Watch That Knee

Any swelling, pain or feeling of “looseness” at the knee could indicate an ACL injury. The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of four major knee ligaments and is critical to knee stability. Women are more prone to ACL tear. The exact reason for this condition is unclear. It may be due to differences in anatomy, hormones, muscle strength or conditioning.

No pain, all gain

• Wear proper gear for the sports or exercise you’re doing.
• Learn the correct techniques.
• Stretch to warm up your muscles.
• Strengthen your muscles gradually.
• Stay conditioned, as this will help your balance and coordination.

Consult a professional personal trainer or read up on how to prevent injury when doing your favourite sports or exercise.

Ahh, relief at last!

For short-term relief, think:

REST
ICE
COMPRESSION
ELEVATION

For long-term relief, see your doctor. He may:

• Perform a Lachman test to compare the degree of laxity in your knees.
• Perform a pivot-shift test to check for instability.
• Remove fluid from the knee joint with a syringe. This is especially if the knee is very swollen.
• Perform an X-ray and MRI.
• Perform arthroscopic surgery to reconstruct the torn ACL.
  Most people can return to their sport or exercise about nine months to one year after surgery. You may also need to work with a physiotherapist on range-of-motion and muscle strengthening exercises

Singapore General Hospital, the nation’s flagship hospital offering comprehensive care through 29 medical specialities is widely recognised as a regional pioneer in medical treatments. www.sgh.com.sg