Help hit my kneecap hard. Knee injury from a fall: treatment at home

Knee injury is a common type of injury that can occur to a person during sports, after physical fatigue, during a fall, etc.

The types and treatment of such injuries are within the competence of a traumatologist; the main symptoms are problems bending the leg, pain, and swelling. Anyone who is at risk (elderly people, athletes, parents of small children needs to know what knee injuries are, how to treat them and in what first aid the patient needs.

The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body. It connects the tibia and femur, and is covered in front by the patella, which is also called the cup. This joint is formed by crescent-shaped cartilaginous menisci; the mechanical load is borne by the cruciate ligaments. The joint has five fluid-filled bursae. The large size and developed ligamentous apparatus allows you to support the weight of the entire body when walking, jumping and running, however, falls during landings on a straight leg often cause serious injuries. But what to do if you are experiencing pain

Most often it is the ligaments that are affected. The most common is the so-called. “Turner's triad”, in which the ligaments are torn and the internal meniscus is damaged.

The most severe is considered to be a rupture or sprain of the cruciate ligaments, which is accompanied by destruction of the joint capsule.

When ligaments are torn, severe pain, swelling, and displacement of the lower leg occur. The capillaries break and the bag fills with blood. Injuries associated with such ruptures can be observed in football players, wrestlers, and track and field athletes.

An important feature of knee bruises is that it is not the joint itself that suffers, but the patella covering it. This bone takes the brunt of the damage. when hit from the front or during a fall on bent knees. As a result, fractures of this bone or rupture of its ligaments are observed.

Attention! Many damages knee joint never heal completely, and the patient may experience pain when putting weight on the knee for the rest of their life.

Reasons

The causes of injuries can be divided into two groups:

1. Excessive loads.
2. Diseases of bones and joints.

Carefully! Crunching (crepitus) in the knee joint can also be a sign of a fracture of one of the bones (for example, the patella).

Patella injuries

Usually occur in older people suffering from osteochondrosis, osteoporosis and other diseases that contribute to degradation bone tissue. The kneecap, or patella, is damaged when falling onto a hard surface. Possible fractures, cracks and displacement of the cup. Fractures or cracks occur when the cup is impacted from the front, displacements occur when the cup is impacted from the side or from below. The displacement may be accompanied by a sprain.

Tendon rupture and sprains

Tendon sprains are a phenomenon that often occurs in those who play sports: football players, skiers, wrestlers and runners. Accompanied by severe pain and swelling, reminiscent of sprains, but differs in location.

Features of treatment

The main thing in the treatment of knee injuries is immobilization. Prolonged rest promotes the disappearance of the main symptoms and tissue regeneration.

Used against severe pain local anesthesia or knee block. If strong mechanical impact damage to the joint capsule and ligaments may require pumping out excess liquid, intra-articular injections anti-inflammatory drugs.

At home, if you have a knee injury, apply an ice pack or other cold object, apply a tight bandage, lie down and place the sore leg so that it is higher than the body. This will allow blood to flow away from the knee and prevent bleeding or swelling. It is important that the leg remains in a position in which the patient feels as comfortable as possible.

For minor bruises they are often used folk remedies:

• Compress made from cut cabbage leaves.
• Cottage cheese compress.
• A compress made from a body sponge with oil (helps with hematomas, but is contraindicated in open wounds or abrasions at the site of injury).

Rehabilitation and recovery

The duration of rehabilitation greatly depends on the type and severity of the injury. Usually, for a long period of immobility, the diseased joint needs to be worked out. This is done using special exercises– flexion and extension of the knee in order to develop the joint and restore tone to the muscles of the thigh or lower leg, raising a straight leg in order to train the muscles.

• After serious injuries, exercise therapy is usually started with the help of another person who helps bend and straighten the leg.
• When the muscles are sufficiently strong, the patient begins to bend independently and lift the straight leg from a supine position to 45 degrees.
• At the same time, a massage of the thigh muscles begins, which had time to atrophy while the leg was motionless. This can be either self-massage or procedures with the help of a massage therapist.
• When the patient can lean on the injured leg, exercises begin with raising the toes, first with support on the back of a chair, then without support.
• On final stages After recovery, the patient begins to walk, first briefly, then longer and longer.

After serious injuries, rehabilitation can last several months.

