.
Other injuries, such as meniscal tears, tendonitis, and sprains, can occur either from acute trauma or from chronic overuse. Overuse places stress on the knee over and over again. This can eventually weaken the knee structures and lead to injury.
Common knee injuries include:
There are additional mechanical issues that can arise in your knee that stem from elsewhere, such as your hip or feet. If you have cartilage degeneration, you could have a piece of it floating around in your knee space. This is not generally an issue unless it starts rubbing or disrupts movement.
Several factors can put you at risk for knee injury:
While it is always possible to avoid a knee injury, there are concrete steps you can take to lower your risk:
The information contained in this article is meant for educational purposes only and should not replace advice from your healthcare provider.