Knee joint instability refers to the medical condition under which the tissues of the knee (muscles, ligaments or bones) weaken to the point at which the bones are not held in their proper place. In most cases, this instability results from a knee ligament injury as these ligaments are normally responsible for holding the joint together.
Individuals suffering from knee instability will feel as though the knee is unable to support their full body weight and is “giving way” beneath them. Knee joint instability is usually treatable at home using rest, icing, compression and elevation of the knee. If the instability is serious (probably due to a ruptured or detached ligament) surgery may be necessary to correct the problem.
Knee joint instability due to ligament damage can be a result of either injury or overuse. In other (less common) cases it can be a result of a congenital condition known as being “double jointed”. Double jointed individuals are born with knee joints that are looser than normal.
Other potential causes of knee joint instability include primary injuries that then cause instability as a secondary condition. These primary conditions can include injuries such as knee osteoarthritis and patellar instability, among others.
Individuals whose jobs or other activities require extensive use of their knee are more liable to suffer from instability. These include athletes, especially those in sports requiring plenty of running, jumping and sharp changes in speed or direction while running. Sports like football, soccer and rugby fall into this category. Other activities that make strenuous demands of the knees include gymnastics, dancing and even skiing.
As we have mentioned earlier, those with knee joint instability will have difficulty supporting the normal body weight on an unstable knee. There will be a feeling that the knee is “giving way” beneath them.
One way to test for instability at home is to try to stand on one leg (the one with the suspect knee). If the knee cannot support the weight in this position, knee joint instability may be a factor. The next step should be to schedule an appointment with a doctor for an examination and diagnosis.
To confirm a suspected case of instability, doctors will perform various physical tests. The goal will usually be to check the movement of the knee and to listen for unusual sounds while doing so. As mentioned earlier, some cases of knee instability are due to other primary causes. If this is the case, the aim would be to treat those primary causes so that, once they have been corrected, the knee joint instability should resolve itself.
Other steps that doctors may take during the examination & diagnosis stage include:
As we have mentioned above, some cases of instability have another, underlying condition such as knee osteoarthritis as the primary underlying cause. In these cases, the focus will be on treating the primary cause rather than the instability.
If the knee joint instability does not have another injury as its cause, most doctors will, as a first step, attempt to treat it at home using conservative (non surgical) methods. These will usually include some or all of the following:
Once the ligaments are well on the way to healing, the patient should start to work with a physiotherapist on rehabilitative exercises that will strengthen the knee muscles and ligaments. This will help to reduce the risk of recurrence of the knee joint instability.
If the knee joint instability is a result of severe ligament damage such as rupturing, the conservative treatment approach may not be enough. A surgeon can perform arthroscopic knee surgery to repair the ligament and, if necessary, reattach it to the adjacent bone.
To do this, the surgeon may either take a portion of healthy ligament tissue from another part of the knee. Alternatively, (s)he may use ligament tissue donated by another individual.
Once surgery is complete and healing is underway, rehabilitative exercises may be required to ensure the knee returns to full health with less or no risk of recurrence of instability.
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Typically Ships in 1-2 weeks
La genouillère réglable Mueller Sports Medicine utilise un mélange de néoprène et dispose d'un système de réglage externe à 4 voies pour une meilleure compression. Remplace la genouillère réglable MU4531.
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Typically Ships in 3-5 Business Days
L'orthèse de genou McDavid Bio-Logix combine un design léger semi-rigide et des charnières bi-latérales en aluminium à double axe pour offrir une sensation de fluidité et une amplitude de mouvement naturelle.
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Soutien optimal en cas d'instabilité du genou grâce à la charnière SlimLok ROM
Le Bio Skin CrossFire™ ROM protège le MCL, le ACL et les autres ligaments du genou, offrant une stabilité supplémentaire tout en limitant les torsions et flexions indésirables de l'articulation du genou. La charnière est très fine, seulement ½ pouce, tout en fournissant des verrouillages de flexion et d'extension nécessaires à la rééducation. Le matériau Bio Skin est très confortable avec une partie monocouche hautement compressive entourant le genou. Le matériau Cirrus™ est cousu de manière pré-tendue afin d'éviter toute déformation derrière le genou, ce qui garantit un ajustement confortable tout au long d'une activité vigoureuse. Le confort de l'orthèse se prolonge dans les petits détails de sa couture, avec le point ActiveSeam™ qui empêche les frottements indésirables dans les zones les plus sensibles du genou.
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Le stabilisateur élastique de genou Mueller est doté de ressorts en acier pour un soutien bilatéral et d'une rotule ouverte. Il s'agit d'une version bilingue du stabilisateur élastique de genou 427.
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La genouillère élastique de Mueller associe un soutien robuste du genou à une amplitude de mouvement illimitée, tout en présentant une conception profilée qui empêche la formation de paquets dans la zone poplitée derrière le genou.
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Typically Ships in 3-5 Business Days
L'attelle de genou McDavid Elite Engineered Elastic Dual Wrap avec Support Stays offre des élastiques de haute qualité, des renforts latéraux stabilisateurs bilatéraux et d'autres caractéristiques pour fournir à vos patients un soutien et un confort exceptionnels pour leurs genoux blessés ou instables.
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Protection des ligaments du genou
Le Bio Skin Gladiator utilise une charnière rigide pour protéger efficacement les ligaments du genou, y compris après une reconstruction. Le système de sangles rigides ancre fermement le Gladiator à la jambe, évitant ainsi d'avoir recours à des attelles plus longues et moins confortables. Les goupilles des charnières peuvent facilement être réglées pour limiter la flexion et/ou l'extension.