Consequences of such injuries

Minor injuries usually resolve without sequelae. In case of severe injuries, the following consequences are possible:

• Long-term loss of performance (up to six months if the injury is accompanied by a fracture).
• Problems with the production of synovial fluid (leads to pain, difficulty bending the joint, requires treatment).
• Inflammation of the muscles and ligaments surrounding the joint.
• Penetration of infection into the synovial bursa.

Attention! If the injury was accompanied by bleeding and rupture of the synovial bursa, and help was not provided on time, gangrene and death or amputation of the leg are possible.

Conclusion

Thus, the knee is the largest and best protected joint, able to withstand heavy loads. However, when playing sports, falling or playing outdoor games, joint injuries occur that require treatment, and in the absence of it may lead to disability. The most common types of injuries are bruises or torn ligaments. The most common symptoms are swelling, sharp pain.

A knee injury is closed injury, in which damage to superficial soft tissues without severe dysfunction of the joint is most often observed. Bruised knee (patella) is one of the most common injuries lower limbs, characteristic of all age categories. Sometimes this trauma is not given of great importance, but you need to remember that its consequences can be very serious, such as inflammation of the meniscus, sprain or rupture of ligaments and others.

Causes and symptoms of a knee injury

Knee bruises are always caused by external reasons, this can be caused by a variety of situations in which it is possible: falling, getting hit, being pinched in an accident, and much more. Damage to the patella occurs especially often in children and athletes involved in sports such as football, athletics, and wrestling. If you bruise your knee, symptoms may appear several hours after the injury. These include:

• Abrasions, wounds, bruises;
• Painful swelling;
• Swelling of periarticular tissues;
• Limitation of joint mobility.

Also, the main symptoms of a knee injury include localized pain, its nature and intensity depends on the severity of the injury, and in some cases, pain shock can lead to loss of consciousness. A sign of a severe bruise is the appearance of a significant tumor that exceeds the size of the joint. This swelling indicates possible development hemarthrosis - violation of integrity blood vessels and accumulation of blood in the joint cavity, also with a soft tissue hematoma above the knee, a painful swelling, the so-called lump, can form. For any of listed symptoms adequate medical care is required.

Consequences of a knee injury

One of the most minor consequences of a knee injury is the development of a subcutaneous hematoma while maintaining its integrity. skin without damaging the knee joint. In this case, the consequence of damage is only an aesthetic defect. But in some cases, without qualified assistance, the consequences of a knee injury can be serious pathologies. Let's look at some of them:

• Inflammation and rupture of the meniscus. Inflammation of the cartilage formation, which performs a shock-absorbing function between the joints, is characterized by the appearance of sharp pain when bending and extending the knee, limiting motor activity. Also, in the future, swelling of the knee joint may occur due to internal hemorrhage into the cavity of its outer capsule, followed by blocking. The sensations of pain become diffuse in nature. Without timely treatment defeat can turn into chronic form, with the threat of meniscal degeneration;
• Fluid accumulation in the knee. Complications from a knee injury are accompanied by pain and swelling of the joint, indicating the accumulation of fluid in its cavity. In this case, the swelling can exceed the size of the joint several times. The patient is prescribed complete rest and the knee is fixed using plaster cast. If not observed positive result, a puncture of the knee joint is performed;
• Sprain or rupture of ligaments. Occurs as a result of a direct blow to the knee, as well as blows to its back or side. With sprains, there is swelling, hematomas, movements become difficult and painful, and when the ligaments are torn, the knee completely loses the ability to move. These conditions are also characterized by instability of the joint, its “falling out” during walking with severe injury;
• Dislocation and fracture of the kneecap. The kneecap (patella) plays important role in the functioning of the knee joint, and partially serves as protection for it from damage, while due to its location it is often subject to injury. The patella has various dislocations, subluxations and fractures varying degrees complexity. The most common bruise among athletes is considered to be a habitual dislocation. It is characterized by instability, joint pain, cartilage destruction, muscle weakness, and limited motor function;
• Prepatellar bursitis. Inflammation of the prepatellar bursa, which prevents friction between tissues in the knee joint, occurs due to bruises and injuries. Accompanied by swelling, pain and redness in the knee area, increased temperature; if the skin is damaged, infection and the development of purulent bursitis are possible, in this case it is required surgery.

In addition to the listed consequences of a knee injury, there are other complications, so such injuries require mandatory consultation with a specialist to prevent possible pathological processes.

