This weight-bearing hinge joint supports the body with everyday movements like walking or exercise and more involved sports. While the knee mainly bends and straightens, it also relies on support from tendons and ligaments for side-to-side stability.
The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a strong ligament within the knee joint. It stabilizes the knee and is important for staying active in sports and walking. ACL tears often occur from falls or with quick, twisting or pivoting...
Knee arthritis is a slowly developing condition that results from the breakdown of cartilage within the knee joint. This leads to knee pain, swelling, and stiffness that can make standing, walking, and going up and down stairs very difficult.
The menisci are small, shock-absorbing cartilage discs within the knee joint. Meniscus tears can occur with planting and twisting injuries or develop gradually with wear and tear over time. Meniscus tears typically cause knee pain and instability.
The kneecap, also known as the patella, is a bone located at the front of the knee. Too much side-to-side movement can cause kneecap instability, a condition in which the kneecap becomes too loose and moves out of place.
The collateral ligaments are located on the outside of the knee and include the medial collateral ligament, or MCL, and the lateral collateral ligament, or LCL. These ligaments stabilize the knee during side-to-side motion.
