What Are Some Work Related Knee Injuries?

What Are Some Work-Related Knee Injuries?

Knee injuries are common and often result in significant loss of productivity and health care expenditures. And although many knee injuries result from falls or overuse, a worker could also bang their knee against a hard object or perform repetitive motions. Workers’ compensation coverage should come in to play when these injuries occur. If you are on the unfortunate end of a work place incident, working with a personal injury attorney from The Law Offices of Max G. Arnold, Inc. may help you get all the benefits you deserve!

ACL Injuries

ACL injuries are among the most common work-related knee injuries. They impact more than 150,000 people in the United States each year. The ACL connects your thigh bone to your shin bone and helps keep your knee joint stable. If you tear your ACL, you will likely need surgery to repair or reconstruct it.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition that causes pain and stiffness in joints. The most common joint affected is the knee. This happens when the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in the knee becomes worn away or damaged. This leads to a frayed, rough surface along which the knee moves when you bend and straighten it. Symptoms include pain, swelling and tenderness in the joint when you move or stand up. It can also cause a clicking or popping sound when the joint bends.

Patellar Tendinitis

The patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the lower leg. It’s one of the most common work-related knee injuries, affecting athletes from all sports and age groups. Usually, it’s caused by repeated stress on the tendon that results in small tears. This irritates the tendon and causes inflammation and pain, which weakens the patellar tendon over time. Treatment for patellar tendinitis focuses on protecting the tendon, reducing pain and swelling, and allowing it to heal. This can include icing the area, resting the knee, and avoiding activities that put strain on the patellar tendon.

Chondromalacia

Chondromalacia patella, also called runner’s knee, is a common condition where the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap deteriorates and softens. This is typically seen among young athletes, although it can also occur in older people who have arthritis. The underlying problem is that the patella doesn’t track properly with contraction of the thigh muscle, causing the kneecap to grate over the lower end of the thigh bone (femur). This causes pain and inflammation. Treatment usually consists of resting the knee, ice application, restricting movement and using non-steroidal pain relievers. However, if this doesn’t help, arthroscopic surgery may be required.

Dislocation

Dislocations occur when one or more bones are forced out of place. Often, a dislocation is the result of a fall or some other type of injury. Many dislocations are not serious, and heal on their own within a few weeks. But some may tear tendons, ligaments or nerves and cause long-term problems. People who are older and prone to arthritis, especially the knee, elbow, shoulder and hip, are more likely to have long-term problems from dislocations because they are more prone to cartilage damage and stiffness. In severe cases, surgery is necessary to repair a ligament or bone that tears when the joint is dislocated. Other treatments include immobilization (casts or splints) and physical therapy.

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