Providing first aid for a knee injury

If you bruise your knee, it is very important to provide first aid before contacting specialists. To do this, it is necessary to protect the damaged joint, eliminating the impact of any loads on it; it is better to lie the patient down, raising the leg above the level of the heart, and try to immobilize it with a pressure bandage. It is also recommended to apply a heating pad with ice or a cold compress to the damaged area for 10-15 minutes; after the same period of time, the procedure should be repeated. This will prevent the appearance or increase of hemarthrosis, reduce swelling of the joint and stop bleeding. In addition, the patient can take adequate pain medication to alleviate the condition. If the injury occurred outside the home, you must call emergency assistance, first sit or lay the patient down, raising the injured leg to reduce blood flow to the affected area.

Treatment of a knee bruise

Treatment for a knee injury is usually conservative methods, To surgical intervention resort only in case of development of significant hemarthrosis. It is necessary to contact a specialist immediately after an injury has occurred, in order to eliminate the possibility of complications, it is recommended to take an X-ray of the knee. First of all, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed by specialists to relieve inflammation and relieve pain. In case of ruptures or sprains of the ligaments, a fixing bandage may be applied to limit movement, and in extreme cases, even a cast. A week after a knee injury, UHF therapy and other physiotherapeutic procedures can be prescribed, and ointments can be used to resolve hematomas, relieve swelling and inflammation. Surgical treatment knee bruise involves puncture of soft tissues and suction of accumulated blood to relieve pain and swelling.

Special gymnastics selected for you by your doctor will help restore lost functions of the knee joint. Do not self-medicate, but follow all recommendations of specialists.

Adults and children know that a knee bruise is a very painful nuisance, and the “lucky” person who has received such an injury may have trouble understanding what happened to him and what to do now. Therefore, it is very important to know how to recognize the type of injury and correctly provide first aid to the victim.

What to do if you bruise your knee?

If you yourself or someone in front of your eyes hit your knee hard - on the ice on a skating rink, on asphalt, on the corner of furniture, etc. - it is very important to maintain composure and take the injury seriously. From pain, under the influence of alcohol or out of ignorance, some continue to move, stepping on a bruised leg, which should not be done.

Help the person move to a quiet place, while constantly reminding him not to step on the sore leg.

If trouble happens to you, ask those around you very demandingly to help you - move or support you while you go to a suitable place, call a taxi or even ambulance.

Do not neglect the advice not to strain your bruised knee; remember that fallen football players are transported from the field on stretchers! Not because they cannot walk on their own, but because the first minutes of injury are very important for subsequent healing.

The next thing to take care of is applying cold to the bruised area. Finding an item that can replace an ice bubble can be difficult, but use your ingenuity to help!

For example, the following materials are suitable:

• snow wrapped in a scarf or neckerchief;
• plastic or glass bottle with a cold drink;
• package of frozen dumplings;
• cloth soaked in cold or at least room temperature water.

Ideally, you need crushed ice in a waterproof bag. Do not under any circumstances use this " folk remedy"like a piece raw meat! At the slightest crack or abrasion in the skin, an infection will penetrate there, and the consequences can be serious.

So, when you bruise your knee, first aid is to rest the leg and apply cold. Next steps, depending on the force of the blow, the emergency doctor or clinic surgeon will tell you where to go, even if the injury, as you think, is not severe.

Some injuries can be mistaken for a simple bruise, while they pose a danger to human health, having similar symptoms. Thus, sometimes only a doctor can recognize a ligament rupture or dislocation based on the results of an x-ray. Therefore, it is very important to apply for medical assistance on the first day after injury.

How to distinguish between a bruise, a rupture and a dislocation

If, nevertheless, it is up to you at this moment to decide whether to go straight to the hospital or first home and then to the doctor, then it is very important to know the symptoms of a knee bruise, ruptured ligaments or dislocation (subluxation) of the joint.

Please note the following:

• a bruise is accompanied by pain of varying intensity, from mild to very strong, up to loss of consciousness. However, the main feature is fast education hematomas at the site of impact (bump, swelling, redness);
• tendon rupture is always accompanied by severe pain and loss of the ability to move the limb normally - the leg may bend forward unnaturally, “dangle”, and rapid intense swelling of the tissues under the knee is also characteristic;
• with a dislocation, the main symptom is loss of sensation in the leg below the knee, numbness, pain, the kneecap protrudes forward or to the side.

