While knee sprains are common among athletes, they can happen to anyone at anytime. Knee sprains often occur during a bad fall or when someone twists their foot or ankle. 

knee sprain

Four knee ligaments can suffer a sprain in various ways: 

  • ACL knee sprain: When the anterior cruciate ligament twists, or hyperextends, it results in an ACL sprain. Sometimes, this type of sprain happens due to direct impact or contact with the knee.
  • PCL knee sprain: Impact against a bent knee is one of the most common causes of posterior cruciate ligament injuries. This is often seen after a motor vehicle accident or when someone falls onto a bent knee. 
  • MCL knee sprain: A blow or hard impact against the outer knee that pushes it inwards while the foot is square on the ground is usually the cause of a medial collateral ligament sprain.
  • LCL knee sprain: If the inner knee receives a blow that pushes it outwards, it leads to a lateral collateral ligament sprain. 

Sprained Knee Symptoms

 Sprained knee symptoms include the following: 

  • Instant pain and throbbing in the affected knee
  • Swelling
  • Limited range of motion
  • Inability to bear weight
  • Buckling of the knee joint
  • Knee joint instability
  • Severe knee sprains may be preceded by a popping sound indicating that one of the ligaments has torn. 

Sprained Knee Causes

The cruciate ligaments, particularly the ACL, are the most prone to injury. ACL tears often happen during a sudden pivot or because of a direct blow or hit to the knee. 

PCL tears and sprains happen because of direct contact with the knee in the front. 

Collateral ligament sprains occur when the knee extends sideways after it receives a direct impact or blow. This type of sprain commonly happens in contact sports. 

Diagnosing a Sprained Knee

To diagnose a sprained knee, a doctor will compare the affected knee to the other and check for visible swelling and bruising. The doctor will also perform a physical exam and may request an X-ray to establish whether there are any broken bones. Imaging tests are often done to check for longstanding damage done by arthritis. 

If the patient’s range of motion is severely affected, an MRI can determine if there are tears in the ligament.

sprained knee treatment

Treatment for a Sprained Knee

The treatment for a sprained knee includes the R.I.C.E. method and pain medicine. If the sprain is severe (grade 3), arthroscopic surgery may be required, and the recovery time can be up to six months. The recovery period for a grade 3 knee sprain will also include physiotherapy. 

Patients with mild or moderate sprains (grades 1 and 2) will recover in two to four weeks and rarely require surgery. 

Sprained Knee Prevention

It is possible to prevent most knee injuries, including sprains, by wearing protective sports gear for high-impact activities. It is essential to maintain a healthy weight to relieve the knee joints of excess pressure. 

Knee sprains sometimes happen because of ill-fitting shoes, which means comfortable and sport-appropriate shoes may help prevent injury. 

It is essential to respect the body’s limits when exercising and not overtrain and add extra stress to the knees. 

Visit Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care for Sprained Knee Treatment

Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care

Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care is the only health system in Hamilton County offering ER and urgent care services under one roof. Unlike most ER or urgent care centers, patients are only billed for the level of services they need. The ER is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The urgent care center is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. No appointments are not necessary for in-person visits; however, pre-registration is available.

Riverview Health Emergency Room Urgent Care has five convenient locations: