Meniscus (plural: menisci) in the knee depend on an intact and healthy anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Without the ACL, forces on the meniscus increase up to 200 per cent. Protecting the meniscus is one reason why ACL tears are repaired.

Right after your surgery, you will be seen by a physical therapist at least once (and often twice) a day. Exercises and movement to reduce swelling and pain and improve circulation and motion are often prescribed. When you go home, you'll be given a home program to follow. The home exercise program will build on what you started in the hospital in terms of range-of-motion, strength, coordination, and endurance.

It's a fact that knee injuries (and especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears) are common among athletes. Basketball, volleyball, and soccer players seem to be at increased risk. This is probably because the actions that predispose them to injury (pivoting, cutting, twisting) are used so often in these sports activities.

Your gait (walking or running) cycle involves two main movements: stance and swing. Stance has several phases (e.g., contact, mid-stance and propulsion) but always involves having the foot in some contact with the ground.

Why is it that most running injuries occur at the knee or in the lower leg? Is there some common factor that might be involved? The authors of this study set out to look for some answers to these questions. They didn't do a study themselves of runners. Instead they turned to the literature and did a search of all the published articles on running injuries.

Myth or Fact: Women take longer to heal and return to sports after knee (ACL) surgery later when compared with men.
Myth or Fact: No one should go back to full-activity or sports for at least six months after ACL surgery.
Myth or Fact: If you've had one ACL injury, you're likely to have another knee injury.

We can't guarantee how things will go in the future. But some of the best minds in this country are discussing the state of our health care delivery system. They know that a little effort goes a long way in preventing a disabled system from breaking down altogether.

The patella, or kneecap, can be a source of knee pain when it fails to function properly. Alignment or overuse problems of the patella can lead to wear and tear of the cartilage behind the patella. This produces pain, weakness, and swelling of the knee joint.

Treatment for this problem has not been very successful in the past. But new understanding of the biomechanics (anatomy and function) of the joint have opened up new management techniques. The first step is to see a physical therapist. The therapist will design a therapy program to restore full, balanced strength and function of the hip and knee muscles.

It sounds like you may have experienced a patellofemoral joint dislocation. The patellofemoral joint is formed by the patella (kneecap) as it glides up and down over the front of the knee. Since the injury occurred suddenly and without previous injury, we refer to this as an acute episode. Symptoms of swelling, bleeding under the patella or bruising around the patella, and tenderness along the edge are signs that a dislocation occurred.