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the knee joint lies between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia) with the kneecap (patella) lying in front of it. It is a complex joint that moves in various directions. It is held

together by strong soft tissue called ligaments and is surrounded by a sac called the joint capsule which protects the joint and helps produce fluid to lubricate the joint.

The knee is often injured in sports people. These injuries can range from a simple sprain to more serious damage, where major structures can be torn.

The meniscus is a ‘shock absorbing’ cartilage between the femur and tibia and can be torn in twisting injuries of the knee. The knee swells up but this is gradual and often in a localised area. Patients will complain of pain in one side of the knee or locking. If the meniscus is damaged or torn, the athlete may need an arthroscopy (key-hole surgery) to take away or repair the damaged tissue.

The cruciate and collateral ligaments are strong ligaments that stabilise the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament is often injured and if this torn, surgical reconstruction is often required to allow a footballer to go back to playing at his pre-injury level. In these injuries the knee swells up all over and rapidly, and sometimes there is a ‘popping’ sound. Often these injuries are linked with a feeling of weakness in your knee and fear of it giving way.

The collateral ligaments are often injured when the knee is hit from one side or the other. The articular cartilage is the smooth lining of the knee and this can also be damaged in twisting injuries, or direct impact to the knee.

patella dislocations (knee-cap dislocations) can occur after any significant trauma or just a twisting injury to the knee, with the knee slightly bent. Often these patients don’t need surgery, but a small sub-group do.

a kNee INjuRy Is cOMMON IN sPORT, buT The OlyMPIa clINIc caN helP

A knee sprain is an injury where structures are stretched but not torn. These can occur after an unusual level of activity or with significant trauma that is not enough to tear a ligament. But beware, it is unusual to suffer from only a sprain. There is often underlying damage which is important to find out about and deal with.

Depending on the severity of your injury, your specialist may want to put a brace on your knee to help protect it and organise X-rays or mri scans. Once a diagnosis is made, some patients do well with strengthening, tone work and physiotherapy. Others benefit from surgery, which is often arthroscopic (keyhole).

CONTACT INFOrmATIONYou can make an appointment with

mr Ziali sivardeen for assessment at the Olympia clinic in: London, Essex,

Birmingham, Leicester and Stoke-On-Trent. Call 020 8551 6215,

visit www.theolympiaclinic.com or email admin@theolympiaclinic.com

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