Soft Tissue Injuries of the knee
What is a soft tissue injury?
If you have knee pain that is due to an injury or trauma then the following should prove helpful. The good news is that the knee is incredibly strong and resilient so normally settles with time but it is worth knowing what to look out for and when to seek specialist help.
Lots of knee pain simply comes on randomly but at other times you may be able to link it to a single event or injury such as a fall, twist or direct blow to your knee.
If you can bear weight reasonably well despite pain then it is unlikely you have broken a bone. In this instance you have sustained what is called a “Soft tissue knee injury”.
Soft tissue knee injuries can range from fairly mild sprains of the knee that will ultimately recover on its own with time, to a more significant injury to a ligament or cartilage structure(s) that might need surgery to help it resolve.
Ligaments help keep the bones stable and occasionally act like a back up safety rope system. If these are sprained or sometimes even torn, your knee can feel unstable and lead to the knee giving way. If this is happening, we would advise getting the knee assessed.
The meniscus tissue acts like a spacer in the knee and again can be sprained or torn during trauma. If your knee is getting stuck in one position and needs to be forcibly manipulated to unlock then again, seek an assessment.
If you do not have any significant swelling and the knee is not giving way or locking then read on for self help content.
Urgent advice: Get advice from 111 now if:
- your new knee pain is very severe
- you cannot move your knee or put any weight on it
- your knee is badly swollen or has changed shape
- your knee locks or gives way following trauma
- you have a very high temperature, feel hot and shivery, and have redness or heat around your knee – this can be a sign of infection