When you sprain your knee, can you walk on a sprained knee? A sprain or strain is a pulled or overstretch muscle because of the overuse of the muscle. A sprain knee is an injury that is most common among the athletes. They usually overuse their muscle because of the physical activity they do.
Even though some can walk, the pain will still be there and the patients need to take a break from time to time. You need to know the symptoms so you can treat your knee better. But before that, let’s take a look at the stages of sprain knee.
The Knee Sprain Classifications
There are 4 ligaments in the knee that are prone to injury (MCL, ACL, LCL, PCL). Sprain knee has some classes that you need to know:
Grade I. in this grade, the pain is only mild. This type of knee sprain only involves tiny torn or stretching of the ligaments. The patients will suffer from slight pain, swelling, or bruising. They are still able to put weight on their sprained knee and walk around. The time that needs to be taken to heal is usually short.
Grade II. In this stage, the injured ligament in your knee is partially torn. There will be some instability and pain from mild to moderate if the sprained knee receives some weight or being used to walk.
(You can do the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) treatment for the grade I and II to reduce the pain and swelling)
Grade III. If you suffer a knee sprain in this grade, it means that your ligament is completely torn and detach from the bone. The knee will be really painful if receiving weight and painful when walk.
The Symptoms
Pain. The pain that every patient feel is varies, depending on the severity of the injury. If the injury is on the mild level, the pain they feel is only a dull and throbbing pain. While for them, who suffer from the severe knee sprain, will feel a sharp and constant ache on their knee. When you feel the pain, rest your knee till the pain subside.
Swelling followed by Instability. Every knee sprain will be accompanied by swelling, depend on how severe your sprained knee is. The swelling will also vary based on how long the knee has been injured. There will be some instability when moving as well.
Popping Sound. When knee is sprained, there is a popping sound when the knee is moved. The sounds indicate that there is a torn ligament, showing that the sprain is more serious.
Movement limitation. Sprained knee can limit your movement because the knee won’t be able to hold your weight like it used to before the injury. When you decide to stand, walk, or even run with your sprained knee, the knee will buckle under the pressure.
Bruises. The bruises will be shown by the discoloration that appears around your knee at the moment of the injury.
Yes, you can still walk on your sprained knee if you are suffering the grade I or II, but no for the grade III. That is the answer to the question of can you walk on a dislocated knee ligament?