Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialist Assoc. Dr. Cengiz Bahadır stated that the knees are the joints that carry the most weight in our body, and said, “Therefore, knee problems can negatively affect our lives. ” said. So why is the sound coming from the knee? Is the sound coming from the knee valuable? How can the diagnosis be made? When should it be treated? The answers to the curious questions are on Elmaelma.com.
Why does the knee make a sound?
For the knee joint to carry these loads painlessly, it requires very little friction in the middle of the cartilages. Regardless of the reason, the first sign of the wear of the cartilage lining the back of the kneecap is the sound coming from the knee. These sounds occur during knee movements, especially when crouching and getting up, and are more in the form of “cracking”. This sound is mostly caused by the deterioration of the surface of the kneecap cartilage and the rubbing of this damaged surface against the opposite bones in motion. This condition is called “chondromalzai patella” in medicine. It should be kept in mind that sometimes a sound can be heard from meniscus tears. In this case, the sounds coming from the knee are more in the form of “mass”.
Is it worthwhile to hear a sound from the knee?
Knee noise is mostly seen in middle and advanced ages. However, a voice can be heard from the knees of young people. Sound from the knee, especially if it occurs in middle age (30-45), is a harbinger of early calcification. If there is pain along with the voice, and if this pain occurs after sitting up and standing up, bending the knee, it should definitely be investigated. The most correct course of action at this stage is to consult a physical therapist.
How can it be diagnosed?
In such cases, even if there is no pain, examination from the knee is necessary. The method to be chosen is magnetic resonance (MR) examination because it can show the cartilage tissue and menisci very conveniently. With MRI, the cartilages of the knee bones can be seen in a detailed form.
When should it be treated?
A sound from the knee does not always indicate a pathology. If there is cartilage damage, that is, chondromalacia patella, on MRI, treatment should be applied even if there is no pain. Otherwise, the knee will gradually become calcified and the damage will become permanent.
How should early cartilage damage in the knee be treated?
There are 3 basic principles in the treatment of these patients. First, the patient will look at the knee adequately. In other words, he will do as little as possible movements such as squatting, going up and down stairs, sitting with knees bent for long periods, cross-legged. The second principle; The patient will do exercises that will strengthen the knee, and the last one will not gain weight, if he is overweight, he will lose it. Apart from these basic principles, cartilage needles and physical therapy applications can be useful in these knees. PRP (platelet-powered plasma) therapy has been used successfully in recent years.
What is PRP treatment?
PRP treatment is a formula that has been used in the world for the last 4 years and in Turkey for the last 2 years. Approximately 20 cc of blood is taken from the patient via the vein, and this blood is passed through some special processes to obtain PRP containing a large number of platelet cells. Platelet-enriched plasma fluid obtained from blood acts like a natural medicine. The natural hormones released from the platelet cells injected into the joint by stimulating the cells of structures such as cartilage in the area of injury and damage, accelerate the beautification in that area. PRP treatment is applied once a month for a total of 3 times
Is PRP treatment an active treatment in cartilage injuries?
The PRP formula that we have applied to many knee patients for two years gives extremely successful results, especially in cartilage injuries. The absence of side effects is its most valuable advantage. Early cartilage injuries in the knee can be treated very actively with PRP treatment, which is performed adhering to the basic principles. The point to remember is; If it is intervened early, “calcification is not destined”.
