The knee is the largest joint in the human body, providing stability and support for the body during weight-bearing activities while also allowing the legs to bend and straighten.
Injuries to the knee can either be mechanical or inflammatory. Mechanical knee injuries occur from direct trauma or sudden movements that result in injury to soft tissues, such as ligaments, muscle and tendons. Inflammatory knee injuries are usually a result of wear and tear or overuse but can also occur as a result of rheumatic diseases causing pain and damage to the knee.
For more information on rheumatic diseases please see the links below:
Symptoms and characteristics
Knee injuries can be further categorised into the following:
- Overuse injuries: Occur due to repetitive stress on the lower limbs, causing wear and tear in the structures of the knee joints. Overuse syndromes are mainly in the form of tendonitis or bursitis which is a swelling of the bursa, or the sacs that lubricate the joints.
- Cartilage/menisci injuries: The knee is supported on both sides, medial and lateral, by strips of cartilage called menisci. Trauma or injury to the menisci can occur from a severe impact, twisting movement and notably with weight-bearing activities or exercise. A person with a cartilage tear may have difficulty with prolonged walking or standing, squatting or crouching.
- Ligament injuries: Are usually mechanical in nature and result from direct trauma or a blow to the knee or surrounding structures. Ligaments are tough bands of connective tissue that stabilise the knee joint. Injury occurs due to a sudden twist or excessive force on the joint resulting in a stretch, strain, tear or complete rupture of the ligament.
- Tendon injuries: Tendons connect muscles to bones and injuries are usually in the form of strains or tears, causing bleeding and swelling. Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon.
- Degenerative diseases: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that affects the bone surfaces within the knee joint. It is usually the result of a severe knee injury, with internal damage which has occurred earlier in life. It is a ‘wear and tear’ arthritis and is further increased if the person has had a series of knee injuries.
General symptoms of knee injuries include:
- pain
- swelling
- reduced range of movement
- difficulty with weight-bearing activities, such as walking and standing
- crepitus of the knee joint
- loss of muscle bulk and strength
- joint laxity.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
People suffering from knee injuries may have difficulty with job roles that involve prolonged standing or walking, squatting, crouching, lifting heavy objects or work that involves weight-bearing and twisting through the lower limbs.
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with knee injuries to better manage their symptoms. These include:
- ensuring the workplace and work tasks are set up to minimise repetitive or heavy lifting or the need to access below waist level
- if required to stand for long periods, consider the use of anti-fatigue matting or a sit-stand stool to enable postural rotation
- consider capacity for staff rotation between physically demanding tasks and lighter tasks as a way of building in breaks without having to stop work
- education on safe manual handling techniques incorporating tips for those with a knee injury
- consider the use of lifting or mechanical aids such as trolleys to minimise lifting requirements
- consider task set up to enable people sufficient room for stepping rather than keeping their feet still and twisting.
The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for work related modifications, equipment and services to help people with disability to get employment and perform their work as independently and productively as possible. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
Better Health Channel 2011, Knee injuries, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 8 March 2012, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Knee_injuries?open.
Bloomfield, J, Fricker, P & Fitch, K 1992, Textbook of Science and Medicine in Sport, Blackwell Science Pty Ltd, Melbourne.