Knee Injuries

Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a ligament inside your knee joint that stabilizes your knee. A full tear of this ligament causes instability in the knee, especially with cutting and changing direction. Young athletes will often have this ligament surgically repaired, but some athletes and active adults are able to return to activity with high quality rehab only! Click here to learn more. 

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a ligament that stabilizes the inside of your knee. Injury to this ligament can result in knee instability, especially with cutting and change of direction. Most MCL injuries can be treated conservatively with physical therapy, but a full rupture, or an injury in conjunction with injury to other ligaments of the knee, may require surgery. Click here to learn more.

Your lateral collateral ligament (LCL) stabilizes the outside of your knee.  Injury to this ligament is rare, and, when it does occur, is often found alongside multiple other traumatic injuries. Injury to the LCL results in decreased knee stability. Click here to learn more.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is the ACL’s partner. It is located inside the knee and prevents the tibia (lower leg bone) from moving backwards on the femur (thigh bone). Injury to this ligament is fairly rare compared to ACL injuries. It can cause knee instability, especially with running, jumping, cutting. Click here to learn more. 

The meniscus is a semi-circular piece of connective tissue inside your knee. It acts as a shock absorber and helps to stabilize your knee. You have two in each knee - a medial meniscus and a lateral meniscus.  Injury to the meniscus can cause pain, popping, locking, and instability in the knee, but new research suggests that physical therapy is just as effective as surgical intervention. Click here to learn more.

The knee moves through a wide range of motion with a bony block when the knee is fully extended. Knee hyperextension occurs when the knee gets forcefully extended past its normal range of motion causing damage to the connective tissue in the joint. Click here to learn more.

Patellofemoral pain is a catchall term referring to any pain at the front of your knee, typically due to overuse. This can include quad/patellar/pes ansirine tendinitis, arthritic issues, or bursitis. Click here to learn more.

Your iliotibial band (IT band/ITB) is a long flat piece of connective tissue on the outside of your thigh, running from your tensor fascia latae (hip muscle) to the outside of your knee.  The IT band gets a bad rap as the cause of all lateral knee pain, but it is typically a combination of factors that create this overuse injury. Click here to learn more.