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Protection des ligaments du genou
Le Bio Skin Gladiator - Front Closure utilise une charnière rigide pour protéger efficacement les ligaments du genou, y compris après une reconstruction. Le système de sangles rigides ancre fermement le Gladiator à la jambe, évitant ainsi le recours à des attelles plus longues et moins confortables. Les goupilles des charnières peuvent facilement être réglées pour limiter la flexion et/ou l'extension.
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La genouillère réglable verte de Mueller Sports Medicine offre un soutien maximal aux genoux faibles, aux genoux blessés et aux genoux arthritiques. Taille unique. S'adapte à l'un ou l'autre des genoux.
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La genouillère Mueller Sports Medicine Hg80 Hinged Knee Brace est fabriquée dans un tissu extrêmement confortable avec un soutien médial-latéral maximal pour aider à protéger les genoux faibles ou blessés. Tissu HydraCinn® exclusif à Mueller, charnières triaxiales, système de confinement tibial, bandes antidérapantes internes, coutures flatlock, conception en sablier, ajustement entièrement réglable et confortable.
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Des ressorts en acier soutiennent les deux côtés du genou, tout en permettant la flexion et l'extension de la jambe. Avec la genouillère Mueller Sports Medicine Hg80, vous obtenez le soutien dont vous avez besoin sans entraver votre flexibilité. Recommandée pour aider à contrôler les rotules sublaxantes et pour aider à soutenir les genoux raides, douloureux ou instables.
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La genouillère Mueller Hg80 est légère et permet de conserver la flexibilité et la mobilité du genou. La conception axée sur le confort comprend également une barrière anti-microbienne permanente (pour contrôler la transpiration et les mauvaises odeurs) et une gestion intégrée de l'humidité.
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Le stabilisateur de genou Mueller Sports Medicine Hg80 Premium est doté d'un tissu léger et respirant sans néoprène et d'un soutien médial-latéral maximal pour aider à protéger les genoux faibles ou blessés.
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L'orthèse de genou articulée de Mueller Sports Medicine est dotée d'une charnière triaxiale qui suit le mouvement naturel de votre genou. Le manchon ajusté s'enfile et fournit un soutien médial-latéral maximal à votre genou faible ou blessé. Convient aux deux genoux.
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Le stabilisateur de genou articulé LP est équipé de charnières qui offrent une protection maximale contre les lésions ligamentaires et d'un anneau en EVA qui empêche le déplacement de la rotule. C'est le choix idéal si vous souhaitez poursuivre un mode de vie physiquement actif tout en vous remettant d'une ancienne blessure au genou.
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L'orthèse de genou Mueller Sports Medicine Hinged WrapAround Knee Brace est dotée d'une charnière triaxiale qui permet de suivre le mouvement naturel de votre genou. Le manchon ajusté s'enfile et fournit un soutien médial-latéral maximal à votre genou faible ou blessé. Convient aux deux genoux.
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Typically Ships in 3-5 Business Days
The McDavid Knee Brace With Dual Disk Hinges has an open 360˚ padded buttress that isolates and supports the patella and bound edges prevent irritation. In addition, a perforated back panel provides heat and moisture management and all-around comfort.
Level 3: Maximum Protection – Moderate medial and lateral support for improving stability; aids in recovery
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The McDavid Knee Brace With Polycentric Hinges has bi-lateral geared polycentric hinges for stability and free movement. Its engineered top and bottom straps assure a personalized fit, which enhances user comfort.
Level 3: Maximum Protection – High-level support; improving medial and lateral stability, helping reduce injury and assist recovery
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Typically Ships in 3-5 Business Days
The McDavid Knee Sleeve/4-Way Elastic With Gel Buttress has a 4-way stretch elastic material that allows for increased compression and fit without heat retention.
Level 2: Advanced Protection – Moderate support and relief from pain associated with arthritis, bursitis and tendonitis
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Typically Ships in 3-5 Business Days
The McDavid Knee Sleeve / 4-Way Elastic With Gel Buttresses & Stays has a 4-way stretch elastic material that provides increased compression and a closer fit without heat retention.
Level 2: Advanced Protection – Moderate support and relief from pain associated with arthritis, bursitis and tendonitis
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The LP Support Knee Stabilizer has bilateral stays for optimum joint support and a hook and loop closure design that facilitates compression adjustment when needed. This neoprene based knee support will also keep the joint warm, thus reducing stiffness and maintaining supple ligaments to reduce the risk of sprains.
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The LP Knee Support is made from nylon to provide four way uniform compression allied to optimal comfort. The brace comes with an strap that can be optionally used for extra adjustability and user comfort.
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Typically Ships in 3-5 Business Days
The McDavid Knee Support With Stays has a padded buttress that supports the patella. Spring steel stays provide reinforced support and elastic hook and loop straps ensure an outstanding fit. There is an exterior layer of nylon fabric for durability.
Level 2: Advanced Protection – Moderate support helping to relieve symptoms and aid recovery from chondromalacia, patellar subluxation and tendonitis
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The McDavid Knee Support With Stays & Cross Straps features reinforced spring steel stays offer enhanced medial-lateral confidence. Also included are elastic cross straps for enhanced compression and added rotational and collateral ligament support. The padded open buttress offers 360˚ support of the patella.
Level 2: Advanced Protection – Moderate support helping to relieve symptoms and aid recovery from chondromalacia, patellar subluxation and tendonitis