Physiotherapists in Ruislip treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

Medial Ligament Sprain

The knee is one of the largest joints in the body and is exposed to high levels of force as the large leg muscles move the body around at speed. As it does not having interlocking surfaces to give it stability it must rely on ligaments to perform that job. The medial collateral ligament is a wide band which travels across the inside of the knee from above downwards, preventing the knee joint from opening on the inside and collapsing. If a force is applied strongly to the outside of the knee, in a tackle by someone moving quickly, the knee is pushed hard into a knock knee position and the inside of the joint opens, spraining or rupturing the medial ligament.

Symptoms of a medial ligament sprain are immediate pain, swelling of the knee and if severe a feeling that the knee is unstable. Mild sprains are treated using a knee brace for a week or two and working at regaining joint movement and function as soon as possible. Severe sprains or ruptures may need immobilisation for 4-6 weeks in a plaster of Paris. Careful assessment is important as cartilage injury or anterior cruciate ligament injury can accompany this condition.

Knee Arthritis

The knee is a large synovial joint formed between the large expanded end of the femur (thigh bone) and the top of the tibia or shin bone. The ends of the bones are covered with articular cartilage, a slippery and firm material which allows the almost friction free movement which our joints can provide even if there is a body weight load on them. On an x-ray this shows up as a dark space between the bony surfaces, known as the joint space. In time or after injury this cartilage can change as part of the process of osteoarthritis, although there is a significant genetic component which influences whether we get osteoarthritis or not.

Changes occur both in the cartilage and the bone of the joint during the osteoarthritic process and the process may begin with a softening of the cartilage from its firm, hard surfaces. Next, fissures can develop until the thickness of the cartilage wears down and in severe cases the underlying bone may be exposed, causing a bone on bone crunching and pain. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, loss of joint movement, joint deformity such as knock knee or bow leg and difficulties with gait.