The last two cases require immediate hospitalization. The surgeon will reduce the dislocation under anesthesia, and if there is a rupture, an immobilizing bandage will be applied. The doctor will prescribe antipyretic, anti-inflammatory drugs and local treatment- an ointment that reduces signs of hemarthrosis (accumulation of blood in the knee).

It is very important that the examination is carried out by a specialist, since different cases Either a warming and irritating ointment or an anti-inflammatory one with a cooling effect is required.

Principles of treatment for knee injuries

When first aid is provided, therapy begins and recovery process, which can take from 10 to 20 days. Pain syndrome goes away within a week, the hematoma (bruise) resolves within 7-14 days, full recovery If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, it is possible in 3-4 weeks. Moreover, the period when the knee cannot be moved is relatively short - only a couple of days.

A medical examination and diagnosis is very important for proper treatment.

Based on palpation and x-rays, the surgeon determines that the injury is a bruise (contusion) and prescribes the following therapy:

• pressure and fixation bandage on the knee joint;
• analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent (oral intake - tablets, capsules, injections): analgin, dexalgin, paracetamol, diclofenac, dikloberl, voltaren, ibuprofen, nurofen, ketorol, ketolong, nise, nimesil, nimide;
• ointments with the same effect: diclac, diclofenac, deep relief, fastum, bystrumgel, dolaren, naklofen, ultrafastin, finalgel.

If there is a significant accumulation of coagulated and fresh blood in the subcutaneous bladder (hematoma), the surgeon decides to perform a puncture. In this case, the hematoma is punctured and the contents, which can be bloody or purulent, are sucked out.

Although this method always frightens patients, it helps speed up treatment and avoid serious consequences (infiltration of tissues with purulent contents of the hematoma, transformation of injury into chronic inflammatory process joint - arthritis, bursitis, etc.).

A knee joint injury for an athlete is a very unpleasant and very painful thing. She is the one who can long time knock even the most professional and seasoned athlete out of the training process. Some famous and promising athletes at one time had to leave sports precisely because of injury to this joint. How to avoid a knee injury and what to do if it does occur, we will tell you in this article.

Anatomy of the knee joint

The bony base of the knee joint is the distal end femur, proximal end of the tibia, head of the fibula. Articulating surfaces bones - head The femur and tibia are covered with thick cartilage. The immediate points of “contact” between the bones are called the condyles. They are curved at the femur and concave at the tibia. To increase the congruence of the articulating surfaces, as well as for more uniform pressure of the condyles on each other, there are cartilaginous formations - menisci - between the articulating surfaces of the bones. There are two of them - internal and external, respectively medial and lateral. The entire structure is reinforced from the inside with a system of ligaments.



Ligamentous apparatus

Between the menisci there are cruciate ligaments - anterior and posterior, connecting the femur to the tibia. They act as holding mechanisms: the anterior cruciate ligament prevents the lower leg from moving forward, and the posterior ligament prevents the lower leg from moving backward. Looking ahead, we note that the anterior cruciate ligament is more susceptible to injury.

Along the anterior surface of the joint, the menisci are fastened by the transverse ligament of the knee joint. The joint capsule is of considerable size, however, it is quite thin and does not have significant strength. It is provided by ligaments surrounding the knee joint:

• tibial ligament - runs from the head tibia to the medial condyle of the femur;
• fibular ligament - runs from the head of the fibula to the lateral condyle of the femur;
• oblique popliteal ligament - makes up back articular capsule of the knee joint, partly a continuation of the tendon of the popliteus muscle;
• quadriceps femoris tendon - runs along the anterior surface of the knee joint, attaches to the tibial tuberosity. The patella is also woven here - a small sesamoid bone designed to increase the strength potential of the quadriceps. The part of the tendon that runs from the patella to the tuberosity is called the patellar ligament.

The inner surface of the joint is lined with synovial membrane. The latter forms a series of expansions filled with adipose tissue and synovial fluid. They increase internal cavity knee joint, creating some additional shock absorption reserve along with the menisci.

The tendons of the muscles surrounding it give additional stability to the knee joint. These are the muscles of the thigh and lower leg.



Anterior muscle group

Speaking about the thigh muscles, they can be divided into four groups, depending on their location in relation to the knee joint.

