Knee injuries resulting in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are fairly common -- especially in athletes and sports participants. With full tears, ACL reconstruction is usually required. Most ath
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The patella (more commonly known as the "kneecap") moves up and down in front of the knee joint along a built-in track called the patellofemoral groove. It is held in place by several ligaments on eit
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Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee are all too common in athletes. But they can also occur in older, active adults. What type of tissue graft works best? Should it be an auto
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The number of surgeries to replace part or all of the knee joint has tripled in the last 10 years. Along with that increase has come many changes in the way reconstructive knee surgeries are done. In
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How Does Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Stack Up Against Other Treatment These Days?
Treatment of holes in the articular cartilage of the knee has taken a decided turn in the last 15 years. Surg
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There's a lot of confusion right now about the best treatment for tears of the knee meniscus. For sure, we know that removing this C-shaped cartilage in the knee is a bad idea. That just leads to dege
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Predicting Who Will Respond Positively to McConnell Taping for Knee Pain
Knee pain from patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) can be helped with a simple taping treatment. But not everyone gets pain re
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Are you thinking about having a knee replacement? Wondering whether to stick with the standard surgical procedure or go for the minimally invasive technique? The results of this study concur with othe
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In this review article, orthopedic surgeons from around the country bring us up to date on the latest research and evidence on the management of knee osteoarthritis in young, active adults. This patie
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There are many ways to measure the results of surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Pain, stability of the knee, and range-of-motion are commonly used. In this study, quality of life (Q
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If you enjoy participating in sports but need surgery to repair or remove a damaged meniscus, this report may interest you. Experts in the surgical treatment of meniscal tears compared the effect of a
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Studies show that a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that isn't repaired can leave the knee unstable and at risk for gradual degeneration of the joint. Surgery to reconstruct the ligament and rep
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Injuries, defects, lesions, or tears of any kind in the joint cartilage can end a sports athlete's career. Today, there are improved ways to treat cartilage injuries, especially in the knee. One of th
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People with knee osteoarthritis are encouraged to maintain an active lifestyle and to exercise those arthritic knees. But that seems counter intuitive -- if your knees hurt, why would you move and exe
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Even though half a million knee replacements are done each year in the United States, there are other treatment options for some patients. If one side of the joint has worn down from problems with ali
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It's clear now that damage to the meniscus (cartilage) of the knee should be repaired whenever possible. But there's another type of cartilage in the knee called the articular cartilage. This is the c
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Knee injuries can really lay an athlete low. Those injuries affect the medial side of the knee most often (the side closest to the other knee). The soft tissues involved are first the superficial medi
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A knee replacement has become so common any more we tend to forget that it is still major surgery and a fairly complex one at that. With so many aging adults in America, the number of total knee repla
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Attention PhysioExcellence clients who have had or are considering having 'autologous chondrocyte implantation' for their knee (the worn cartilage replaced by their own healthier cartilage.) This arti
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Has your Doctor or physiotherapist at PhysioExcellence diagnosed your knee with a meniscal tear? This article provides an up-to-date review of the types of treatment being used for your injury, from t
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Is your 'quad" injured? PhysioExcellence clients suffering from quadriceps injury may find this article of interest, which explains the conservative and surgical treament options for quadriceps injury
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Have you sustained a traumatic knee dislocation? This is likely the first systematic review of case studies of treatment of knee dislocation and compares timing of surgery and outcomes in terms of sta
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Research has shown that corticosteroids injected into the joint work for reducing knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. But how long does the effect last? Osteoarthritis is a chronic problem, so long-te
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Six risk factors for patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) in young athletes have been identified in this study. Some of them are modifiable, which means they can be changed. And that means this painf
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The verdict is in on the subject of meniscectomy (removal of the meniscus) -- don't do it unless it's absolutely necessary. And sometimes there is no way around it. But whenever possible, surgeons rep
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Injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee are common among adults of all ages. Athletes seem to be the primary patient population but they are not alone. Adults of all ages but espe
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Knee replacements are common among older adults with painful joint arthritis. It has been assumed that the decrease in pain after recovery from joint replacement surgery translates into improved mot
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In this article, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) presents a Clinical Practice Guideline for the nonoperative treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Guidelines like this help all health c
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Japanese researchers may have an answer to the problem of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). This painful knee condition affects teens and young adults who are usually still growing. That means the grow
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It's clear now that unrepaired anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are often accompanied by damage to other soft tissue structures of the knee. Patients are advised to have surgery sooner than l
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Parents of teens with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and any adult who ever had OCD as a teenager will find this review of interest. Diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of OCD are the key features. A
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If you have painful knee arthritis, exercising the knee may be the last thing on your To Do list. But studies like this one show that knee flexion and extension exercises do help. They improve strengt
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In some countries with universal or nationalized health care, a joint replacement is considered an elective procedure. That means the person chooses to have the operation but it's not an emergency pro
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Long-term results after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery aren't always perfect. But for the majority of patients, the outcome is favorable and patients are happy with the results. In this stud
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Have you ever heard someone say they tweaked their knee? Has that ever happened to you? You take a step wrong or move in just a way that causes a sudden, sharp pain along the inside (medial side) of t
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Little by little, total knee implants have been improved over the years. But it hasn't happened by magic. Makers of the implants sponsor studies like this one to evaluate what works, what doesn't, and
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Highly active people who injure their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee are often faced with an important treatment decision: surgery or no surgery? Wouldn't it be great if there was a test
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Over the years, surgical technique for the repair of a ruptured or deficient anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has evolved and changed. Most recently, in the 1990s, surgeons went from using a two-incis
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Cartilage injuries in the knee can be a big problem. Healing is very slow, if it happens at all. That's because the cartilage in the knee doesn't have much of a blood supply. Getting athletes with a f
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Physiotherapists provide rehab and retraining for patients after severe leg injuries. Regaining normal motion and motor control, improving strength, and restoring kinesthetic awareness (sense of posit
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Degenerative joint disease (also known as osteoarthritis or OA) is a common problem in the aging adult. Two out of 10 people over the age of 60 develop OA. Knee arthritis is especially common. Pain an
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Physiotherapists faced with patients who have knee pain must make sure the problem is really coming from the knee. This is true for all musculoskeletal problems, whether it's back, neck, shoulder, hip
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Tearing or rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common knee injury, especially in people who participate in certain sports. And, as more people become active, surgeons are performing mo
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Is there a reason why patients stop kneeling after a partial knee replacement (PKR)? If there is, doctors and physiotherapists haven't been able to find it. And without the ability to kneel, daily act
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The treatment of meniscus injuries has progressed and changed over the years. Meniscectomy (removing the meniscus) was the first procedure used. But long-term studies showed degeneration of the joint
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