The knee is an involute weight bearing joint that connects the femur, patella, and tibia composing

The injury occurs due to the supporting structures of the knee being placed under immense stresses like repetitive or prolonged activities. Many factors that

The knee joint is a hinge joint that connects the femur to tibia. The anterior muscles of the quadriceps and the posterior muscles of the hamstrings help stabilize the knee joint (Prentice & Bobo & Benson, 2014). The ACL consists of long rope like bands that fasten bones together to keep the knee stable. The ACL is one of four ligaments that stabilize the knee, and it is one of the most injured ligament in the knee. The medial and collateral ligaments run along the outside of the knee and prevent the knee from shifting side to side, and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments are located inside the knee and prevent the knee from shifting forward and backward (Prentice & Bobo & Benson, 2014). All these muscles and ligaments work together to keep our knee stabilized

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is an endemic condition that affects 20 million people in the United States alone. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is defined as a gradual process of destruction and degeneration or wearing away of the joint cartilage which typically occurs in the older individual age 50 and over (http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/330487-overview#a0101). . Although this diease is well known for its association with the natural aging process, it is also prevalent in athletes. Specifically, osteoarthritis of the knee has been said to be the most commonly affected area as a majpr weight bearing joint and is a growing epidemic in relation to sports injuries in the young adult. http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/ostearthritis-of-the-knee-degenerative-arthritis-of-the-knee. According to, (Vincent), among upper and lower reported extremity sites, the most common region for osteoarthritis to manifest is p’in the medial compartment of the knee. The risk of knee osteoarthritis from knee joint injury is high; approximately 50% of individuals with an ACL or meniscus tear develop knee osteoarthritis [10-15]. A long-term prospective study indicated a relative risk for knee osteoarthritis of approximately 5 for any previous injury of the knee [13]. As cited in, _____, Thelin and colleagues determined that injury of the knee joint was associated with all knee OA in a

Clinical examination may be difficult in acute injury and is inconclusive in cases with injuries of multiple ligaments/menisci. ( 73 ) Injuries to the knee resulting from acute trauma can occasionally limit full extension of the knee, due to swelling, and muscle spasm. ( 87 )

The triangular shaped cartilage within the knee joint that assists with stabilizing, cushioning and transmitting weight across the joint is the meniscus. Several conditions related to the meniscus are visible on an MRI Scan.

Clinical examination may be difficult in acute injury and is inconclusive in cases with injuries of multiple ligaments/menisci. ( 73 ) Injuries to the knee resulting from acute trauma can occasionally limit full extension of the knee, due to swelling, and muscle spasm. ( 87 )

The most common way to tear the A.C.L is by twisting the knee at a sudden reaction such as a twist in the knee. This can happen with or without contact. Most people say they hear a pop when the tear occurs. It can occur when you‘re slowing down from running, planting and suddenly changing direction, or as doctors say hyperextending the knee. When this happens immediate pain happens the knee will fully swell, tenderness will occur around the knee, and the way you move your knee will be greatly affected. The first thing to do if an injury occurs is to rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Osteoarthritis is degenerative joint disease caused by mechanical wear and tear. Damage manifest as breakdown of cartilage, injury of subhondral bone and changes to all articular surfaces. it presents as pain in weight bearing joints that worsen with use. The joints that are mostly affected are the distal interphalanges, knees, hips, toes and spine [1]. Knee osteoarthritis is suspected after a medical history and physical examination is done. During the physical examination the doctor will examine the knee and its series of motion. He will pay close attention to areas that are swollen, tender and painful [2]. There are a variety of diagnostic tests that may help confirm the diagnosis if patient’s knee is affected. There is X-ray that

The bones in the upper and lower leg of Human body are connected by complex pivotal hinge joint called knee. The upper and lower extremities are encompassed of cartilage, tendons and ligaments. There are two cartilage pads called menisci that diffuse the friction created at the tibial and femur joint. The main ligaments of the knee are Medial Collateral ligament (MCL), Lateral Collateral ligament (LCL), Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Anterolateral ligament (ALL), and Posterior Cruciate ligament (PCL).

