How to Identify Acute Knee Injuries

Acute knee injuries involve damage and tearing of the soft tissues like ligaments, muscles and tendons that stabilize and cushion the knee. Acute knee injuries are sometimes difficult to diagnose right when they happen, because even though they are serious injuries, they do not always immediately cause serious pain. However, continuing to use and further damage an injured knee can cause major joint problems and even necessitate surgery. Learn how to identify acute knee injuries.

Things You'll Need

• Flat, firm ground to stand on

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Instructions

How To Identify An Acute Knee Injury

• 1

  Listen for a pop or snap. Acute knee injuries are frequently heralded by an audible popping or snapping sound as the stressed tissue gives way. If you hear--or remember hearing--this type of sound, that is a strong indication that you have an acute knee injury.

• 2

  Rate your level of pain since the injury. Acute knee injuries do cause pain immediately, but sometimes this pain is not initially serious or disabling. However, if the level of pain has increased steadily over time since the accident, you likely have some serious damage to your joint.

• 3

  Look for bruises. An acute knee injury will cause swelling or discoloration around the knee. Look for both--especially near the tenderest areas of the joint.

• 4

  Stand on both feet. Gradually increase the amount of weight on the injured joint only until you feel pain in that joint. Often, this type of joint injury prevents you from putting any weight at all on the injured knee.

• 5

  Call your doctor. If you are experiencing serious joint pain in your knee and believe that you have an acute knee injury, call your local health provider immediately for treatment. Left untreated, acute knee injuries can cause long-lasting joint problems that can necessitate surgery and even permanently disable a victim.