Have you experienced knee pain or instability after landing awkwardly following a jump or coming to a sudden stop when running? This may be the result of a hyperextended knee. A knee hyperextension injury occurs when the knee is bent backwards or “extended” beyond its normal range due to excessive stress on the major ligaments of the knee and the knee joint. Although commonly seen in athletes who sustain a direct hit to the knee while playing high impact sports, hyperextension can also be caused by indirect forces, like a fall, awkward landing, rapid deceleration, or quick direction changes.
What might someone who has hyperextended their knee experience?
Symptoms following a hyperextension injury may include:
- An unstable knee or the feeling that the knee is “buckling” or “giving out”
- Knee pain that may be localized to the area of injury
- Limited mobility and stiffness of the knee joint
- Swelling
- Bruising
What role does physical therapy have in recovery from this type of injury?
Physical therapy can help to treat knee hyperextension injuries and prevent re-injury. The primary focuses of rehabilitation are:
- Strengthening of muscles that surround the knee to increase support of major structures of the joint and improve stability
- Increasing range of motion of the knee joint to regain mobility
- Proprioceptive (internal sense of body and joint position) and balance training to improve joint stability and increase your confidence in the joint’s ability to perform
- Application of modalities such as ice and electrical stimulation to reduce swelling and control pain
A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) will develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific impairments to allow you to return to the activities that you love as safely and quickly as possible.
Written by: Dr. Sydney Brown, DPT
If you have a knee hyperextension injury, or are experiencing symptoms that suggest you may have sustained this type of injury, please give Respire Physical Therapy a call today at 703-671-1871 or click here to schedule a physical therapy evaluation that is tailored to your needs.
Tags: knee hyperextension, sport injuries, Physical Therapy, physical therapist, knee pain, arlingtonva, alexandriava, fallschurchva, respirept