The anterior group is represented by the quadriceps femoris muscle. This is a massive formation consisting of four heads that perform different functions:

• the rectus femoris muscle extends the thigh;
• the medial, lateral and medial heads of the quadriceps are united into a common tendon and are extensors of the lower leg;

Thus, the function of the quadriceps is twofold: on the one hand, it flexes the thigh, on the other, it extends the lower leg.

The muscles of the anterior thigh also include the sartorius muscle. It is the longest in the body and runs through the hip and knee joints. Its distal end is attached to the tibial tuberosity. The function of this muscle is to flex the hip and flex the tibia. She is also responsible for supination of the hip, that is, for turning the latter outward.

Posterior muscle group

The posterior group of muscles includes muscles whose function is to extend the hip and flex the leg. This:

• biceps femoris, also known as the biceps femoris. Its functions are listed above. The distal end is attached to the head of the fibula. This muscle also supinates the tibia;
• semimembranosus muscle - the distal tendon is attached to the subarticular edge of the medial condyle of the tibia, also gives tendons to the oblique popliteal ligament and the fascia of the popliteus muscle. The function of this muscle is flexion of the lower leg, extension of the thigh, pronation of the lower leg;
• semitendinosus femoris muscle, which is attached at its distal end to the tibial tuberosity and is located medially. It performs the functions of flexion of the lower leg and its pronation.

Internal and lateral group

The inner thigh muscle group performs the function of hip adduction. These include:

• gracilis muscle - attached distally to the tibial tuberosity, responsible for adducting the thigh and flexing it at the knee joint;
• adductor magnus - is attached at its distal end to the medial epicondyle of the femur and is the main adductor muscle of the thigh.

The lateral muscle group, represented by the tensor fascia lata, is responsible for abducting the hip to the side. At the same time, the muscle tendon passes into the iliotibial tract, strengthening the lateral edge of the knee joint and strengthening the peroneal ligament.

It is no coincidence that in each section we are talking specifically about the distal attachment points of the muscles surrounding the knee joint, because we are talking specifically about the knee. Therefore, it is important to have an idea of ​​which muscles surround the knee and are responsible for various movements here.

During rehabilitation and therapeutic measures, aimed at eliminating the consequences of knee injuries, it should be remembered that when working hard, muscles pass through increased volumes of blood, and therefore oxygen and nutrients. This, in turn, leads to the enrichment of joints with them.

There are two more large muscle groups, without which it is impossible to talk about the condition of the knee joints. These are the muscles of the lower leg, divided into anterior and posterior groups. The posterior group is represented by the triceps surae muscle, consisting of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. This “set” of muscles is responsible for extension of the ankle joint and flexion of the knee joint. Accordingly, we can use the said muscle composition to treat diseases of the knee joint.

The anterior group is represented primarily by the tibialis anterior muscle. Its function is to extend the foot, that is, to move the foot toward itself. Actively participates in the formation of the arches of the foot; with insufficient development of the tibialis muscle, flat feet are formed. It, in turn, changes gait in such a way that the load on the knee joints increases, which first leads to chronic pain in the knee joints, then to arthrosis of the knee joints.



Types of knee injuries

Possible knee injuries include the following:

Injury

A bruise is the most harmless possible injury to the knee joint. It is caused by direct contact of the joint with any hard surface. Simply put, you need to hit something.

Clinical signs of a bruise are acute pain that occurs immediately after the injury itself, gradually turning into aching, low-intensity, but very intrusive.

As a rule, pain in the joint area during a bruise is constantly present, and may intensify somewhat with movement. The range of active movements is somewhat limited: usually the most difficult thing is to extend the joint. An exception is a bruise of the popliteal fossa, in which flexion of the tibia may also be difficult. With this type of injury, the last few degrees of bending the leg at the knee are impossible not so much because of the pain, but because of the sensation “ foreign body"or a feeling of being stuck."

The bruise goes away on its own and in specific treatment does not need, but recovery can be accelerated in the following ways:

• immediately after the injury, apply ice to the injury site;
• massage the joint area;
• do physical procedures, such as magnetic therapy and UHF (on the 2-3rd day from the moment of injury);
• perform special exercises.



