KNOW Knee injuries can take the form of a sprain or a strain. Sprains result from suddenly stretching or tearing the ligaments that hold the bones together. A strain is an injury to the muscles or the tendons that connect the muscles to the bones. In most cases, either type of injury will take about 6 to 8 weeks to heal. Causes Sprains are usually caused by an accident, such as tripping, falling, or twisting the knee.
Strains usually result from over-use.
Typically, there will be pain, tenderness, swelling, or bruising of the injured area. If the injury is serious, you may have trouble moving the knee. You'll probably need to wear a splint or ace bandage to keep the knee from moving. After that, you can gradually increase the amount you use your injured knee when walking, as long as it doesn't hurt too much. Use crutches or a cane until it is no longer painful to put weight on the knee when you stand.