Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
What Causes Swelling And Bruising In Knee After Lifting Heavy Weight?
About 48 hours ago I did some very heavy, nearly impossible lifting, and I felt pain immediately in my knees. Now my right knee is swollen and bruises are popping out all around it. I am resting today with my leg elevated, ice on my knee, and I ve taken some ibuprofen. I ve rubbed ICY HOT on my knee and later some arnica. Am I doing enough or is this more serious than I realize?
Tue, 5 Mar 2019
Hello,
As per the question you asked, I would say it is right thing to do which you are doing. Icing and keeping the leg elevated over a pillow. what is missed out is stabilizing the joint, so use crepe bandage for stabilizing the knee joint initially now itself.
Coming to what would have caused this. I feel by the history that you lifted a heavy weight and this must have given excessive pressure to the ligaments of the knee joint. For now now we have to see if bending and straightening the knee is painful or any ligament laxity leading to later rotation of the knee joint. If so then we may need an MRI to see if any soft tissue damage has occured.
On the therapy front. Since you are doing icing, elevation please add on crepe bandage so stabilizing of the joint allows no more trauma to soft tissues. After a week or so, I would advice to follow the set of exercise.
1. Ankle toe movements
2. Static hamstring
3. Static Quadriceps
4. Straight leg raise
5. Internal and external rotation of hip while straight leg is raised
6. Lying on stomach - lifting the leg backwards without bending knee
7. Lying on stomach and speaking the leg out with 2 ft distance in between them and flexing the knee.
Once you get good in this exercise take it to the next level by indulging into weight bearing exercise. Here weight bearing exercise is about your own body weight with not adding any additional ones.
In my clinical practice of 12 years most of the gym injuries have visited me with knee complains. Having a thorough assessment and examination had helped me to help them with expected outcome score.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Jay Indravadan Patel, Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist
As per the question you asked, I would say it is right thing to do which you are doing. Icing and keeping the leg elevated over a pillow. what is missed out is stabilizing the joint, so use crepe bandage for stabilizing the knee joint initially now itself.
Coming to what would have caused this. I feel by the history that you lifted a heavy weight and this must have given excessive pressure to the ligaments of the knee joint. For now now we have to see if bending and straightening the knee is painful or any ligament laxity leading to later rotation of the knee joint. If so then we may need an MRI to see if any soft tissue damage has occured.
On the therapy front. Since you are doing icing, elevation please add on crepe bandage so stabilizing of the joint allows no more trauma to soft tissues. After a week or so, I would advice to follow the set of exercise.
1. Ankle toe movements
2. Static hamstring
3. Static Quadriceps
4. Straight leg raise
5. Internal and external rotation of hip while straight leg is raised
6. Lying on stomach - lifting the leg backwards without bending knee
7. Lying on stomach and speaking the leg out with 2 ft distance in between them and flexing the knee.
Once you get good in this exercise take it to the next level by indulging into weight bearing exercise. Here weight bearing exercise is about your own body weight with not adding any additional ones.
In my clinical practice of 12 years most of the gym injuries have visited me with knee complains. Having a thorough assessment and examination had helped me to help them with expected outcome score.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Jay Indravadan Patel, Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Ibuprofen
Loading Online Doctors....