Hip and knee sport related injuries: treatment options
Written by:
Mr Madhusudhan Raj Nannaparaju
Orthopaedic surgeon
Published: 09/02/2023
Edited by: Aoife Maguire
What are some common hip injuries in sports?
Hip injuries occur regularly due to sport. Common hip injuries caused by playing sports include hip strains, hip bursitis, and hip labral tears.
What are some common knee injuries in sports?
Knee injuries are very prevalent due to sport. Some frequent injuries sustained due to sport include ACL tears, MCL tears, meniscus tears and patellofemoral injuries.
How can hip strains be treated?
There are several different treatments used for hip strains. Some of these are as follows:
rest ice physical therapy medication for pain management.
In severe cases, surgery may be required.
How can knee ACL tears be treated?
Treatment for ACL tears typically involves surgery to repair or reconstruct the ligament. Following surgery, patients usually undergo physical therapy to regain strength and range of motion.
ACL tears are very frequent in young people participating in pivoting sports, principally football. Non-surgical management can be sufficient for some people. However, the majority of people require surgery to help the injury.
A large UK study conducted recently comparing non-surgical and surgical management has demonstrated very favourable results with surgery, therefore recommending surgery as a treatment option. [Beard, David J., et al.]
Are there any non-surgical treatment options for knee injuries?
There are some non-surgical treatment options available for knee injuries. These include rest, ice, physical therapy, and medication for pain management.
In some cases, a knee brace or another supportive device may be recommended in order to stabilise the joint.
When does a knee injury require surgery?
A knee injury typically requires surgery when non-surgical treatment options, such as rest, physical therapy, and medication, have not been successful in providing relief or restoring function.
Surgery may also be required if the injury is severe or if there is significant damage to the knee joint.
Examples of severe injuries include a complete ligament tear or a fracture. Common knee injuries that may require surgery are as follows:
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears meniscus tears fractures dislocated knee
However, the decision to have surgery is usually made on a case-by-case basis. The final decision depends on the individual's specific condition, goals, and overall health.
It is essential to have a discussion with an orthopaedic knee surgeon in order to evaluate your knee injury and determine the best course of treatment.
An MRI scan is usually conducted in order to diagnose these conditions.