Sometimes knees are slowly injured over time due to normal wear and tear. The knee is a joint and is composed of bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The ends of the three bones in the knee joint are covered with articular cartilage, a strong, elastic material that helps absorb shock and allows the knee joint to move smoothly.
Post-traumatic knee care is the treatment of knee problems caused by physical trauma, such as an injury, stress, or long-term overuse. Doctors diagnose knee problems based on the findings of the patient’s medical history, physical exam, and diagnostic tests. During the medical history, the doctor asks how long symptoms have been present and what problems the patient is having using their knee. In addition, the doctor will ask about any injury, condition, or health problem that might be causing the problem. During the physical exam, the doctor bends, straightens, rotates, or presses on the knee to feel for injury, and determines how well the knee moves and where the pain is located. The doctor may ask the patient to stand, walk, or squat to help assess the knee’s function.