You need your knees for virtually every part of your everyday life. Without the use of your knees, you wouldn’t be able to stand, walk, or even sit comfortably. Some conditions cause your knees to lock, which takes away the use of your knee. When this happens, you’ll need to find treatment to regain the use of your knee.
Conditions that cause your knee to lock
A number of conditions can cause locked knees. Some of them are temporary conditions and others are chronic. Either way, professional medical treatment can help you recover from locked knees.
Five conditions that commonly cause locked knees to include:
- Torn meniscus — A sudden twisting motion of the knee can cause the meniscus to tear. The menisci are pieces of cartilage in each knee that protect the bones in the knee from grinding against one another. When one of the menisci are torn, the cartilage may fold up or down, which blocks your knee from fully bending or straightening.
- Bone fragments — Certain conditions or injuries can cause small fragments of the bones in your knees to break off. These loose fragments can lodge themselves in the knee, blocking it from bending or straightening.
- Fractures — If one or more of the bones in the knee are fractured, your knee may lock up. Fractures can occur as the result of a hard impact or from conditions like osteoporosis.
- Swelling — Several conditions cause the knee to swell. These include most acute injuries and many other chronic conditions. Swelling can be the sign of a more serious condition, so it’s a good idea to have it checked out by a professional if it doesn’t go away.
- Patellar maltracking — The patella is the part of your knee commonly known as the kneecap. Patellar maltracking causes the kneecap to lock up or not move correctly.
Visit the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute for treating locked knees
If you’re unable to fully move one or both of your knees, you may have a condition that causes locked knees. Our team at the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute is skilled in a variety of treatments for helping people regain the use of their knees. Contact us today to learn more about locked knee treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