Patella fracture

It's much more serious injury than a bruise. It also involves direct contact of the knee joint with a hard surface. The blow, as a rule, falls directly on the patella area. This can happen while performing jumping exercises (falling from a jumping box, goat, uneven bars), while practicing contact martial arts or team sports (hockey, rugby, basketball, karate).

IN power types In sports, such an injury can be caused by a lack of balance skills while holding a weight overhead or by fully straightening the leg at the knee joint under a critical weight (jerk, jerk, barbell squats).

Signs of a patellar fracture

At the time of injury occurs sharp pain. The joint area along the front surface is deformed. Palpation of the patella area is very painful: simply put, you will not be able to touch the kneecap without severe pain.

Supporting the knee is possible, but very painful, as is the process of walking. The joint is swollen, increased in volume, the skin changes color. A hematoma forms at the site of injury.

In the joint itself, as a rule, a significant hematoma always forms with the occurrence of hemarthrosis (this is when blood accumulates in the joint cavity). Blood, in most cases, fills the joint cavity and some inversions synovial membrane(see anatomy section). Purely mechanically, it puts pressure on the capsule apparatus of the joint. Besides, liquid blood provides irritant effect on the synovium of the interstitial space. These two factors mutually reinforce each other, leading to excessive pain in the knee joint.

Active and passive (when someone else tries to straighten your knee joint) knee extension is painful. During pain relief, you can feel the patella under the skin, which may be displaced, deformed, or split. Depending on the tactics chosen by the traumatologist, treatment can be conservative or through surgical intervention.

Sequence of treatment for patellar injury

The sequence of actions will look like this:

• making an accurate diagnosis using an ultrasound machine and x-ray;
• puncture of blood from the joint;
• surgical intervention (if necessary);
• fixation of the knee and ankle joints for 1-1.5 months;
• after removing immobilization - a course of physiotherapy, physical therapy(see section “Rehabilitation after injury”).



Meniscus injury

The role of the meniscus is to provide greater congruence articular surfaces and uniform load on the tibial condyles. A meniscus tear can be partial or complete. Simply put, the meniscus may simply “crack”, compromising its integrity, or a piece of the meniscus may come off.

The second version of the injury is less favorable - the torn cartilage fragment forms a chondral body that moves freely in the joint cavity, which, when certain conditions, can move in such a way that it greatly complicates active movements within the joint. Moreover, the chondral body can change its position several times without being in an “uncomfortable” state all the time. In this case, surgery may be required to remove the broken fragment.

The option of developing a meniscus defect is not so scary. In such a situation, when certain therapeutic exercises, over time, the defect is completely “closed” by connective tissue.

The main problem with meniscus injuries is that if left untreated, over time they are likely to lead to arthrosis of the knee joint, a degenerative disease that damages the cartilage component of the knee joint.

Cruciate ligament rupture

The anterior crosses are most often damaged. The load on them is greater even in everyday life, not to mention sports loads. Such damage often occurs in sprinters, speed skaters, rugby players, basketball players, hockey players - all those who alternate periods of level running with sprints. It is during sprinting, when the knee flexes and extends amplitude under significant load, that the cruciate ligaments are most easily injured.

Another option is a platform leg press with excess weight while hyperextending the knees at the final point of the press. The pain at the time of injury is so severe that it can reflexively provoke an attack of nausea and vomiting. Standing on your feet is very painful. There is no feeling of stability when walking.

In the injured leg, passive displacement of the lower leg with hyperextension of the knee joint is possible. As a rule, you are unlikely to be able to diagnose any specific injury directly at the time of injury. In any case, you will see spasmed muscles around the joint, difficulty in active movements and an increase in the volume of the joint, most likely caused by hemarthrosis.

Treatment of ligamentous apparatus damage can be either surgical or conservative. Plus operations in speedy recovery. However, the operation may be trigger mechanism for the subsequent formation of arthrosis of the knee joint, so you should listen carefully to your doctor and take into account his opinion regarding your case.



Injurious CrossFit exercises

The most dangerous exercises for knee joints in CrossFit are:

• jumping on a box;
• squats with full extension of the knee joints at the top;
• weightlifting snatches and clean and jerks;
• sprinting;
• jumping lunges with knees touching the floor.

The exercises listed above, by themselves, do not cause knee injury. They can provoke it with an unreasonable approach to training. What does it mean?

