Knee Sprain

(Sprain, Knee)

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Definition

A knee sprain is stretching or tearing of the ligaments that support the knee. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that hold bones to each other.

Ligaments of the Knee

Causes

A knee sprain is when a force pushes the bones of the knee apart. If the force is strong enough, the ligament comes apart. This can happen from things like:

Forced twisting of the knee
A sudden change in direction
A misstep that causes a sudden strain at a joint
An impact with an object or another person

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:

Playing sports, such as basketball, football, skiing, and gymnastics
Poor coordination
Poor balance
Muscle weakness
Poor flexibility
Loose joints

Symptoms

Problems may be:

Pain and tenderness, especially putting weight on the knee
Swelling, warmth, or bruising around the knee
Problems moving the knee
A popping sound

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You will also be asked how the injury happened. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the knee.

It can be hard to tell a sprain from a fracture or dislocation. Pictures may be taken. This can be done with:

The doctor may need to view the inside of the knee. This can be done with a minimally invasive procedure called an arthroscopy.

Sprain of Knee

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the joint and how severe the injury is. The goal of treatment is to ease pain and improve movement. Choices are:

Supportive care, such as rest, ice, a compression bandage, and raising the knee to ease pain and swelling
Medicine, such as over the counter pain relievers
Supportive devices, such as a brace or crutches
Physical therapy to improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion

Some people may need surgery to repair a ligament that is torn.

Prevention

Most sprains are due to accidents. They cannot always be prevented. The risk may be lowered by:

Using the right safety gear and techniques when playing sports
Stretching and strengthening the ligaments that support the knee

RESOURCES:

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmed.org

Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org

References:

Derry S, Moore RA, Gaskell H, McIntyre M, Wiffen PJ. Topical NSAIDs for acute musculoskeletal pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2015;(6):CD007402.

Donnell-Fink LA, Klara K, Collins JE, et al. Effectiveness of knee injury and anterior cruciate ligament tear prevention programs: A meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(12):e0144063. Available at :
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed June 2, 2016.

Lowe WR, Warth RJ, Davis EP, Baily L. Functional bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review. J Am Acad Ortho Surg.2017;25(3):239-249

Roth J, Taylor DC. Management of acute isolated medial and posteromedial instability of the knee. Sports Med Arthroscopy Rev.2015;23(2):71-76.

Sprains and strains. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases—National Institutes of Health website. Available at: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains. Accessed October 14, 2020.

Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed October 14, 2020.

Sugimoto D, Myer GD, et al. ABCs of evidence-based anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention strategies in female athletes. Current Phys Med Rehabil Rep. 2015;3(1):43-49.

Topical NSAIDs. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/drug-review/topical-nsaids. Accessed October 12, 2020.

Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Teresa Briedwell, PT, DPT
Last Updated: 6/4/2021

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