Hinges are excellent tools that allow one specific type of movement, such opening and closing a door. But they have limited range of motion, and can be damaged when forced to move the wrong way.

This is the case with your knee joint, which is a hinge joint. In order to provide stability and balance for our body, the knee only moves about 180 degrees in one direction. If it’s forced beyond this normal range of motion, this is known as knee hyperextension.

See Guide to Knee Joint Anatomy

Contact sports like football and basketball are most likely to raise risk for knee hyperextension injuries. Read: Understanding Knee Hyperextension

The main parts of the knee that prevent hyperextension are its 4 ligaments, particularly the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears. So it makes sense that when knee hyperextensions occur, the ACL and other ligaments are the most likely tissues to be injured. There can also be damage to the cartilage, muscles, and other soft tissues, but the ligaments bear the brunt of hyperextension injuries.

See Diagnosing Knee Hyperextension

What causes knee hyperextension?

Knee hyperextension can happen to anyone, but it’s most likely to occur to athletes who play contact sports like football or soccer. That’s because they are often caused by impacts to the front of the knee, such as when a football player is tackled by the legs.

Non-contact sports like skiing can also result in knee hyperextensions if too much force is placed on the knee from the wrong angle.

Treating knee hyperextension

Usually, the symptoms of knee hyperextension are immediate and acute. They include:

Knee pain, which is sometimes localized near the affected ligament
Knee instability or weakness
Limited mobility of the knee
Knee swelling
Eventual bruising

See Symptoms of Knee Hyperextension

Knee hyperextensions initially should be treated in the same manner as nearly all sports injuries: NSAID medications to control pain, and the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) protocol.

See Treatment of Knee Hyperextension

In severe cases of knee hyperextension—for example, if the ACL in partially or completely torn—surgery can be used to repair the ligament.

See Surgery for Knee Hyperextension

Learn more:

Soft Tissue of the Knee Joint

How Knee Joint Problems Cause Pain

Carrie DeVries worked as the content marketing manager at Veritas Health. Carrie combined a background of writing and editing, marketing, and patient education to best serve the consumers, patients, and physicians who rely the Veritas Health sites for information.