Knee injuries are among the most common reasons athletes end up sidelined. Whether you’re playing basketball, running track, or competing on the soccer field, you’re putting constant pressure on your knees.
- ACL Tears
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) helps stabilize your knee during movement. It’s most often injured during sudden stops, pivots, or awkward landings. ACL tears usually cause a popping sound at the time of injury, followed by swelling and instability.
While some partial tears can be managed with physical therapy, many athletes with complete tears choose surgical reconstruction to return to high-impact sports.
- Meniscus Tears
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that supports the knee joint. A tear can happen when twisting or turning on a bent knee, especially with weight on it. Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, or a locking sensation.
Minor tears may improve with rest and physical therapy, but more severe cases often require arthroscopic surgery.
- Patellar Tendinitis (Jumper’s Knee)
This overuse injury involves inflammation of the tendon that connects your kneecap to your shinbone. It’s common in sports that involve frequent jumping, like volleyball or basketball. You’ll typically feel pain just below the kneecap.
Treatment includes rest, stretching, physical therapy, and sometimes bracing. Chronic cases can take longer to heal and may require further intervention.
- MCL Injuries
The medial collateral ligament, or MCL, runs along the inner side of your knee and helps keep it steady during side-to-side movement. The MCL can get injured when there’s a direct impact to the outside of the knee. Pain and swelling tend to show up on the inside of the knee.
Most MCL injuries don’t require surgery. With the right brace and a structured physical therapy plan, many athletes recover fully and return to activity without long-term issues.
- Knee Bursitis
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that act like cushions around the knee joint. When these sacs get irritated, they can become inflamed and painful. You might notice swelling, tenderness, or warmth around the front of your knee.
Treatment usually starts with resting the joint and avoiding the activity that triggered it. In some cases, your provider may recommend draining the excess fluid.