The knee is complex and susceptible to many types of injuries—especially in athletes. The body's largest joint, the knee can receive fractures, sprains, tears, dislocations, and other injuries if athletes do not engage in proper form and technique or do not wear the correct equipment for their sport. Knowing what knee injuries you are at risk for in your sport of choice is an important part of protecting yourself.

Nonsurgical treatment options for lateral collateral ligament tears are often recommended first and include the RICE method, over-the-counter pain medication, and physical therapy. Platelet rich plasma treatment, a form of regenerative medicine, may be recommended to certain individuals.

Also known as "jumper's knee," patellar tendinitis refers to overuse of and inflammation in the patellar tendon.
Patellofemoral syndrome causes pain in the knee joint due to the knee cap not tracking smoothly during movement. Learn the typical symptoms and treatments.

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears typically heal well after several weeks or months of nonsurgical treatments, such as over-the-counter pain medication and physical therapy. In some cases, PCL tears may require surgery to heal.

The time required to recover from meniscus repair surgery varies greatly and depends on the severity of the tear and whether another procedure was done simultaneously.
Learn the soft tissue structures that make up the knee, including articular cartilage, menisci, tendons, and more.
Severe kneecap dislocations, or dislocated kneecaps that don't respond to nonsurgical treatment, may require surgery to repair the kneecap and other injured nearby structures.

Common surgical procedures for knee hyperextension include arthroscopy and reconstruction. Learn the differences and indications.

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