Knee Injury Treatment
The knee is a complex joint and one of the most easily injured. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, knee pain is the reason for millions of doctor visits every year.
At Inova Sports Medicine, we provide accurate diagnosis and expert treatment for a wide variety of knee injuries. Our fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians and other specialists offer the latest treatments and technology, so you can get back to the activities you love, pain free.
Treating knee injuries at Inova Sports Medicine
Knee instability or overuse injuries of the knee are a common problem among active people, whether you’re an athlete, a weekend sports enthusiast or you have physically demanding job. We provide knee care for patients of all ages, from children through adults.
At our center, you will find:
- Expert team: Our fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians have expertise in all areas of sports-related injuries and treatment.
- Advanced diagnosis: We use sophisticated imaging technology, including musculoskeletal ultrasound, for precise diagnosis and advanced treatment.
- Convenient services: Our centrally located comprehensive treatment center has relationships at regional facilities so you can receive follow-up care wherever it’s convenient for you.
- Commitment to minimally invasive treatment: We use the least invasive treatment method possible, so your recovery will be quicker and easier. We provide minimally invasive in-office procedures as well as surgical treatments.
- Specialized physical therapists: Our physical therapists have advanced training in rehabilitating knee injuries.
- Personalized care: We offer individualized performance assessments so we can determine the exact cause of your knee condition. Then, we tailor a customized rehabilitation plan that meets your needs.
- Collaboration: Our team is in direct communication with athletic trainers and coaches to support your or your child’s safe return to sports and activity.
Specialists on our knee treatment team include:
- Sports medicine primary care physicians
- Orthopaedic surgeons
- Physical therapists
- Athletic trainers
Learn more about our customized care for patients of all ages:
Knee injuries we treat
Knee injuries are common for basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, hockey players and runners. In addition, as you age, the wear and tear on your knees may cause pain or limping. If the symptoms affect your daily functioning, you should seek treatment.
See a physician if you experience any of these symptoms:
- A sense of instability
- Pain that limits your activities
- Limited motion
- Limping
- Swelling at the injury site
Common knee injuries we treat include:
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury
ACL tears are one of the most common knee injuries. The ACL controls forward movement and rotation of the shinbone, so ACL injuries can happen in sports with sudden cuts and pivots, like football, soccer or basketball. Learn more about knee ligament treatment and our comprehensive ACL treatment options.
Treatment for ACL injury involves:
- RICE method: Rest, Ice, gentle Compression and Elevation
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Wearing a brace to protect the knee
- Surgery to reconstruct the ligament in your knee
Articular cartilage injury
Articular cartilage cushions the bones that meet at the knee (the patella, shinbone and thighbone) to prevent friction. Knee cartilage may tear when the knee is twisted while bearing weight.
Treatment for articular cartilage injury may include:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Wearing a brace to protect the knee
- Surgery to repair or replace the damaged cartilage
Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury
The LCL stabilizes the outside of your knee. Tears usually occur when a sudden force is put on the outside of the knee joint. Learn more about knee ligament injury.
Treatment for an LCL injury may involve:
- RICE method: Rest, Ice, gentle Compression and Elevation
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Wearing a brace to protect the knee
- Surgery to reattach the ligament to the bone, sew the torn ends together or reconstruct the ligament. If we cannot repair the ligament because the damage is too severe, we may perform a tendon reconstruction.
Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury
The MCL supports the inside of your knee and is commonly injured in high-impact or cutting sports like skiing, soccer and football. An injury to the MCL is often referred to as an MCL sprain. Learn more about knee ligament injury.
Treatment for MCL injury includes:
- RICE method: Rest, Ice, gentle Compression and Elevation
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Wearing a brace to protect the knee
- Surgery to reattach the ligament, repair or reconstruct the ligament together
Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury
The PCL controls the shinbone’s backward movements and is most often injured by a direct blow to the knee while it’s bent. Learn more about knee ligament injury.
Treatment for PCL injury may involve:
- RICE method: Rest, Ice, gentle Compression and Elevation
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Wearing a brace to protect the knee
- Surgery to reconstruct the ligament
Meniscus tear
The meniscus is a cushioning cartilage between the thighbone (femur) and the shinbone (tibia). It typically gets injured when the knee is twisted while bearing weight on it. Learn more about torn meniscus.
Treatment for a torn meniscus includes:
- RICE method: Rest, Ice, gentle Compression and Elevation
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Strengthening muscles with exercise
- Surgery to repair or remove the meniscus tear, often using arthroscopic procedures
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Common in growing adolescents, Osgood-Schlatter’s causes inflammation where the kneecap (patellar tendon) attaches to the shinbone. It often occurs in children who play sports that involve running and jumping.
Treatment for Osgood-Schlatter disease may involve:
- RICE method: Rest, Ice, gentle Compression and Elevation
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Wearing a knee strap
- Strengthening muscles with exercise
Kneecap (patella) pain or instability
The kneecap connects the muscles of your thigh to your shinbone. Normally, your kneecap fits into a groove in your knee. Kneecap instability occurs when your kneecap slides out of the groove. This can result in a kneecap dislocation (subluxation). You may experience knee pain, especially when sitting, or find that your knees can no longer support your weight. You may also experience instability or “shifting of the knee cap.”
Treatment for kneecap instability:
- Restore the kneecap to its place, if it has been completely dislocated. Your athletic trainer or doctor may need to apply pressure to push the kneecap back into place.
- Exercise and braces to strengthen the muscles
- Surgery, to correct the instability or to repair the damaged kneecap cartilage
Preventing knee injuries
We know you are eager to return to your active lifestyle. After treating your knee injury, our specialists will help you regain your strength and can teach you specific knee exercises to help reduce your risk of knee injuries. Our team includes physical therapists and athletic trainers who are certified in Sportsmetrics™, a national ACL-injury prevention program.
You can help prevent knee injuries by:
- Warming up and stretching before playing sports
- Strengthening specific muscle groups important to your sport
- Gradually increasing intensity and time spent exercising
- Wearing well-fitting shoes
- Maintaining a healthy weight to avoid putting excess pressure on your knees
Make an appointment
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 703-970-6464.