A hyperextended knee occurs when ligaments are stretched beyond their normal range, causing pain and swelling. Rest, ice, and light exercise are recommended, but surgery may be necessary for severe tears. High-intensity sports can cause knee injuries, and torn ligaments may require months of rehabilitation. A doctor should be consulted for proper diagnosis and treatment.
A hyperextended knee injury occurs when the ligaments are stretched beyond their normal range of motion, causing a strain or even tear in the ligament tissue. A person who hyperextends the knee usually notices the injury immediately; an individual may feel a popping sensation and notice immediate pain and swelling. Depending on the severity of a hyperextended knee injury, a person may not be able to walk or put weight on the injured leg for several days after the injury. Doctors usually recommend that patients get plenty of rest, ice their knees occasionally, and engage in light exercise to regain flexibility and strength. Surgery may be needed if the knee doesn’t heal properly or a ligament is completely torn.
A knee can become hyperextended when it is twisted or bent in an uncomfortable way. Knee injuries are very common in high-intensity sports when athletes make sudden turns or stop immediately. When too much stress is placed on the knee ligaments, they can become strained or torn, which leads to inflammation and severe pain. A strained ligament is generally considered a minor injury, and symptoms typically subside after about two weeks. A severely torn ligament, especially the anterior cruciate ligament, is extremely painful and often takes months of surgery and rehabilitation to heal.
The first symptoms of a hyperextended knee are a popping or popping sensation as the ligament extends beyond its normal range of motion, followed by pain and swelling. Even a minor injury can make the knee feel like it’s locked in, making it difficult or even impossible to bend and straighten. Severe pain and swelling usually persist for several days after an untreated injury, and a damaged knee can appear out of line with the rest of the leg.
An individual who believes they have this condition should see a doctor right away to inspect the severity of the ligament damage and recommend treatment. Your doctor will do a physical exam and possibly take x-rays to look for problems. For minor strains, a doctor usually suggests prescription or over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications and instructs the patient to rest the knee as much as possible for about a week.
If a ligament has torn, your doctor usually arranges surgical procedures and follow-up physical therapy. A surgeon can conduct an arthroscopic procedure or even open up the knee to examine the damage and decide the best way to repair a torn ligament. Reconstruction surgery is a common procedure in which the surgeon removes a less essential ligament from the knee or other part of the body and puts it in place of the torn ligament. After surgery for a hyperextended knee, it is common to spend up to nine months of rehabilitative physical therapy sessions to strengthen the back.
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