Knee Injury Care: ACL Support, Baker's Cysts and Swelling

Managing a knee injury like a torn ACL or MCL requires specific strengthening and fluid reduction techniques. Discover how acupuncture can help a Baker's cyst and whether to use heat or ice for post-exercise swelling.

How to Reduce Fluid in the Knee

The knee is the largest hinged joint in the body and knee problems are common. A 2006 Center for Disease Control and Prevention survey showed that 30 percent of adults reported pain in the previous 30 days, with 18 percent complaining of knee pain and stiffness.

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Mature woman in gym holding knee, eyes closed, overhead view

Swelling of the Knee After Exercise

The knee is a large joint that supports the weight of your body whenever you are standing, walking or performing almost any other kind of movement. Swelling in the knee can make getting around more difficult and may be painful.

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Man with knee brace and crutches

Ways to Stay in Shape With a Torn ACL

The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of the four main ligaments that support the knee. The ACL crosses the front of the knee diagonally, and provides support during rotation as well as keeping the tibia from sliding in front of the femur.

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Soccer player kicking the ball in a stadium, green sky with clouds

Can You Play Soccer With No ACL?

The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is vital for athletes, especially in sports that require starting and stopping. There are some players who can function without an ACL and still play effectively, even in the demanding running and cutting sport of soccer.

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Woman with knee brace

Pros and Cons of an Open Patella Knee Brace

Knee injuries are a common hazard in almost every sport. Like other major joints, knees combine several bones, muscles and ligaments in a confined space. However, knees endure more strain than many other joints because they support the body's entire weight.

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sports injury

How to Lose Weight When You Have Knee Injuries

Knee injuries range in severity and they can be either chronic or acute. Being overweight or obese is actually a risk factor for arthritis, which often afflicts the knees. Even with a knee injury, the approach for weight loss is still the same. You need to make alterations to your diet and follow an exercise program.

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Patient after knee injury

Symptoms of Injury to the Medial Collateral Ligament of the Knee

The medical collateral ligament, or MCL, is the piece of connective tissue that joins the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). It is one of four ligaments that stabilize the knee, and is prone to injury especially for those who engage in impact sports. Injury to the MCL includes strain, sprain, tear or rupture.

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Strengthening Exercises for a Hyperextended Knee

Strengthening exercises for a hyperextended knee are designed to return your knee to its original level of stability and strength. After suffering from a hyperextended knee injury, it is important to keep off of the knee for several weeks, using cold compresses to reduce the swelling in the knee.

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Causes of Swelling & Throbbing Behind the Knee

The area at the back of the knee is referred to by the anatomical term โ€œpopliteal fossa,โ€ due to the presence of the flat triangular muscle at the back of the knee called the popliteus. "Fossa" is an anatomical term used to describe a concave depression, such as at the back of the knee, or the inside of the elbow.

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Man leg with brace knee support protection pain problem

How to Put on a Knee Support

A knee support protects and supports your knee. They aid in helping unstable joints and prevent injury to normal, healthy joints. Knee supports are especially required when you have a moderate knee joint injury involving damage to cartilage or ligament.

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Group young  Friends Playing Volleyball On Beach

Knee Problems From Volleyball

Volleyball can be demanding on the body and players are always at risk for injury. Because the sport involves both jumping and diving on the ground to get the ball, there are several different volleyball knee injuries players may face on the court.

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Acupuncture

Acupuncture for a Baker's Cyst

A baker's cyst, also called a popliteal cyst, occurs when synovial (joint) fluid forms behind the knee and creates a visible swelling. You can develop a baker's cyst because of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, a meniscal cartilage tear or other damage to the knee.

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Knee Exercises for a Baker's Cyst

A Baker's cyst, also known as a popliteal cyst, is a fluid-filled growth that causes swelling, tightness and bulging in the knee. This can lead to pain when the knee joint is moved, restricting its movement and strength.

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Jogging Injury

Knee Giving Out When Bending

Your knee may look like a simple structure from the outside, but on the inside it's a joint that's made up of many components, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Because your knee is so complex, it's highly susceptible to various injuries.

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Underwater shot of professional male athlete swimming in pool

Types of Water Exercises for an ACL Injury in the Knee

An ACL -- or anterior cruciate ligament -- injury is one of the most common knee injuries seen. These injuries usually occur in athletes who participate in high-impact sports including basketball, soccer and football. Surgery is often required to repair an ACL injury.

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Doctor examining his patient knee

How to Use a Knee Immobilizer

A knee immobilizer is a type of brace worn on the leg to lock the knee in extension and prevent motion of the joint. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a knee immobilizer is often used after an acute injury to the knee, such as a ligament rupture or a fracture.

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How to Reduce Knee Swelling

Damage to the structures of the knee commonly causes inflammation and swelling, also called fluid on the knee. The swelling may occur suddenly after a traumatic injury to the knee, or it may be a long-term problem for patients with gout or arthritis.

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