Knee Rotator Problems
The knee is the largest and complex joint most likely to be injured than any other joints in the body. It consists of supportive structures that provide stability and strength to sustain wear and tear brought about by frequent movements and loads imposed upon it everyday. The knee is composed of different structures responsible for its rotation movement and these structures are commonly injured.
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The Knee
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The knee is capable of inward--internal--rotation and outward--external--rotation movements. A group of muscles and ligament structures are responsible for initiating these movements which are often subjected to injury due to strain, overuse or trauma. Traumatic injury to the knee may result to symptoms of pain, instability of movements, effusion, muscle spasm and tenderness. According to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, acute injuries and overuse syndrome account 15 percent of the all knee injuries from sports.
Medial Knee Rotator Injury
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The main inward rotators of the knee are composed of the pes anserine muscles made up of three tendons of the muscles sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus. They can flex and rotate the knee internally. Popliteus acts as a dynamic stabilizer of the knee and also aids in the internal knee rotation. Injuries to these structures such as pes anserine bursitis may be caused by excessive stress, muscle weakness, muscle imbalance and frequent running on uneven surfaces. Pain is inevitable with swelling, tenderness and inflammation as accompanying symptoms.
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Lateral Knee Rotator Injury
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The biceps femoris and ilitibial band are lateral rotators of the knee. Biceps femoris is a part of the hamstring group of muscles located at the back of the thigh whose primary action is to flex the knee. Biceps femoris is the only hamstring muscle capable of externally rotating the knee. It may be avulsed or injured and may cause a problem on the lateral side of the knee. The iliotibial band friction syndrome is the most common cause of lateral knee pain. Repeated flexion and extension of the knee subjects it to rub against the bone of the upper leg--or femur. This causes problem that leads to painful external rotation of the knee that may cause swelling, pain, inflammation and tenderness.
Treatment
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The treatment for acute muscular injury on the external and internal rotators of the knee primarily consists of the RICE principle which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This principle is the immediate regimen of treatment provided in most sports and muscular injuries on the acute stage. It helps reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Pain medication is also provided as treatment in the presence of intolerable pain. Physical therapy is provided to help strengthen the external and internal rotators of the knee and regain the proper mechanism of knee movements.
Prevention
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Although problems with knee rotators may be inevitable with accidents such as in sports injury, it can be prevented by strengthening and conditioning the supporting structures of the knee to provide it more stable and strong support against trauma, stress and overuse with the help of exercise.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Erik Charlton
