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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The Mueller OmniForce Knee Stabilizer AKS-500 aims to alleviate moderate knee pain and instability and features 3 coiled alloy stays and soft, comfortable and breathable fabric to provide superior moisture management. Replaces the MU4540 and MU230 knee supports.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Knee Sleeve – Open Patella provides soothing warmth and even compression. Open patella design relieves pressure on your kneecap. Fits either knee.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Patella Stabilizer helps provide relief from chondromalacia (irritated kneecap) with a comfortable patella buttress. Fits either knee. Replaces the MU2313 Patella Stabilizer.
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Renfrew Tape (#188 Professional Trainers Tape) is Canadian made from premium bleached cotton back cloth coated with a zinc oxide-impregnated rubber adhesive.
Please see below for additional information about Renfrew Tape (#188 Professional Trainers Tape).
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Self Adjusting Knee Stabilizer features criss-cross straps for consistent support and compression above and below your patella. Fits either knee. One size.
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Mueller Sports Medicine TapeWrap is a breathable and cohesive bandage that offers an alternative to DynaPro SelfWrap or Andover PowerFlex.
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Mueller Sports Medicine Tear Light® Tape is a light adhesive tape featuring excellent conformability and easy tearing and unwinding.
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The McDavid VOW™ Versatile Over Wrap Knee Wrap w/Stays is a straightforward design with quick wrap on application that your patients can wear without removing their pants – just wrap it on over their pants and they are done.
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The McDavid VOW™ Versatile Over Wrap Knee Wrap features an innovative design that is easy to apply or remove and can treat the pain of knee instabilities and other minor knee issues.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Wraparound Knee Stabilizer features an open patella design to help relieve kneecap pressure, an easy on/off wraparound design and lateral springs for knee support. Replaces the 4539 Patella Stabilizer.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Wraparound Knee Support is an easy on/off knee support that will provide support to weak, unstable or injured knees and improve blood circulation, courtesy of its neoprene blend. Replaces the MU4532 Knee Support.