What can cause your knee to give out?
Knees are an important part of our body and we rely on them for almost everything; from standing up straight to dancing the night away. However, there are times when your knees may suddenly give out without any apparent reason. This article is going to discuss what causes your knee to give out.
An introduction to why your knee gives out
Before delving into the different reasons that could contribute towards a sudden buckling of your knee which nobody wants, let’s first understand what happens in this scenario.
When a person uses their muscles, particularly their quads or hamstrings, it places force on the joints in their legs which help support with weight-bearing activities such as walking or jumping. The joint responsible for most leg movements is the knee joint where three bones connect: the tibia, femur and patella bone along with four ligaments and several tendons around it which keep it stable (for now).
Under normal circumstances while bending/straightening one’s leg post some activity, you would feel only slight pressure but then again these are ‘normal‘ circumstances we’re talking about here so buckle up!
On rare occasions though (due to certain risk factors), something might go wrong resulting in a dramatic collapse occur within seconds leaving you writhing on floor cursing yourself because everyone at Target saw that one coming (also been there).
Accordingly though take heart as we explore 15 possible explanations behind such ‘what just happened?!‘ moments:
Let’s start with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries (the most common)
The anterior cruciate ligament commonly known as ACL links thigh bone (femur) down to shinbone(tibia). It helps keep our lower leg stabilized by limiting its rotational movement however during high impact injuries like collision sports,Fall accidents ,skii mishaps etc.,can damage the cruciate ligaments, which in turn will result in giving out of knees . (not fun)
A sense of looseness or instability could also subsequently happen after an ACL injury especially when one tries to pivot quickly. In such cases visiting a specialist for help may prevent these sudden knee buckles from becoming a trend.
Next up is Osteoarthritis
As we age our joint cartilage starts wearing down as nature kicks us all squarely in the butt (Yay!). Resultant arthritis can cause sudden pain/inflammation causing your legs to buckle/wobble and arthritis is sadly a chronic ailment that’s never really cured but disease-modifying agents like hyaluronic acid injections or steroids have helped patients experiencing osteoarthritis find relief so instead of self medicating reach out for medical opinions (surprise surpriiiiise).
How about that Meniscus Tear?
Menisci are located on both sides of the knee acting as vital soft tissues between tibial and femoral bones by providing cushioning flexibility important for movement .They safeguard our cartilage however during sports ,trips/falls or maybe too much speed without moderation it gets damaged leaving people unable to bounce back hence leading to sudden falls dropping people into less flexible movements causing stress on other joints often resulting in episodes where their body feels off balance until recovery happens.
Doctors will recommend rest & waiting before deciding whether patients need surgery Following surgical operations however lower leg strength exercises along with minimal usage aided by braces offer respite .
Patellofemoral Syndrome aka Runner’s Knee
The area under kneecap(patella) experiences pressure through contact with thigh bone (femur) connecting through patellar tendon making skeletal synches prone wear-&-tears over time at times misaligned patella bone causes fatigue rendering quad muscles unable assisting motion properly thus creating erratic spasms hindering stability turning unsuspecting jogging rounds into surprise comedy timings.
Typically resting in these cases works the best although physiotherapy and massages can provide relief and strength.
Our next reason is Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
A posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) sustains all knee injuries that happen from hyperextension or impact from front of leg injuries . As an example, a bumper may hit your shin as you come off the chairlift attempting sprightly skiing on a snow-covered mountain. The sudden wave of pain shoots through the back of one’s leg when residual tension causes hamstrings to contract uncontrollably before falling down cause buckling (just got darker pretty quick).
Despite requiring arduous treatment including reconstructive surgery, doctors will recommend patients optimize rehab for gradual posture adjustments leading to no more collapses .
Going over some Breakdowns between Tendons
A quadriceps tendon could rupture during physical activity placing pressure specifically above kneecap hindering person’s ability to walk stand or lift anything heavy hence giving out without so much as even saying goodbye; Stopping usage immediately followed by hospital referrals can assist optimise patient outcomes via sooner recovery times with surgeries delegated only after failing non-surgical methods like braces initially which muscles alike tendinitis occurring mostly amongst athletes & runners resulted from overuse oftentimes leading them weary vulnerable but ultimately experiencing it more commonly than most think since it happens due long running sessions not being supplemented adequately thusly preventing complete fast recovery times once diagnosed .
How about Lumbar Disc Herniation?
This goes down along spinal column rupturing disc responsible cushioning nerves leading one’s legs contractions restricting efficiency losing mobility eventually causing unannounced falls not making ones day any better.
Known treatments include chiropractic care massages alternating ice-&-heat use at affected joint points while administering prescribed medicines offering pain relieve pre/post operative techniques (needahandpalmresist forehead) .
## Next culprit one is Patellar Tendinitis
As mentioned earlier patellar tendons connect kneecap(femur) of shinbone(tibia). When experiencing an overload in physical activity be it running, jumping or any other knee bent activities the strain on the knees strains these tendons promoting inflammation leading to sudden unexpected events.
Sizeable pain along with non-surgical treatments like exercises facilitating tendon restoration before graduating surgery may need called for assistance after lengthy resting sessions.
Are you familiar with Gout?
This ailment depending upon genetics and dietary habits causes crystallization surrounding tissues embedding themselves into patients causing extreme agony within joints initiating buckling spells among other symptoms tailormade by those crystals. Although appearing quickly during episodes, doctors can manage through medicine prescriptions such as anti-inflammatory drugs or avoiding purine-rich foods (We know it’s hard but try)
What about Bursitis? What’s that we hear you ask…
These fluid-filled sacs which act as leg-protecting cushions located near joint areas when inflamed affect repetitive motion individuals most; hence bowlers/factories workers usages have higher incidences. Symptoms range from sensitivity whilst kneeling down to painful resistance towards bending due extended exposure daily conditions via medical opinions ultimately assisting faster recovery regimes.
Continue reading if you want to know more….
Surprisingly given persons lifestyles, weight plays a vital role in giving out so ensuring regular proper exercise routines will help keep weight under control hence reducing stress-related incidences often associated with this reason!
Sudden drops/severe rise blood sugar levels induced by diabetes could irritatingly also contribute rising risks making knee-joints vulnerable meaning diet monitoring important management practice preventing dramatic repercussions.
Unusual movements always lead large impact injuries while bumping legs against improperly placed household items instead placing them orderly fashion creating pathways subsequently reinventing your living quarters has its perks y’all (important intel).
Shoes that cause discomfort frequently heighten risk giving out even people unaware.
Unusual hunched stance also contributes to this problem after sitting standing, or walking a lot amongst others where patients comprehend future actual therapy is recommended at earliest possible opportunity.
Knee Buckling’s prevalence remains low compared with other injuries; however proper knowledge including regular checkups save from grim outlooks and surgeries often restricted to worst case scenarios so adopting all of these hacks might just help you prevent bent knees(besides your sense of humor).