One of the most common causes of knee popping, swelling, and pain is a meniscal tear. Many of us have either experienced or know someone who has undergone treatment for a meniscal tear. So, what’s the big deal? And what exactly is a meniscus?
The hamstring is composed by three muscles located on the back of the thigh called: Semistendinosus, Biceps femoris ad Semibranosus. They attach from the back of the pelvis at the ischial tuberosity to just below the knee joint on the medial and lateral sides. Their function is to facilitate the extension of the leg or straightening the leg backwards and also allows the knee to bend.
A strain or a "pulled muscle" is when there is a stretch, partial tear or a complete tear in the muscle. The most common causes for this strain are stretching the muscle more than its capacity or when they are contracted with a great force. It is seen mostly with sprinting, dancing, running or jumping. This strain is very common in adolescents since they are in the stage of growing, the bone usually grows faster than the muscle and it could pull the tendon. The symptoms with this injury are: swelling, pain and burning sensation when it occurs, bruising or discoloration on the back of the leg over the course of the first days and weakness in the hamstring for weeks.
The diagnosis would be determined with the history of the patient and the physical examination. The physican would inspect the back of the thigh for any tenderness, weakness or bruising. X-rays can be used to determine if the tendo of the hamstring has pulled completely from the bone and if part of that bone pulled away. If this happens this is called avulsion injury. MRI can also be used to determine the grade of the strain.
The treatment for this injury depends on the degree of the injury. If it is a minor sprain, it could be treated with NSAIDS (Ex. Ibuprofen and Naproxen), resting from physical activities, icing it for 20 minutes several times a day, elevation to reduce swelling, knee splints, and physical therapy. If there is a tendon avulsion injury, surgical procedure would be done to attach the tendon to the pelvis with stitches. This typically takes at least 6 months to heal properly with the instructions of the physician.
There are several ways to prevent this type of injury from happening like stretching or warming up before doing exercise, sprinting or running. Also, the muscles must have a good strength so it is important to do as many exercises as you can in the day. These exercises can help in the quality of life and also prevents any possible injuries in the future.
You Might Also Enjoy...
One of the most common causes of knee popping, swelling, and pain is a meniscal tear. Many of us have either experienced or know someone who has undergone treatment for a meniscal tear. So, what’s the big deal? And what exactly is a meniscus?
Your ankle is a very important part of your body. It helps to carry your whole weight and support your balance. So, when your ankle is in distress, moving about might become a problem. Learn about how to recognize and manage a potential fracture.
"WEEKEND HAND OR WRIST INJURY AND NEED FOLLOW UP? Have no fear... Schedule online with OCSM for a guaranteed appointment with a board-certified hand surgeon Monday morning".
This type of injury is frequently misdiagnosed in high-trained athletes. These wrist injuries that are misdiagnosed can delay return to play. The addition of an accessory tendon is a rare finding that can explain a snapping wrist without without injury.
Your hands are incredibly complex structures that perform a variety of daily tasks that also make them vulnerable to injury. The highly skilled team at the OCSM provide prompt diagnoses and state-of-the-art treatments for a variety of hand conditions.
While there are a number of causes for hand numbness including nerve damage from diabetes or a pinched nerve in the neck, one of the most common causes we see as orthopedic hand surgeons is carpal tunnel syndrome.