Knee Doctor

Knee problems are very common, and they occur in people of all ages. Knee problems can be the result of disease or injury. Knee joint has three parts. first is thigh bone ( femur ) meets the large. Second is shin bone ( tibia ) forming and main knee joint . This joint has an inner ( medial ) and an outer ( lateral ) compartment. The kneecap ( patella ) joins the femur to form a third joint, called the patellofemoral joint. The knee joint is surrounded by a joint capsule with ligaments strapping the inside and outside of the joint ( collateral ligaments) as well as crossing within the joint ( cruciate ligaments). These ligaments provide stability and strength to the knee joint. The meniscus is a thickened cartilage pad between the two joints formed by the femur and tibia. The meniscus acts as a smooth surface for the joint to move on.

The knee joint is surrounded by fluid-filled sacs called bursae , which serve as gliding surfaces that reduce friction of the tendons. The ends of the three bones in the knee joint are covered with articular cartilage, a tough, elastic material that helps absorb shock and allows the knee joint to move smoothly. Separating the bones of the knee are pads of connective tissue called menisci (men-NISS-sky). The menisci are two crescent-shaped discs (each called a meniscus (men-NISS-kus) positioned between the tibia and femur on the outer and inner sides of each knee. The two menisci in each knee act as shock absorbers, cushioning the lower part of the leg from the weight of the rest of the body as well as enhancing stability.

There are two groups of muscles at the knee. Premary is four quadriceps muscles second is hamstring muscles. Quadriceps muscles is front of the thigh work to straighten the knee from a bent position. Hamstring muscles is run along the back of the thigh from the hip to just below the knee, help to bend the knee. The quadriceps tendon connects the quadriceps muscle to the patella and provides the power to straighten the knee.

Knee functions to allow movement of the leg and is critical to normal walking. Knee flexes normally to a maximum of 135 degrees and extends to 0 degrees. The bursae, or fluid-filled sacs, serve as gliding surfaces for the tendons to reduce the force of friction as these tendons move. The knee is a weight-bearing joint. Each meniscus serves to evenly load the surface during weight-bearing and also aids in disbursing joint fluid for joint lubrication.

Ligament Injury, Meniscus Tears and Tendinitis or Fractures can cause knee pain. Pain can occur in the knee from diseases or conditions that involve the knee joint, the soft tissues and bones surrounding the knee, or the nerves that supply sensation to the knee area. In fact, the knee joint is the most commonly involved joint in rheumatic diseases, immune diseases that affect various tissues of the body including the joints to cause arthritis.

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