Considerations

• One of the most important considerations with any knee injury is the mechanism of injury, or how it happened. Twisting injuries to the knee will damage different tendons and cartilage than a locking injury.
  
  

Types

• A meniscus tear is typically indicated by the presence of pain when the meniscus or cartilage is palpated. Ligament damage is diagnosed by stabilizing the thigh while gently pulling the shin forward. A patellar grind test is performed to detect damage that may have occurred to the kneecap.
  
  

Identification

• The knee joint must be observed standing, lying and walking, noting the ability to bear weight. Stiffness or audible "clicks" indicate muscle contraction to protect an injured ligament or damaged cartilage.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Severity of pain does not always indicate the degree of injury. A severely damaged anterior cruciate ligament is known to be less painful than some other milder ligament sprains.
  
  

Fact

• According to data from MayoClinic.com, one in three people over the age of 45 experience knee pain. It remains one of the most common reasons people visit their physicians.