Abrasions and Road Rash

A very common injury, abrasions or road rash results from falling on a hard surface, which ends up rubbing against the outer layer of the skin called the epidermis, and sometimes the deeper layer known as the dermis. While blood loss from abrasions is minimal they can cause immense amounts of pain due to exposed nerve endings. If left untreated, abrasions can lead to serious skin infections.

Symptoms

o Burning and itching feeling
o Warm to touch
o Redness

Treatment

o Clean with mild soap
o Cover area with antibiotic ointment and gauze

For a severe abrasion or road rash consult an A.R.M. sports physician for effective treatment that will ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury

A torn ACL is a very common injury throughout all types of sports. The cause of most ACL tears is due to either a twisting of the knee or a traumatic blow to the outside of the knee joint. Women are actually more prone to ACL injuries although the reason behind their prevalence is unknown.

Symptoms

o A loud pop in the knee at the time of injury
o Swelling of the knee immediately after sustaining the injury
o Restriction of movement in the knee joint
o Extensive amounts of pain after the injury occurs

Treatment

o Pre-surgical rehabilitation
o Surgery required when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for ACL injuries will ensure a full recovery.

Chondromalacia

Chondromalacia is the weakening of the cartilage under the patella caused normally by overuse or weak thigh and hip muscles. Runners are very prone to this condition due to the constant stress put on the knee joint from the shock absorption in a running motion. Although common in runners, any athlete involved in a sport with running or hard surfaces can suffer from Chrondromalacia.

Symptoms

o Discomfort and pain of the inner knee
o Sense of tightness or fulness of the knee area
o Loss of strength in quadriceps causing your leg to give out
o Mild swelling of the knee

Treatment

o Resting the knee
o Physical therapy
o Strengthening and flexibility exercises to maintain fitness

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Chondromalacia will ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) is one of the most common causes of lateral knee pain. ITBS develops among athletes who are either constantly running or who repeatedly flex or extend their knees. Long distance runners and cyclists are extremely prone to ITBS, but it is also found in other sports such as tennis, soccer and volleyball.

Stretching and strengthening the knee are common treatments for ITBS. Surgery for ITBS is very rare, although cortisone injections are sometimes used if all other types of treatments fail.

Symptoms

o Pain on the outside of knee especially during exercise
o Tightness in the Illiotibial band
o Weakness during hip abduction

Treatment

o Rest and Ice
o Ultrasound and electronic stimulation
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Illiotibial band syndrome will ensure a full recovery.

Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury

The Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) supports the outside of the knee and provides stability to the joint when the knee is pushed outward. An LCL injury is most common in contact sports such as football and occurs after severe force os applied to the inside of the knee. There are three grades of an LCL injury. Grade 1 consists of mild stretching of the ligament without looseness Grade 2 is a partial tear of the ligament Grade 3 consists of full rupture of the tendon resulting in instability of the knee joint.

Symptoms

o Discomfort to the outside of the knee
o Pain and swelling of the knee
o Tenderness and weakness of the knee

Treatment

o R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, COmpression, Elevation) method
o Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory medication
o Sports Knee Brace
o Physical Therapy

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury will ensure a full recovery.

Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury

The rupturing of the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) is normally caused by an impact to the outside of the knee. The impact pushes the knee inward stretching the MCL and leading to partial or full tears.

There are three different levels of MCL tears:
Grade 1 tears are normally partial and there is no joint instability.
Grade 2 is partial tear combined with joint movement, yet when force is applied the joint is instable.
Grade 3 tear is a complete tear of the MCL yet sometimes is not as painful as a grade 2. Joint laxity is massive and the athlete will feel as if they have an unstable knee.

Symptoms

o Knee is tender on the MCL
o Swelling near or around the ligament
o When stretching the knee there is definite joint movement with no definitive end point
o Feelings of lack of stability and knee buckling

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Hinged knee brace when necessary
o Knee immobilizer when necessary and crutches

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for MCL injuries will ensure a full recovery.

Meniscus Injuries

Medial Meniscus is a piece of cartilage that lies between the joints of the knee on the inside. On the outside is the lateral meniscus. Medial meniscus injuries are more likely to occur then lateral meniscus injuries. Medial meniscus injuries normally involve the same type of trauma as ACL injuries and often go hand in hand.

Twisting motions, while the feet are planted and impacts to the knee can all cause meniscus damage. There are also degenerative conditions where the meniscus tissue begins to fray causing damage and pain.

