subject: Orange County orthopedic surgeon - Knee Surgery Allows Injured Athletes to Play Sports Again [print this page] Orange County orthopedic surgeon - Knee Surgery Allows Injured Athletes to Play Sports Again
If your knees are still healthy, make sure to take care now to prevent knee surgery in the future by working on the muscles surrounding the knees. Strong muscles go a long way in preventing knee injuries. It is also important to take the tiem to stretch your muscles after working out, as flexibility can help prevent injuries. If you play sports or are a runner you understand just how fragile your knee joints are. If you have been unfortunate enough to injure your knees, then you're aware on a daily basis just important the knees are for nearly all daily functions. The knees support the entire body and rely on two main muscles, four ligaments, and four bones. Common symptoms of knee injury include pain, swelling, reduced balance, and the feeling that the knees are about to give out. Though there are many options for pain management that don't require surgery, once these options have been exhausted it is possible your Orange County orthopedic surgeon may recommend knee surgery.
The type of knee surgery you may require depends on the location and severity of your injury. If you have a torn ligament, such as a anterior cruciate ligament, it may be possible for the orthopedic surgeon to reconstruct the ligament. While some people may elect to only rely on the other three main ligaments in the knee, patients with ACL damage often report instability and are unable to continue with high impact sports. For patients in Los Angeles ACL surgery can allow the athlete to return to sports. Of course, as with any surgery, there are risks and results aren't guaranteed. However, for the determined athlete, ligament reconstruction may be the only option at once again regaining their previous athletic abilities.
If the injury is more severe than a torn ligament, it may be necessary for knee replacement surgery. In the South Bay total knee replacement has shown promising results in allowing the injured patient to regain their leg strength and lead a normal life. A knee replacement surgery requires removing the damaged part of the joint and replacing with a metal and plastic joint implant. For patients in Los Alamitos total knee replacement is only used as a last resort, once the pain has become a daily occurrence and interferes with normal activities. Rest assured that knee replacement surgery is actually a common procedure and over 90 percent of patients experience good results. After the surgery is complete, the recovery and rehabilitation process is very important. Patients must regularly meet with a physical therapist to actively work on healing and rehabilitating their joint.