1. There is no need to dramatically increase working weights and number of repetitions. There is no need to work beyond failure for a long time.
2. There is no need to perform the exercise if you feel discomfort in your knee.
3. At a minimum, you need to change the execution technique to the correct one, at a maximum - refuse to perform this exercise if it does not work for you.

First aid

First aid for any injury to the knee joint is to minimize the growth of the hematoma and reduce pain. The simplest thing you can do is apply a cold compress to the joint area.

The compress is applied in front on both sides of the joint. Under no circumstances should you cool the popliteal fossa. This is dangerous and can lead to vasospasm of the main neurovascular bundle shins.

If the pain is very severe, painkillers should be given. Of course, it is necessary to call an ambulance and transport the victim to a trauma care center.

Treatment

Treatment of knee joints after injury can be either surgical or conservative. Simply put, they can first operate, then immobilize the joint, or they can simply immobilize it. Tactics depend on specific situation and injuries. IN in this case It is impossible to give a single recommendation for everyone.

The sequence of treatment is determined by an orthopedic traumatologist.

Don't self-medicate! It can lead you to sad consequences in the form of arthrosis of the knee joint, chronic pain and indirect damage to the hip joint of the same name!

Exists specific feature treatment of ligament damage. Regardless of whether surgery has been performed or not, after a period of immobilization, and sometimes instead of it, partial immobilization using a hinged orthosis is used.

Rehabilitation after injury

In order to strengthen the knee joint after an injury, you need to long period time (up to a year) to remove compression movements. This is all, regardless of whether they are performed in the simulator or not.

It is also necessary to strengthen those muscles that surround the knee joint: extensors, flexors, abductors and adductors of the hips. The easiest way to do this is by using specialized strength training equipment. Each movement should be performed at least 20-25 times. Breathing should be smooth and rhythmic: exhale for effort, inhale for relaxation. It is preferable to breathe with your stomach.

The routine should include sequentially performing each of the above movements in one set, with a weight that allows you to complete the specified repetition range.

Take the pace of execution slowly, in two or three counts. The amplitude, if possible, should be maximum. In total, you can repeat up to 5-6 such circles during a workout. Regarding calf muscles, it will be useful to do this: after each exercise that is not aimed at the thigh muscles, perform calf raises. Do this also quite slowly, with maximum amplitude and without holding your breath, until you feel strong burning sensation in the target muscle group.

Start your rehabilitation course with one circuit per workout and one set of calf raises.

By the end of the third month of rehabilitation, you should perform at least 4 circuits per workout and at least 2 times a week. From this period, with a favorable course of the rehabilitation process and the passage of pain, you can gradually return to compression loads. It’s better to start with leg presses in a machine using your own weight. Only after this can you move on to performing squats with your own weight.

However, all these moments are very individual! Listen to your body. If you feel discomfort, extend the “no-compression” stage for some more time. Remember, no one except you at this stage will be able to determine the adequacy of the loads.

A knee bruise is a common injury that occurs in both adults and children. Very often, when people fall, they cannot orient themselves in time, so they fall straight on their knee. Knee injury from a fall or blow - dangerous injury, because the consequences of knee damage can appear several years after the injury, when the knee joint is exposed to high load. To similar situations never happened, the knee after a bruise must always be checked for the integrity of the ligaments, joint capsule, and patella - these are the structures that are most often damaged.

Shulepin Ivan Vladimirovich, traumatologist-orthopedist, highest qualification category

Total work experience over 25 years. In 1994 he graduated from the Moscow Institute of Medical and Social Rehabilitation, in 1997 he completed a residency in the specialty “Traumatology and Orthopedics” at the Central Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics named after. N.N. Prifova.

The immediate cause that causes a bruise of the knee joint is the impact on the joint of a factor that is not comparable in strength to the resistance of the bone tissue. Simply put, it can be any traumatic factor that affects the knee area, but the damage will be different - from a minor bruise to complete fragmentation of the knee joint.

Joint bruise is caused by:

• falling to the knee from a height;
• household damage;
• professional herbs;
• sports injuries;
• street falls (for example, during ice);
• road traffic accidents;
• natural disasters.

In any of these cases, the injury can be either mild or severe, so do not forget about a mandatory visit to the doctor to diagnose the extent of damage received after the impact.

