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Knee Injury Leaflet

This document provides information and advice on knee injuries, including common causes and symptoms of knee injuries. It recommends resting the knee, using ice, compression, and elevation to reduce pain and swelling within 48 hours of injury. It also recommends exercises to restore movement and strengthen muscles once pain subsides, starting with isometric contractions and progressing to more advanced exercises. Seeking physiotherapy is advised if symptoms do not improve with self-care.

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54 views2 pages

Knee Injury Leaflet

This document provides information and advice on knee injuries, including common causes and symptoms of knee injuries. It recommends resting the knee, using ice, compression, and elevation to reduce pain and swelling within 48 hours of injury. It also recommends exercises to restore movement and strengthen muscles once pain subsides, starting with isometric contractions and progressing to more advanced exercises. Seeking physiotherapy is advised if symptoms do not improve with self-care.

Uploaded by

LoudjainaDerradji
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Knee injury

Information and advice

This information is designed to supplement the advice given by your doctor, and is written by physiotherapists
based on the latest medical advice.

Knee injuries
Knees can be injured in many different ways, Following a knee injury, you are likely to
and can involve a number of different experience some or all of the following
structures. For example: symptoms:
• bone • pain
• ligaments • swelling
• cartilage (meniscus) • stiffness and/or loss of movement
• tendons • weakness of the thigh muscles
• tightness at the back of the knee
• muscles

What can you do to help your knee?


Within the first 48 hours, the following may be useful:
• Relative rest – rest your knee for the first few days. Consider the use of crutches or a
walking stick to help keep the weight off your injured knee. You can usually start some
gentle exercises, (shown on next page), as long as this is not causing too much pain.
• Ice – this may help to ease any pain and swelling. Apply ice to the area for 10 minutes every
three to four hours. A bag of frozen peas wrapped in a damp towel is the best. Please do
not do this if your skin sensation is impaired. Never apply ice directly to the skin as it can
cause burns.
• Compression – using a bandage can help limit swelling.
• Elevation – elevate your lower leg so that it rests higher than your hip. This aims to limit
and reduce the swelling.
• Medication – can be taken to help ease the pain and swelling. Ask your GP or local
pharmacist for advice.
• Footwear – wear sensible well fitting, cushioned shoes and avoid high heels.
• Pace your activities throughout the day – activity then rest, activity then rest.
• Exercises – once the pain allows, normally within the first few days, start to get the knee
moving and try the following exercises. The aim of these exercises is to restore normal knee
movement and to strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee. Start with the first three
below. Once the initial pain has settled, try adding in options four, five and six.

(1) Push your knee into the (4) Sitting on a chair, tighten
floor by tightening up your the thigh muscles and
thigh muscle – aim to get straighten the knee.
your knee as straight as you Hold for five seconds, 10
can. times. Repeat two to three
Hold for five seconds, 10 times a day.
times. Repeat two to three
times a day.
(5) Place the affected foot
(2) Bend and straighten the behind you.
knee, aiming to increase Keeping the back leg straight,
the knee bend each time – bend the front knee gently
use your hands to help with lunging forwards – feel the
this movement initially. stretch in the back of the calf.
Hold for five seconds, 10 Hold for 20 seconds, four
times. Repeat two to three times.
times a day.
Repeat twice a day.
(3) Place a rolled up towel
under your knee. Push your
knee down against the (6) Place affected leg on a
towel and straighten the step. Lean forward, keeping
knee. the front leg slightly bent,
feeling a stretch down the
Hold for five seconds, 10 back of the leg
times. Repeat two to three
times a day. Hold for 20 seconds, four
times. Repeat twice a day.

If you feel the exercises are making your pain worse, reduce the number or frequency of the exercises
or stop and seek advice.
Physiotherapy may be helpful if the symptoms are not settling with the above advice.
Ask your GP for further information regarding this.

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Please remember that this information is intended as general information only. We aim to make the information as up to date as possible, but please be
warned that it is always subject to change. Please therefore always check specific advice or any concerns you may have with your doctor. Berkshire Healthcare
NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the eight principles of the Data Protection Act 1998. We have implemented technology and security policies, rules and
measures to protect the personal data that we have under our control from: unauthorised access, improper use, alteration, unlawful or accidental destruction.
For further information please contact the Data Protection Officer, Fitzwilliam House, Skimped Hill Lane, Bracknell, RG12 1BQ.

^QiNNR=EjphL^^LNNLNRF oÉîáÉïW=kçîÉãÄÉê=OMNT www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk

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