Knee Pain and Injuries
Your knee is made up of two main bones, the thigh bone, or femur, and lower leg bone, or tibia. These bones are held together by four main ligaments: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL). The meniscus is the rubbery cartilage that sits between these bones. When you step down, the meniscus acts as a shock absorber between the thigh bone, or femur, and the leg bone, or tibia. The bones come together to form a joint. It is at this joint that the bones move over one another to allow you to move about and move your body. At this joint the bones are lined with a hard substance called cartilage.
Knee Anatomy
The patella is a disk shaped bone in the front of your knee. Your patella is attached to your tibia bone by a tendon called the patellar tendon. The kneecap also attaches to the quadriceps muscles which are the large muscles in the front of your thigh. The patellar tendon, quadriceps, and other soft tissue surround the patella in what we call a soft tissue envelope. Normally this soft tissue envelope is well balanced and strong allowing your knee to function without pain.
Normally your patella rides smoothly in a groove at the end of your thigh bone, or femur, when you bend and straighten your knee. The vastus medialis obliquus, or VMO, is important in maintaining this normal patellar movement and allowing balance of the soft tissue envelope around the patella. The movement of the patella in this groove at the end of the femur is called patellar tracking.
Knee Injuries/Conditions
The largest joint in the body, the knee is also one of the easiest to injure. Knee problems can be caused by trauma, particularly from sports; physiologic issues like misalignment; degeneration from conditions like osteoarthritis; or just plain overuse. To learn about some of the most common knee injuries and conditions, view the videos, below.

Anatomy of the Knee

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries in Women

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear (ACL Tear)

Meniscus Tear

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Patella Fracture (Broken Knee Cap)

Patella Tendon Rupture

Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper's Knee)

Patellar Tracking Disorder

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner's Knee)

Prepatellar Bursitis (Kneecap Bursitis)

Quadriceps Tendon Tear

Supracondylar Femoral Fracture
Treatment Options
Knee Bracing
Knee braces, sometimes known as knee orthoses, are supports worn on the knees, typically to provide joint stability and correct maladjustments. Braces can be made of metals, fabric and plastic. Braces are part of a treatment program that should be administered by a licensed medical professional.
Knee braces are divided into categories depending on the type of support they provide: ligament, functional, adjustable range-of-motion, OA, post-op and soft supports.
To find out more about knee braces, go to Breg Knee Braces.
Surgery
If you and your doctor have decided surgery is the best treatment for you, your options may include arthroscopic surgery to repair joint damage, partial knee replacement surgery to replace only the damaged portion of your knee, or total knee replacement surgery. To learn about more about these and other surgical procedures, view the videos, below.

ACL Reconstruction (Patellar Tendon Graft Technique)

Arthroscopic Chondroplasty

Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation

Cartilage Repair

Lateral Release and Medial Imbrication

Meniscal Transplant

Meniscus Repair (Arthroscopic Technique)

Partial Knee Replacement (using OXFORD® implant)

Partial Meniscectomy

Patellofemoral Replacement

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Reconstruction

Revision Knee Surgery

Total Knee Replacement
Knee Therapy
Other non-surgical options to help manage knee problems and joint instability include cold therapy ranging from simple ice packs to motorized cold therapy (an insulated cooler with a pump and pads that deliver cold to specific joints), your doctor may suggest using cold therapy to reduce pain and swelling of an injured joint. All cold therapy, including ice, can be cold enough to damage your skin, so regardless of what kind of cold therapy you use, follow your doctor’s instructions.
Exercises for Joint Rehabilitation: Your doctor may recommend exercises to help enhance your recovery. This may include exercises for stretching to gradually increase range of motion, strengthening to regain joint function and proprioception to help with balance and core stability.