Bending your knees over and over again over many years can cause them to “buckle.” This is called knee buckling.
Knee buckling, also known as knee giving way, is the feeling of your temporary loss of control over your knee joint. The feeling that your knees may not support weight is alarming for anyone experiencing temporary weakness.
What are the causes and Treatment of knee buckling
Here are six causes of knee-buckling and how to treat them.
1. Quadriceps Insufficiency
It is common to experience knee buckling when squatting, and your quadriceps muscles cannot hold up your weight when they are weak. The quadriceps are four muscles found on your front thigh, and quadriceps weakness causes knee buckling.
Treatment for Knee Buckling
Because quadriceps insufficiency leaves the load burdened on weak muscles, the knee becomes unstable as the weak muscles gain weight. Quadriceps strength is the key to treating knee buckling, and weight training is one way to do this.
2. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS is the most common neurological disorder that causes muscle weakness in young adults.
Treatment
Consult your doctor if you are experiencing knee-buckling symptoms caused by MS. While there is no cure for MS, medications and therapies can help manage its symptoms.
3. Patellofemoral Dysfunction Syndrome
Patellofemoral dysfunction syndrome (PFDS) is a complication of different medical conditions and traumas to the knee joint that affects the normal functioning of your knee and can cause knee buckling and pain.
Treatment for Knee Buckling
Knee dislocation is the main symptom. About 7- 45 persons out of 100,000 develop this disorder. When the knee buckles or gives way constantly, surgery may be necessary. Another option is to strengthen the knee cap.
Start with squats and side bridges. As you progress, you will work on single-leg strength exercises and control exercises around the hip.
4. Degenerative Knee Disease (Osteoarthritis)
Running and tennis can put your knee at risk of degenerative knee disease. Wearing out of the knee cartilage causes degenerative knee disease. There is cartilage at the end of both the femur and the tibia. Its function is to allow your knee to move smoothly and absorb shocks.
Two tissues are fused to make cartilage. Due to its water and protein composition, it can absorb shock. When cartilage is damaged, it can no longer absorb shock. As a result, the knee could buckle.
Treatment for Knee Buckling
In the event of knee pain, it’s essential to see your doctor. For a fracture diagnosis, you will need an X-ray. When you do, the doctor will be able to assess the damage. Even if your knee does not have a fracture, your doctor can determine how bad it is.
5. Torn meniscus
A torn meniscus is an injury that occurs when a part of the meniscus (cartilage) tears. The most common causes of meniscus tears are sports injuries, especially football.
Meniscus tears are more common in women than men and usually occur in the medial part of the knee. It’s not a severe injury, but if left untreated, it can lead to further problems.
Treatment
If you have a meniscus tear and any associated injuries, the treatment will depend on the severity of the damage. Putting ice on your knee for about 15 minutes is the first thing you should do.
After resting your knee, apply heat to loosen adhesions (tissue that connects muscles to bones) and reduce swelling.
6. Sprains
An injury to the knee ligaments causes a sprain. Sharp pains often accompany knee sprains, and an anterior knee ligament is responsible for the pain. See your doctor if you are experiencing knee pain.
A medical professional will be able to tell whether you have a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), or Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL).
Treatment
If you have such a problem, you should seek the help of a physical therapist. They can diagnose and treat your injury.
Conclusion
Buckling knees are the body’s way of telling you to stop and rest. But if your knees buckle for no apparent reason, it may be a symptom of something more serious.
An underlying medical condition can cause knee buckling. Some of these include diabetes, spinal cord injury, or multiple sclerosis.
If left untreated, knee-buckling can cause serious harm to you and your loved ones, along with possible long-term damage in many areas of your body.