Knee Hyperextension Injury: Symptoms & Treatment

Knee Hyperextension Injury

Knee hyperextension refers to the injury that occurs when the leg straightens excessively at the knee joint, stressing the knee structures and the rear of the joint. Although this injury can in general happen to anyone, in practice it most often happens to athletes in certain sports. It is usually the result of a direct blow to the knee or of the forces exerted on the joint when the athlete is forced to stop or decelerate abruptly. These events tend to happen frequently in sports like football, lacrosse, skiing or soccer, which makes athletes in those sports especially vulnerable. The typical symptom of a knee hyperextension include pain and swelling at the knee joint. If the injury is severe, it may be accompanied by a knee sprain due to over stretched ligaments or even by an ACL or PCL tear. The popliteal ligament (that runs along the back of the knee) may also suffer damage during knee hyperextension.

Symptoms Of Knee Hyperextension

Typical symptoms of knee hyperextension can include the following:

Knee instability or a “giving away” feeling in the knee as though it is unable to bear the body’s weight. Standing on one leg may become difficult or impossible;
Pain at the back of the knee. This can range from a mild ache to a sharp pain depending on whether there is ligament damage;
In addition to pain at the back of the knee, a patient with a knee hyperextension may also feel a pinching pain at the front of the knee;
Difficulty bending the knee;
Swelling and bruising around the knee.

Treatment Of Knee Hyperextension

Conservative treatment of this injury usually follows the R.I.C.E. approach:

Resting the knee by ceasing the activity that caused the injury, as well as any activities that may aggravate it. A hinged knee brace can help to prevent any additional hyperextension while the injury heals.;
Applying ice or a cold pack to the knee several times a day(say for 20-30 minutes at a time, every 3-4 hours);
Using an elastic or tensor bandage to apply compression to reduce the pain and swelling of the knee hyperextension;
Elevating the knee above heart level whenever lying or sitting down.

Surgical Treatment

In severe cases, knee hyperextension can result in tearing or rupturing of knee ligaments. ACL Tear injuries are especially likely to occur together with severe knee hyperextension. Severe ligament damage (tearing or rupturing) require correction via surgery.

How Much time May Be Needed For Recovery?

The recovery time from a knee hyperextension depends obviously on the severity of the injury. A mild to moderate injury that requires conservative treatment may take 2-4 weeks for recovery.

However, if surgery is performed to repair a torn or ruptured ligament, the patient may need a much longer time (as much as 6 months in some cases) to recover.

Rehabilitation

After the surgery, the patient should start a program of rehabilitative exercises as soon as possible to strengthen the knee and return it to normal function.

His or her doctor will usually make a referral to a physiotherapist to prescribe an exercise program and supervise the rehabilitation process.

Suggested Knee Hyperextension Injury Products

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Bio-Logix Knee Brace
Hinged Knee Brace

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The McDavid Bio-Logix Knee Brace combines a semi rigid lightweight design and bi-lateral aluminium dual axis geared hinges to provide a fluid feel and a natural range of motion.
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Gladiator
Hinged Knee Brace

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Knee ligament protection

The Bio Skin Gladiator uses a rigid hinge to effectively protect knee ligaments, including after reconstruction. The rigid strapping system firmly anchors the Gladiator to the leg, avoiding the need for longer, less comfortable braces. Pins in the hinges may easily be set to limit flexion and/or extension.
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Gladiator – Front Closure
Hinged Knee Brace

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Knee Ligament Protection

The Bio Skin Gladiator – Front Closure uses a rigid hinge to effectively protect knee ligaments, including after reconstruction. The rigid strapping system firmly anchors the Gladiator to the leg, avoiding the need for longer, less comfortable braces. Pins in the hinges may easily be set to limit flexion and/or extension.
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Hinged Knee Skin
Hinged Knee Brace

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Lightweight and low profile for comfort

Our Bio Skin Hinged Knee Skin is one of the lightest hinged knee braces available. The offset, bicentric hinges conform to the shape of the leg and provide extra support to knees with ligament damage. The Hinged Knee Skin provides excellent compression to control swelling and pain caused from a meniscus tear or an LCL or MCL injury, and to speed up the healing process in a damaged knee joint.
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Hinged Knee Skin – Front Closure
Hinged Knee Brace

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Structural support for knee instability

Our Bio Skin Hinged Knee Skin – Front Closure is one of the lightest hinged knee braces available. The offset, bicentric hinges conform to the shape of the leg and provide extra support to knees with ligament damage. The Hinged Knee Skin provides excellent compression to control swelling and pain caused from a meniscus tear or an LCL or MCL injury, and to speed up the healing process in a damaged knee joint.
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Hinged Knee Stabilizer
Hinged Knee Brace

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The LP Hinged Knee Stabilizer is equipped with hinges that offer maximum protection against ligament damage and an EVA ring to prevent patellar displacement. It is the perfect choice if you are looking to pursue a physically active lifestyle while recovering from an old knee injury.
Knee Brace With Polycentric Hinges
Hinged Knee Brace

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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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Pro Level Hinged Knee Brace
Hinged Knee Brace

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With a super strong triaxial hinge that follows the complex motion of the knee and results in near normal motion that standard polycentric dual hinges simply cannot match, the Mueller Sports Medicine Pro Level Hinged Knee Brace equips serious athletes with a high performance brace that offers maximum medial-lateral support. The brace comes with a lockout tool for complete immobilization and adjustable extension stops at 10, 20 and 30 degrees to limit the range of motion when used for rehabilitation purposes.

Knee Hyperextension Injury

Symptoms Of Knee Hyperextension

Treatment Of Knee Hyperextension

Surgical Treatment

How Much time May Be Needed For Recovery?

Rehabilitation

Bio-Logix Knee Brace

Gladiator

Gladiator – Front Closure

Hinged Knee Skin

Hinged Knee Skin – Front Closure

Hinged Knee Stabilizer

Knee Brace With Polycentric Hinges

Pro Level Hinged Knee Brace

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