Symptoms

o Pain on the inner surface in the knee joint
o Swelling in or around the knee
o Lack of weight bearing strength
o Pain when knee is rotated

Treatment

o R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method
o Electronic stimulation and ultrasound
o Manual therapy
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Medial Meniscus injuries will ensure a full recovery.

Osgood-Schlatters Disease

Osgood-Schlatters Disease is a common reason for knee pain in young athletes. It is caused by swelling of the tubercle below the knee, leading to pain. Over exercise in young kids leads to bone growth near the patella tendon. This is the cause of the pain and discomfort.

Symptoms

o Tenderness and pain around the tubercle
o Pain during tightening of quadriceps
o Swelling directly below the knee

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Use of a knee brace when advised

Physicians at A.R.M. specialize in sports braces and orthotics to treat such conditions. Consulting our sports physicians for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Osgood-Schlatters disease will ensure a full recovery.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis of the knee is the result of the wearing down of the cartilage and synovial membranes inside of the knee joint. In some cases bone spurs in the knee can form inside the joint causing pain. The cause of osteoarthritis can be from overuse, heredity, previous injuries to the knee joint, or weight.

Symptoms

o Aching pain deep in joint
o Inflammation of joint
o Stiffness in the joint
o Crunching or grinding sound

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Braces
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee will ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Osteochondritis Dissecans

Osteochondritis dissecans, not limited to a specific joint, is mainly caused by the lack of blood supply to the end of the bone affecting the cartilage in that specific region. Once blood supply is restricted a fragment of cartilage or bone may become loose and break off causing considerable amounts of pain.

Young adults and teenagers are most affected by this condition especially when active in sports. Early diagnosis of this type of injury can limit the damage caused and allow for a quick and full recovery.

Symptoms

o Pain
o Locking of joint
o Decrease in range of motion
o Swelling and tenderness

Treatment

o Rest
o Brace when necessary
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Osteochondritis dissecans will ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Patella Subluxation (Kneecap Dislocation)

Patella Subluxation (kneecap dislocation) can cause discomfort and become painful in activities such as running. The culprit of this pain is the poor tracking of the patella along the trochlear groove.

This can be caused by a wider than normal pelvis, problems in the athletes gait, or just a shallow trochlear groove. Complete dislocation of the kneecap is normally caused by heavy trauma. Subsequent dislocations become much more frequent after the original dislocation.

Symptoms

o Knee pain
o Tenderness in effected area

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Bracing and taping when necessary
o Proper footwear

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for patella subluxation will ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Patella Tendinitis (Knee Tendinitis, Jumper’s Knee)

Also known by many as jumpers knee, patella tendonitis is the result of the tendons and tissues, surrounding the knee, becoming inflamed and irritated. The most common activity to cause such damage is jumping, where it derives its name.

Symptoms

o Pain directly over the patellar tendon
o Pain with jumping or kneeling
o Swelling in the vicinity of the patella tendon

Treatment

o Ice the knee to reduce swelling and pain
o Strengthening of the quadriceps to help aid recovery

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Patella Tendinitis will ensure your full recovery.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome involves a few different factors, but all of them relate to the tracking of the patella in the femoral groove. Imbalances of the muscle groups in the legs, poor flexibility and alignment of bone structure or issues in the foot and ankle are common causes for poor tracking.

Symptoms

o Pain on the sides of kneecap
o Grinding feeling or knee popping

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Knee brace

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for patellofemoral pain syndrome will ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Plica Syndrome

Plica syndrome is a condition involving the remainder of fetal tissues in the knee. These tissues shrink in size overtime and in adults exist as synovial plica. This tissue, now located on the inside of the knee, becomes irritated or inflamed during activities such as running, leading to Plica Syndrome.

Symptoms

o Pain
o Snapping on inside of knee
o Tenderness to touch effected area

Treatment

o Rest and ice
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Cortisone injection when necessary

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for plica syndrome will ensure a full and speedy recovery.

Posterior Cruciate ligament (PCL) Injury

An injury to the PCL is most commonly caused when the knee is bent and trauma is caused to it from the front. These injuries are graded similar to MCL and ACL injuries with the three separate levels. Most treatments for PCL injuries require rehabilitation.

Symptoms

o Pain during the time of impact
o Swelling in the area might occur
o Pain when PCL is placed under stress
o Joint instability, and feelings of knee buckling

Treatment

o Rest and Ice
o Crutches when necessary
o Possible physical therapy

Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for PCL injuries will ensure a full recovery.