STACK Science: How Knee Injuries Occur and How to Prevent Them

By: Andy Haley | May 13, 2011

The knee is a unique joint. It must carry the weight of the body and absorb the forces placed on it during sports performance—all while maintaining a large range of motion. However, precisely because of its versatility and mobility, the knee is susceptible to a variety of injuries. Approximately 54 percent of athletes report knee pain each year, which is significant because knee problems can limit playing time or even end a career. <1>

Knee Anatomy

To connect the upper leg to the lower leg, the knee links the femur, tibia and fibula bones. The femur and tibia connect with each other through the meniscus, cartilage that acts as a pad between them to reduce force and friction. While the limited contact area allows for a large range of motion, the knee joint primarily relies on ligaments and muscles for support and stability.

The four major ligaments of the knee are:

• Anterior Collateral Ligament [ACL] – Prevents the lower leg from sliding forward relative to the upper leg
• Posterior Collateral Ligament [PCL] – Prevents the lower leg from sliding backward relative to the upper leg
• Medial Collateral Ligament [MCL] – Prevents the knee from collapsing inward
• Lateral Collateral Ligament [LCL] – Prevents the knee from collapsing outward

Lower body muscles play a critical role in knee stability. They are also able to move the joint. The quadricep muscle connects to the lower leg through the patellar tendon, which crosses over the front of the knee and helps to straighten the joint to extend the leg. The hamstring muscles cross over the back of the knee and flex the joint to bend the knee.

Types of Injuries

Knee injuries can occur from contact—such as a tackle or body check—or from non-contact, such as landing from a jump, decelerating or changing direction. The  most common knee injury is damage to a ligament, classified as Grade I [minor damage] through Grade III [complete tear or rupture]. Athletes often suffer from O’Donoghue’s Unhappy Triad, which involves an initial tear to the MCL, immediately followed by tears of the ACL and meniscus.<2>

Other injuries, affecting the meniscus, patellar tendon or other supporting structures, can result from improper technique, overuse, natural wear and tear or genetics.

How to Prevent Knee Injuries

Obviously it's impossible to completely eliminate knee injuries, but athletes can take proactive steps to keep their knees healthy and strong. Follow these three guidelines in your training program:

• Develop lower body strength for additional joint stability. The hamstrings are a particular cause for concern, because weakness there is associated with a higher probability of ACL injuries. Perform exercises like Squats, Deadlifts and RDLs, which develop the quads, hamstrings and other lower body muscles for balanced muscle strength.
• Develop proper technique for running, jumping and other lower body skills
• Perform plyometric exercises to improve technique and muscle power, teaching muscles to fire and stabilize the joint immediately after the foot touches the ground.

For more information on the ACL please see the STACK ACL Guide.

Sources:

<1> Senter, C., & Hame, S. [2006]. Biomechanical Analysis of Tibial Torque and Knee Flexion Angle: Implications for Understanding Knee Injury. Sports Medicine, 635-641.

<2> Shelbourne, K., & Nitz, P. [1991]. The O'Donoghue triad revisited: Combined knee injuries involving anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament tears. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 474-477.

---

5

About the Expert

Andy Haley - Andy Haley is an Associate Content Director at STACK Media. A certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), he received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), where he conducted research on resistance training and physical activity for the American College of...