How to Relieve Acute Patella Pain
Akneecap injurycan happen from a blow to the knee or a fall.
Some injuries can also occur due to overuse.
Symptoms may include pain, swelling, a feeling of instability, or that the joint is locked.
Verywell / Kelly Miller
Some types of injuries can be treated with bracing and rehabilitation exercises, but others may need surgery.
This article discusses the different types of kneecap injuries, their symptoms, and how they may be treated.
The most common types of kneecap injuries include the following.
You often will have functional symptoms as well.
Common symptoms include the following.
Injuries to the patella usually result in difficulties in moving the knee, walking, or running.
A dislocated kneecap may spontaneously pop back into place.
This can produce bruising and damage to the soft tissues.
Traffic accidents are the cause of 78.3% of patella fractures.
Work-related accidents and accidents in the home account for 13.7% and 11.4%, respectively.
you might also tear your patellar tendon when landing from a jump with the knee bent and foot planted.
You may be predisposed to a patellar tendon tear if you already have patellar tendonitis.
Some people are born with an uneven or shallow femoral groove.
Diagnosis
Depending on the circumstances, you may see your primary healthcare provider or seek emergency treatment.
A visual exam of the knee assesses whether there is swelling, deformity, or obvious displacement.
Imaging and Labs
Several different tests may be done to help diagnose your injury.
Treatment
Treatment of these various acute kneecap conditions depends on the diagnosis.
However, there are some general guidelines that can be followed.
Your healthcare provider will advise you based on your diagnosis.
If this doesn’t happen spontaneously, the healthcare provider will do the reduction as soon as possible.
A reduction might require pain medication so the provider can extend the leg and manipulate the kneecap.
Often, it will snap back into place with gentle pressure when the leg is extended.
Your healthcare provider will recommend which of these is appropriate, if any.
They may also recommend you not bear weight on the affected leg during the immobilization period.
You might need to use crutches or other mobility aids until this period is complete.
This can be performed as an outpatient surgery.
There are several surgicalkneecap stabilizationprocedures that can be done for recurring patella dislocations or subluxations.
Dislocations are often associated with damage to the medial patellofemoral ligament, which holds the kneecap in place.
Surgery can be performed to repair or reconstruct the ligament.
Immobilization itself will result in stiffness and loss of muscle strength.
Your physical therapist will work to restore the knee’s range of motion and muscle strength.
The function of the knee joint requires balancing the strength of the muscles around the knee joint.
Most importantly, the quadriceps andhamstring muscle groupsshould be flexible and balanced.
Your physical therapist will recommend specific exercises depending on your condition.
Some injuries may occur over time due to overuse of the knee.
These injuries can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty walking.
Kneecap injuries are usually diagnosed with an exam and imaging tests such as an x-ray.
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