Symptoms and signs

Signs of a knee injury cannot be ignored. The knee is a large joint that bears the weight of the body and is actively involved in motor activity person. Damage is manifested by the following symptoms:

• after the blow there is a sharp pain, which can spread not only to the joint itself, but also to the entire leg. Pain happens of various nature, but at first it is strong, twitching, completely paralyzing a person - feeling a bruise of the patella and ligaments, the victim cannot stand up and lean on his leg;
• swelling - bruising of the soft tissues of the knee joint is often accompanied by severe swelling knee: it sharply increases in size, a lump appears in the joint area, motor activity is limited;
• hematoma, or more simply put, a bruise, often occurs after an injury. Hemorrhage appears, as a rule, already in the first minutes after the injury. At first it looks like a purplish-red spot, which will subsequently take on a bluish tint, and then turn green and, in the absence of other damage, after some time subcutaneous hematoma will go away on its own;
• damage to the integrity of soft tissues- this symptom may be absent if the blow was not strong, but if strong blows You can see abrasions and open bleeding wounds on the knee.

First aid

If a person suffers a knee joint injury, it is necessary to provide first aid correctly so as not to harm the victim. If possible, the sick person is raised and seated on a bench.

If there is severe pain, and a person cannot stand on his leg, it is necessary to call an ambulance - most likely, a knee bruise provoked a ligament rupture or a fracture, which can only be diagnosed in a clinic.

Before rendering professional help limb necessary immobilize and apply ice to relieve swelling. Severe bruise under no circumstances should you heat it– if the knee is swollen, then heat will only increase the swelling. If it appears on the skin wound or abrasion, it needs to be processed hydrogen peroxide even before the doctors arrived.

Treatment of a knee bruise

Treatment for a knee injury is possible after the doctor makes a diagnosis and finds out whether there are complications after the injury. If the joint is swollen and fluid is felt under the skin, puncture and pumping out intra-articular fluid with a syringe. It can be blood (with hemorrhage in the joint, hemarthrosis) or serous exudate. After the fluid is removed, the joint is injected nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, for example, Diclofenac.

In most cases, meniscal damage can be treated surgically. After the intervention, the doctor will give instructions on how to restore motor activity in the knee. Simple exercises and exercise therapy will be useful; physical therapy may be required. Athletes are subsequently recommended to have the knee joint taped (application of special tapes to fix the joint).

How many days the patient will recover depends on the nature of the injury received, the compensatory forces of the body, and the conditions for the patient’s recovery after the injury.

At slight bruise the limb heals from 10 to 12 days - after which it can be loaded little by little, and in case of complications, the rehabilitation period takes much longer.

If you receive a minor bruise, damage to the knee joint can be treated at home. The victims are prescribed compresses, use of cooling ointments. You can use folk remedies for bruises if there are no contraindications.

Complications and consequences

If first aid for a knee injury is provided incorrectly or untimely, the injury can lead to various complications:

1. Fluid accumulation in the knee joint– patients develop severe swelling, the knee itself visually increases in size. In this case, the patient must have a pressure bandage applied to the knee and taken to the emergency room, where the doctor will examine the injury and perform a puncture to remove fluid. After the puncture, a pressure bandage is applied to the joint.
2. Patella bruise in some situations it may be complicated by a fracture of the patella. This can be determined in the clinic after an X-ray examination, but even immediately after the injury, patients complain that the kneecap does not bend and hurts. The kneecap should not bend, but damage to it severely limits the mobility of the joint. Therapy can take a long time; during this entire time, patients cannot step on their feet or actively move.
3. Sprained ligaments or complete rupture– a severe injury in which the victim cannot even lean on his leg. Bruised ligaments cause pain when bending and stepping on the leg. The pain becomes extremely severe and the victim cannot do without outside help.
4. A meniscus injury can lead to a tear, complete rupture, or inflammation. The meniscus is often damaged in people involved in professional sports; sometimes, due to the damage, patients are unable to fully restore mobility in the joint, which ultimately leads to disability.
5. Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa, the intra-articular bursa, resulting from an impact. Typical symptoms This complication includes pain, swelling, redness of the knee joint, and local hyperthermia. When infected, pus may appear in the cavity, which is removed through surgery.

When a knee injury occurs, victims should not hope that everything will work out on its own, and unpleasant consequences no injuries will occur. It’s much easier to go to a clinic and have it done x-ray. The doctor will give professional advice on recovery. By doing them, it will be much easier to restore health to your injured knee.

Knee bruise. First aid is provided by a traumatologist