What is a torn ligament in the knee?

The knee is mainly stabilized by four ligaments. Sometimes a joint becomes overstretched or twisted, and it causes ligament injury. Damaged ligaments often lead to an unstable knee, along with severely limiting knee functioning and a lot of pain. This blog discusses the symptoms of a ligament tear and some knee ligament injury treatment exercises as described by the physiotherapist at Orthoplanet Centre for Bones & Joints Care.

What are the symptoms of a torn ligament in the knee?

The symptoms of a torn ligament include the following:

• Abnormal mechanical symptoms such as locking, clicking, catching while moving or bending your knee
• Rapid swelling within 24 hours of injury
• You feel a popping sensation during twisting movements
• Constant pain in the knees
• Difficulty in completely stretching the knee or stiffness

Why should you opt for exercises for treating a ligament injury?

The right exercise plan can do wonders for a mild-to-moderately torn ligament. When performed correctly under the guidance of a physiotherapy professional, exercises can gradually repair the ligament damage. Other benefits of these exercises are:

• Restored functioning of the knee
• Improved range of motion
• Alleviated pain
• Reduced stiffness

What are the best knee ligament injury treatment exercises?

Some suitable physiotherapy exercises for a ligament injury are as follows:

Static Quads

To do static quads, sit on the floor and stretch your legs out in front of you. Next, using your thigh muscles, push the back of your knee down into the floor using thigh muscles. Now keep your toes pulled up towards the head. Hold this position for five seconds. Then relax and repeat.

Straight leg raises

Straight leg raise is performed while lying on your back. Keep your legs straight and tighten the thigh muscle of the injured leg. Lift this leg about 8 inches off the ground. Repeat three sets of 10 reps.

Bridge

The bridge exercise is a great alternative to squats, and it can be performed by knee patients as it doesn’t place any pressure on the lower back. To do a bridge, bend both your knees and extend both your arms along the body while the palms of your hands face down. Now, lift your pelvis off the ground and puff the chest towards your chin. Then roll your thighs inward and down while keeping your knees stacked on the ankles. Repeat one set of 10 reps on each side.

Prone Knee Flexion

To perform this exercise, lie on your stomach with your legs straight. Now, bend your injured knee and bring your heel towards your buttocks. Hold for five seconds and then relax. Repeat ten times.

The Orthoplanet centre is a renowned orthopedics bone and joint care clinic where we provide quality orthopedic treatment at affordable prices. Pioneering in the field for over 15 years, we have helped thousands of patients to this date. So if you are referring to a patient with a ligament tear or other knee problems, contact us today.