Athletic Knee Injuries and What to Expect at an Orthopedic Appointment

Did you know knee injuries are becoming more problematic in the athletic population, ranging anywhere from the pediatric population all the way to the aging adult population? As an orthopedic sports medicine specialist, I'd like to discuss common knee injuries, treatments, and what to expect at your orthopedic appointment.

Athletic knee injuries can happen as a twisting/loading injury, a shifting injury, or a buckle.

Common knee injuries include tears of the ACL, meniscus, muscle or tendons, as well as knee instability.

After a knee injury, give it a few days to ice and rest. If your knee is unstable, please call us for an appointment. If after a few days you're still having symptoms of inability to use your knee appropriately or feel like something just isn't right, give us call.

Once you make that all-important appointment, you're going to see a doctor, have them listen to your story, figure out what's wrong through physical exam, and usually x-rays at the initial visit, and come up with a plan of care.

A plan of care could mean non-operative treatments such as anti-inflammatories, ice, rest, physical therapy, or it could mean advanced imaging, such as an MRI. If the doctor you see feels like you do need an MRI at that first visit, we'll see you back in clinic once the MRI is completed to talk about what it shows, what it means, and what the treatment plan for you is going to be.

If you're suffering from an athletic knee injury, call us at CHI Health Orthopedics at (402) 717-0820 to set up an appointment with one of our orthopedic sports medicine specialists.