Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Knee hyperextensionoccurs when the knee joint bends backward beyond its normal range of motion. Depending on the severity, this injury can cause damage to the ligaments or tendons that support this area of your leg. It can also lead to pain and several other symptoms.
This article will outline the most common causes of knee hyperextension, its typical symptoms, and the most effective diagnosis and treatment techniques.
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Kneehyperextensionmost often occurs in athletes playing sports or in people participating in physically demanding forms of exercise.
One of the most common causes of this condition is a backward-directed blow to the front of the knee joint. Tackle football or soccer players are particularly susceptible.
Symptoms and Recovery for ACL Tears
Direct blows to the leg are not the only cause. Other common causes include landing awkwardly on your leg after a jump or overextending your knee after falling from an elevated surface.
Regardless of the mechanism, bending your knee backward beyond its normal limits can significantly damage several structures in the leg. The most commonly affected areas include:
Themedial collateral ligament (MCL)andthe meniscus—may also be affected. This is more likely if some degree of knee rotation or twisting occurs during the hyperextension injury.
Depending on the severity of your injury,several symptomsmay result from knee hyperextension. The most frequent ones include:
Mild knee hyperextension can usually be treated conservatively.
After the initial incident, a healthcare provider may advise you to ice and elevate the leg to reduce swelling or inflammation.NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) pain relievers, such as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) may also be suggested.
Other possible treatment options include:
Types of Knee Braces for Support and Injury Prevention
More significant hyperextension injuries may ultimately require surgical correction. This typically involvesan arthroscopic reconstructionof the damaged structure with a graft from another area of the body (or from a cadaver).
When Does a Partial ACL Tear Require Surgery?
Individuals who sustain minor knee hyperextension injuries can usually recover following conservative treatment. This is especially true for people who do not experience any instability after the injury or who don’t choose to participate in more physically demanding forms of exercise.
Most people undergoing an arthroscopic reconstruction after a hyperextension injury can also recover fully. Several potential complications are worth noting, however.
Failure rates for surgical posterolateral corner reconstructions are reported to be as high as 38% in some studies.A similar systematic review found that roughly 9% of ACL reconstructions ultimately fail or need surgical revision. In addition, up to 73% of people who had their ACL surgically reconstructed showed signs of osteoarthritis in the joint at a 20-year follow-up.
Why Knee Arthritis Is Likely to Develop After an ACL Tear
Summary
Knee hyperextension injuries occur when the knee bends backward beyond its normal limits. This problem can happen to anyone but is most common in athletes who land awkwardly or who experience a blow to the leg.
Depending on the severity, several different anatomical structures may be damaged, including the knee’s tendons or ligaments. Mild hyperextension injuries are treated conservatively, while major ones may require arthroscopic surgery.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine.Posterior cruciate ligament injury (PCL).Emory Healthcare.ACL injuries.Chahla J, Moatshe G, Dean CS, LaPrade RF.Posterolateral corner of the knee: current concepts.Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2016;4(2):97-103.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.ACL injury: does it require surgery?American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Anterior cruciate ligament (acl) injuries.Grassi A, Pizza N,Al-zu’bi BBH, Fabbro GD, Lucidi GA, Zaffagnini S.Clinical outcomes and osteoarthritis at very long-term follow-up after ACL reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022;10(1):232596712110622. doi:10.1177/23259671211062238
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Penn Medicine.Posterior cruciate ligament injury (PCL).Emory Healthcare.ACL injuries.Chahla J, Moatshe G, Dean CS, LaPrade RF.Posterolateral corner of the knee: current concepts.Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2016;4(2):97-103.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.ACL injury: does it require surgery?American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Anterior cruciate ligament (acl) injuries.Grassi A, Pizza N,Al-zu’bi BBH, Fabbro GD, Lucidi GA, Zaffagnini S.Clinical outcomes and osteoarthritis at very long-term follow-up after ACL reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022;10(1):232596712110622. doi:10.1177/23259671211062238
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Penn Medicine.Posterior cruciate ligament injury (PCL).Emory Healthcare.ACL injuries.Chahla J, Moatshe G, Dean CS, LaPrade RF.Posterolateral corner of the knee: current concepts.Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2016;4(2):97-103.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.ACL injury: does it require surgery?American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Anterior cruciate ligament (acl) injuries.Grassi A, Pizza N,Al-zu’bi BBH, Fabbro GD, Lucidi GA, Zaffagnini S.Clinical outcomes and osteoarthritis at very long-term follow-up after ACL reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022;10(1):232596712110622. doi:10.1177/23259671211062238
Penn Medicine.Posterior cruciate ligament injury (PCL).
Emory Healthcare.ACL injuries.
Chahla J, Moatshe G, Dean CS, LaPrade RF.Posterolateral corner of the knee: current concepts.Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2016;4(2):97-103.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.ACL injury: does it require surgery?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Anterior cruciate ligament (acl) injuries.
Grassi A, Pizza N,Al-zu’bi BBH, Fabbro GD, Lucidi GA, Zaffagnini S.Clinical outcomes and osteoarthritis at very long-term follow-up after ACL reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022;10(1):232596712110622. doi:10.1177/23259671211062238
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