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There may be times when the knee becomes discoloured. It won’t just be synovial fluid however – there could be blood depending on the trauma but this will always be difficult to tell. Whenever there is damage to any of the structures of the knee, the body will respond by increasing the amount of synovial fluid to protect the knee and add extra cushioning. Trauma – any accident to the knee can cause excess fluid to develop.There are many reasons why we develop excess fluid on the knee – here are a few of them. Filters – lets nutrients reach the cartilage, but prevents harmful cells and substances hurting the joint.The knee is surrounded by a structure called a joint capsule – within this capsule we have synovial fluid which is a clear liquid which helps the knee to remain happy and healthy but whenever the knee gets aggravated we can produce more of this fluid to help protect the knee.
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In relation to fluid developing on the knee there is some extended anatomy which is vital for you to know about. When the knee is rotated more than these limits it can cause damage to the internal structures like the cartilage or it can also cause ligament damage by stretching them too much.Įxtended Anatomy – Important to Knee Fluid There is a small amount of rotation in the knee but only around 5 degrees. In healthy knees the knee should be able to fully straighten and bend. Your knee is typically a joint which can just move within 2 directions. The glutes which are all of the muscles around your buttocks and hips also play a major role in rotation of the knee and balance. The hamstrings are the muscles on the back of the thigh and this helps to bend the knee.
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The muscles of the knee are simple in nature and there are the quadriceps which are the thigh muscles which help to straighten and keep the knee secure. Lateral collateral ligament – this sits on the outside of the knee and connects the femur and the tibia.MCL – medial collateral ligament – this sits on the inner aspect of the knee joining the femur to the tibia.PCL – posterior cruciate ligament – located at the back of the femur and tibia and connects the 2.ACL – anterior cruciate ligament – connects from the back of the femur to the front of the shin.Ligaments of the knee help to connect all of the bones together. Unfortunately – our body isn’t great at regenerating cartilage and it can wear down over time causing pain, discomfort and stiffness. Underneath the patella is a fat pad which helps to cushion the kneecap further.Ĭartilage within our knee is very important to ensure our knee works efficiently and comfortably. This sits in a small groove between the 2 femoral condyles of the femur and as the knee bends the patella glides in the groove – this is also cushioned with cartilage. The 3 rd and final bone is the kneecap – the patella. Meniscus is a form of cartilage and again it helps the knee to move smoothly, with comfort and acts as a shock absorber. On top of the tibia there are 2 discs of cartilage known as meniscus. The tibia is the shin and this is the platform of which the femur sits on to. These 2 condyles are covered in articular cartilage which gives the knee a smooth surface and helps to absorb shock and move without pain. The femur is the largest bone in the bone and it forms the top of the knee with two femoral condyles which are the 2 rounded parts at the end of the bone. The femur which is also known as your thigh bone, the tibia which is your shin bone and the patella which is also known as your knee cap. The knee is comprised of 3 different bones. Whilst this is a natural reaction and your body will try and sort it out for you, sometimes it can hang around for a while and it can make the knee uncomfortable.ĭepending on how your knee has become swollen there may be some different options to help reduce the swelling.Ī good place to start understanding swelling of the knee is the anatomy If you’ve suffered an injury to the knee, had surgery or have just been doing a little bit too much – your knee can develop swelling and fluid. At some point in our lives we may be unfortunate enough to develop problems with our knee joints.Īlong with the pain – fluid or swelling filling up the knee can be another side product of your knee pain.
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