The knee is a hinge joint which gives the legs mobility. The muscles and ligaments of this joint allows flexion and extension of the leg. “Because the knee supports the majority of the body weight, it is at risk of overuse and traumatic injuries” (France). The knee is composed of 3 major bones; the femur, tibia, and the fibula. The femur is the biggest bone in the human body, the inferior end flares out into two rounded landmarks called femoral condyles. Their name comes from the side of the body they are on, which is where we get Lateral Femoral Condyle and Media Femoral Condyle. Superiorly to these condlyes are the medial and lateral femoral epicondyles. The bones inferior to the femur are the Tibia and Fibula. The superior end of the Tibia flares out into slightly concave structures called the Tibial Plateaus. A crescent wedge shape of cartilage sits in each plateau. These are the Medial Meniscus and the Lateral Meniscus. This cartilage acts as a shock absorber and distributes forces. “The menisci are bathed by the synovial fluid of the knee” (France). The meniscus is what separates the each side of the Tibia and Femur and the transverse ligament connects each menisci. There is a circular bone on the

Most people will never understand the many complexities of the world. The same can be said about the human body and the different structures that work together to produce movement. Some people who desire to be in highly competitive sporting environments, will attest to the excruciatingly painful, life-altering moment when they were engaged in play and heard the quintessential “pop” sound from their knee and they are immediately falling to the floor unable to move that knee. This is usually followed by a diagnosis of an anterior cruciate ligament tear and within a few weeks, surgical methods must be taken if the athlete wishes to return to their sport at the same high level. This paper will seek to properly define what the role of the anterior cruciate ligament (more commonly called the ACL) is, shed light on the procedures necessary for an athlete to return to play, and analyze data found through research to determine the likelihood of re-injury and, therefore, the effectiveness of ACL surgery.

Each bone in a synovial joint has articular cartilage at the articulating surface. The C-shaped medial and lateral menisci serve to deepen the articulation at the superior surface of the tibia, thus enhancing the bony stability of the joint.

An orthopedic doctor diagnosed an injured 25 year old male skier with torn right medial collateral (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) with possible medial meniscal involvement. The superficial medial collateral ligament (MCL) originates at the medial epicondyle of the femur, inserts at the medial condyle of the tibial shaft and also attaches to the medial meniscus. (Marieb) The MCL stabilizes the knee by resisting medial rotation of the knee and protecting against genu valgum stresses, which stress the tibiofemoral joint in the medial direction. (Biel) The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) originates from the anterior intercondylar area of the tibia and inserts on the medial side of the tibial lateral condyle. (Marieb) The ACL provides stability by preventing anterior translation of the tibia, preventing hyperextension of the tibiofemoral joint, reinforcing the medial collateral ligament and controlling the tibial rotation during femoral extensions from 0 to 30 degrees. (Brown Biomed) The medial meniscus functions to deepen the articular surfaces of the tibia, helps prevent medial to lateral movement of the femur on the tibia and provides shock absorption in the tibiofemoral joint. It attaches only at the outer margins and frequently suffers rips with knee injuries. (Marieb)

Joints assist in motion and stability of the skeleton (Ramaiah, 2000). Joint can also be grouped according to their structure and function. This article will mainly focus on the “knee joint”. This is because the knee is one of the most complex as well as the largest joint found in our body. Additionally, the knee is also one of the most vulnerable. This is because, while contributing to flexibility and movement, the knee carries more weight and pressure compared to other parts (Schmidler, 2016). For instance, when one walks, the knee supports approximately one point five times the body mass; when one climbs stairs, the knee supports three point our times body mass; and finally when squatting, it is roughly eight times (Brunning, 2017).

The menisci of the knee gains its blood supply from blood vessels entering from the joint capsule accompanied by loose connective tissue.