8 Most Common Knee Injuries from Falling

What Are Knee Injuries From Falling?

Knee injuries from falling can range from mild bruises to serious ligament tears like ACL or meniscus injuries. These injuries often cause pain, swelling, instability, and difficulty walking. Getting early treatment is important to avoid long-term damage and speed up recovery.

A fall can put sudden pressure on the knee joint, damaging bones, cartilage, ligaments, or soft tissue. The severity depends on how you fall, your body position, and impact force.

8 Most Common Knee Injuries From Falling

1. Knee Fracture

A knee fracture occurs when one of the bones (patella, femur, or tibia) breaks due to impact.

Symptoms:

• Severe pain
• Swelling
• Inability to move the knee

2. Dislocated Knee

This happens when the bones of the knee joint are forced out of alignment.

Symptoms:

• Visible deformity
• Intense pain
• Loss of movement

3. ACL Tear (Anterior Cruciate Ligament)

A sudden twist or impact during a fall can tear the ACL.

Symptoms:

• Popping sound
• Instability
• Swelling within hours

4. PCL Injury (Posterior Cruciate Ligament)

Often caused when falling directly onto a bent knee.

Symptoms:

• Pain behind the knee
• Difficulty walking
• Mild swelling

5. Meniscus Tear

The cartilage that cushions your knee can tear during a fall.

Symptoms:

• Locking or catching sensation
• Pain when twisting
• Swelling

6. Knee Bursitis

Inflammation of fluid-filled sacs (bursae) due to repeated pressure or trauma.

Symptoms:

• Swelling
• Warmth
• Pain when kneeling

7. Tendon Tears (Patellar or Quadriceps)

Tendons can partially or completely tear after a fall.

Symptoms:

• Weakness
• Difficulty straightening the leg
• Swelling

8. Soft Tissue Injuries (Sprains & Strains)

These are the most common and least severe injuries.

Symptoms:

• Mild pain
• Stiffness
• Limited movement

When should I see a doctor?

At times, doctors from Injury Rely believe that a knee scrape and bruise can be really painful by nature. This kind of injury never requires medical attention unless there is bleeding that cannot be successfully controlled.

Some of the symptoms that indicate the need for prompt medical attention include

• A feeling that the knee is unstable, buckles, or gives way is mainly associated with a torn ligament.
• Furthermore, you may hear or feel a popping sound as you fall. It is often associated with a torn ligament.
• However, swelling of the knee does indicate a torn ligament and fracture as well.
• If your knee suddenly feels warm upon touch. There is a possible indication of infection, bursitis, and inflammation resulting from an injury to a tendon and a muscle.
• Continuous bleeding from a cut or scrape. If you notice that bleeding persists after several minutes, you should always seek immediate medical attention. 

How is a Knee Injury Diagnosed?

Knee damage from falling is a symptom that is common to most knee injuries and chronic knee conditions.

Therefore, to diagnose the cause of knee pain after a subtle fall, your doctor will start by reviewing your medical history to determine if an underlying condition, such as an unstable knee joint, was the leading cause of this fall.

However, the doctor will also perform a physical examination of your knee.

Furthermore, you will be immediately asked to bend and straighten your leg as the doctor feels for any kind of dislocation of the kneecap and other signs of an injury to the bones, ligaments, and tendons in the knee.

• Imaging is inherently necessary. 
• It is an X-ray that can reveal damage to the bones of the knee.
• Through magnetic resonance imaging, you can reveal the damage to the bones, cartilage, and soft tissue.

What can I expect after a knee injury?

The recovery time will entirely depend on the severity of the injury and whether you require surgery or not. A sprained knee, for instance, might heal completely within a time frame of 2 to 4 weeks. However, complete recovery following surgery for a torn ligament requires a recovery time of 6 to 12 months.

Concluding Thought

Therefore, the cause of knee pain after an immediate fall may be a surface injury, such as a scrape or a cut. It may also be a more significant injury involving bones, ligaments, or tendons.

 

Apart from pain, symptoms like significant swelling, a feeling of buckling or giving way, and an inability to put your weight on the injured knee should prompt you to seek medical attention.

 

Minor knee injuries are mostly treated with absolute rest and a knee brace. At the same time, tears of a ligament and a tendon do require surgery. Following through with physical therapy, if prescribed, after a knee injury is critical to ensure a full recovery. Doing so will definitely minimize your pain, even maximize the recovery, and restore the strength and range of motion of your knee.

FAQs About Knee Injuries From Falling

What is the most common knee injury from falling?

Soft tissue injuries like sprains and meniscus tears are the most common.

 

Can a fall cause ligament damage?

Yes, falls can tear ligaments like the ACL or PCL, especially with twisting motion.

 

How do I know if my knee injury is serious?

Severe pain, swelling, instability, or inability to walk are signs of a serious injury.

 

How long should knee pain last after a fall?

Mild pain may last a few days, but persistent pain beyond a week should be evaluated.