Knee Joint Instability

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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.

Causes

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.

Risk Factors

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.

Symptoms

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.

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:

Asking the patient about previous injuries, especially any (s)he may have suffered just before the appearance of the instability;
Perform X-Ray or MRI scans of the knee to see whether there is bone damage and to assess the extent of ligament or cartilage damage.

Treatment Of Knee Joint Instability

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:

Resting the knee by abstaining from strenuous activity like running or jumping that could stress the knee ligaments and aggravate the instability;
As part of resting the knee, having the patient wear a hinged knee brace or knee stabilizer that provides lateral support and takes pressure off the LCL and MCL knee ligaments. A hinged brace will also help to prevent knee hyperextension and that will in turn take pressure off the ACL ligament;
Another way of providing additional knee support is by applying athletic tape to the joint. A therapist can do this in such a way as to provide lateral support that will help to protect injured LCL or MCL ligaments;
Icing the knee or applying a cold compress. This may be done for periods of 20-30 minutes, and at intervals of 2-3 hours, for best results;
Applying compression to the knee by wearing a knee sleeve or using a tensor bandage;
Elevating the knee above heart level whenever possible. This will optimize blood circulation through the knee and aid in ligament healing.

Rehabilitation

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.

Surgery

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.

Suggested Knee Joint Instability Products

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Adjustable Knee Support
Knee Stabilizer
Mueller® Sports Medicine
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The Mueller Adjustable Knee Support uses a neoprene blend and features a 4 way external adjustment system for better compression. Replaces the MU4531 Adjustable Knee Support

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Bio-Logix Knee Brace
Hinged Knee Brace
McDavid®
Rated 5.00 out of 5
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The McDavid BioLogix 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.
CrossFire ROM
Hinged Knee Brace
BioSkin®
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Optimal support for knee instability with SlimLok ROM hinge. The BioSkin CrossFire ROM protects the MCL, ACL and other knee ligaments, providing extra stability while limiting unwanted twisting and bending of the knee joint. The hinge is very thin, only ½ inch, while providing flexion and extension lockouts needed for rehabilitation. The Bio Skin material is very comfortable with a highly-compressive single-layer portion surrounding the knee. The Cirrus™ material is sewn in a pre-tensioned manner to prevent bunching behind the knee which ensures a comfortable fit throughout vigorous activity. The brace’s comfort continues into the small details of how it is sewn together; featuring the ActiveSeam™ stitch that prevents unwanted chafing in the more sensitive areas of the knee.
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Economy Elastic Bandage with Clips
Tensor Bandage
Sure-Wrap
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The Sure-Wrap Elastic Bandage with Clips is the ideal accessory for providing compression to heal strains, sprains and other soft tissue injuries.
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Elastic Knee Stabilizer
Knee Stabilizer
Mueller® Sports Medicine
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Discover why the Mueller Elastic Knee Stabilizer uses steel springs to help support both sides of knee, as well as a lightweight elastic stabilizer. This is a bilingual version of the 427 Elastic Knee Stabilizer.
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Elastic Knee Support, Black
Knee Sleeve
Mueller® Sports Medicine
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The Mueller Elastic Knee Support combines robust knee support with unrestricted range of motion while featuring a contoured design that prevents bunching in the popliteal area behind the knee.
Elite Engineered Elastic Dual Wrap Knee Brace w/ Support Stays
Knee Stabilizer
McDavid®
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The McDavid Elite Engineered Elastic Dual Wrap Knee Brace w/ Support Stays offers high grade engineered elastics, bilateral stabilizing side stays andother features to provide your patients with outstanding support and comfort for their injured or unstable knees.
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Gladiator
Hinged Knee Brace
BioSkin®
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Knee ligament protection. The BioSkin 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
BioSkin®
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Knee Ligament Protection. The BioSkin 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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Green Adjustable Knee Brace
Hinged Knee Brace
Mueller® Sports Medicine
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The Mueller Green Adjustable Knee Brace offers maximum support for weak knees, injured knees, and arthritic knees. One size. Fits either knee.

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Hg80 Hinged Knee Brace
Hinged Knee Brace
Mueller® Sports Medicine
Rated 5.00 out of 5
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The Mueller Hg80 Hinged Knee Brace is made of extremely comfortable fabric with maximum medial-lateral support to help protect weak or injured knees. Mueller-exclusive HydraCinn® fabric, Triaxial Hinges, tibial containment system, inner anti-slip strips, flatlock seams, form-fitting hourglass design, fully adjustable and comfortable fit.
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Hg80 Knee Brace
Knee Stabilizer
Mueller® Sports Medicine
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Explore the unique tibial containment system of the Mueller Hg80 Knee Brace with its secondary shell and patella buttress.
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Hg80 Knee Support
Knee Stabilizer
Mueller® Sports Medicine
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The Mueller Hg80 Knee Support has a lightweight design that allows continued knee flexibility and mobility. The comfort oriented design also includes a permanently bonded anti microbial barrier (to control perspiration and unpleasant odours) and built in moisture management.
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Hg80 Premium Knee Brace
Knee Stabilizer
Mueller® Sports Medicine
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Wear the Mueller Hg80 Premium Knee Brace and enjoy all day support during your favourite activities – sport, recreational or otherwise.
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Hg80 Premium Knee Stabilizer
Knee Stabilizer
Mueller® Sports Medicine
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The Mueller Hg80 Premium Knee Stabilizer has lightweight and neoprene-free breathable fabric with maximum medial-lateral support to help protect weak or injured knees.

This product has replaced the Hg80 Knee Stabilizer
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Hinged Knee Stabilizer
Hinged Knee Brace
LP® Support
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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.
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Hinged WrapAround Knee Brace
Hinged Knee Brace
Mueller® Sports Medicine
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The Mueller Hinged WrapAround Knee Brace features a triaxial hinge to track your knee’s natural movement. The fitted sleeve slips on and provides maximum medial-lateral support of your weak or injured knee. Fits either knee.
Knee Brace With Dual Disk Hinges
Hinged Knee Brace
McDavid®
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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