Knee Hyperextension Injuries: Causes & Treatment Options

Executive Summary

• Knee hyperextension happens when the knee bends backward beyond its normal range. This injury is usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and instability.
• Some people hyperextend their knees due to high-impact sports, falls, or joint overuse, while others simply have muscle imbalances. Regardless of the cause, symptoms can range from discomfort to visible deformities.
• Preventive measures, such as performing strengthening exercises, wearing proper footwear, and maintaining good form, can help you avoid knee hyperextension.
• Consult your medical provider if you experience persistent pain, swelling, or instability. You may be able to treat knee hyperextension by resting, attending physical therapy, wearing a brace, or, in severe cases, having surgery. 

Learning the Causes and Treatment Options for Knee Hyperextension

When the knee joint is forced to extend beyond its standard range of motion, it can cause knee hyperextension. Depending on its cause, such as sports, accidents, or muscle imbalances, the severity of a knee hyperextension injury can range from mild discomfort to significant ligament or joint damage. 

The most common knee hyperextension symptoms are pain, inflammation, and instability. To alleviate these symptoms, knee hyperextension treatment plans may include rest, physical therapy, and supportive braces; however, surgical intervention may be required in severe cases—each patient is different, and knee hyperextension recovery time can vary. 

By reading through the considerations below, you can educate yourself on this unique joint condition and preventative measures, such as strengthening the muscles around the knee through exercises and maintaining proper form during physical activities. You should also consult a qualified medical professional; joint specialists will know exactly how to treat knee hyperextension.

What is Knee Hyperextension?

Knee hyperextension occurs when the knee joint extends too far backward, overstretching or damaging the ligaments, muscles, or surrounding tissues. The areas most commonly affected by knee hyperextension are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and surrounding cartilage, but each situation is unique.

Symptoms of Knee Hyperextension Injuries

Some of the most common symptoms associated with knee hyperextension are:

• Pain or discomfort that starts at the time of injury
• Inflammation around the knee joint
• Limited range of motion that makes it difficult to bend or straighten the knee
• Instability, especially while walking or standing for extended periods.

In severe cases, you may notice visible signs of damage like bruising or physical deformities. Regardless of the severity of your symptoms, you should get examined by a joint specialist. They can diagnose the issue and ensure your condition does not worsen.

Diagnosing Knee Hyperextension Injuries

Chances are, your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination to accurately determine if your knee has been hyperextended. During this evaluation, the medical professional will assess your ability to move and remain balanced while pinpointing areas or actions that cause you pain. 

Oftentimes, imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans, are used to provide a detailed view of ligament or cartilage damage. The results from these tests can help the joint specialists assess the severity of your injury and determine if it has resulted in a mild strain, ligament tear, or joint damage.

Common Causes of Knee Hyperextension Injuries

This injury is often caused by sudden stops, jumps, and twists or issues with biomechanics. The following activities and incidents are common causes of knee hyperextension.

Sports-Related Activities

Many high-impact sports can demand abrupt, awkward movements that put stress on weight-bearing joints. This is why knee pain from basketball is so common—from 2015 to 2020, 21% of National Basketball Association (NBA) players sustained a structural knee injury.

To preserve the health of your knees, avoid sports and activities that require rapid directional changes or repetitive jumping motions. Landing awkwardly can result in severe knee hyperextension.

Accidents and Falls

Slipping, tripping, or falling can force the knee into an overextended position. Hyperextension is one of the most common knee injuries from falling, so it’s important to avoid missteps. Wear footwear with sufficient traction and be extra careful when walking on slippery or uneven surfaces.

Weak Muscles or Imbalances

Your knee joints depend on the strength and stability of your leg muscles for support. Therefore, having weakened hamstrings or quadriceps can lead to instability and an increased risk of hyperextension-causing falls or accidents. Keep all muscle groups strong and well-balanced to decrease the likelihood of improper movement.

Overuse or Poor Movement Patterns

Repetitive bending motions from physical activities can strain the knee joint over time, especially if the individual does not adopt the proper form or technique. An overused or improperly used knee is more likely to hyperextend, so you should be cautious about how much stress you put on your weight-bearing joints.

Treatment Options for Knee Hyperextension Injuries

Thankfully, there are many ways to address a knee hyperextension injury, ranging from simple, at-home treatments to full-scale surgeries. The following routes are some of the most common ways people attempt to alleviate knee hyperextension symptoms.

Immediate First Aid

If the pain and mobility restrictions you feel are not excruciating or debilitating, you should implement standard first-aid practices before resorting to other treatment options. As soon as you notice the injury, try resting, applying ice, wearing a compression knee sleeve, and elevating the area above the height of your heart to reduce swelling and pain. If you do not notice significant improvements after practicing this RICE method for a few days, you should contact a joint specialist to explore other treatment options.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Before recommending surgery, your medical provider may develop a physical therapy regimen that includes strengthening exercises to restore stability and mobility to the affected area. They may also advise using a supportive device like a knee brace or crutch to provide extra stability and prevent further strain. Over-the-counter or prescribed medications can help alleviate discomfort while your body heals from your knee hyperextension injury.

Surgical Interventions

Surgery may be required if you have a severe ligament tear or substantial joint damage. In this case, a joint specialist will schedule an appropriate date and teach you how to prepare for knee surgery so they can repair or reconstruct damaged tissues from the inside. Then, they will equip you with resources, teaching you lessons like how to reduce swelling after knee surgery. They should also offer post-surgery rehabilitation consisting of tailored therapy to help you regain full function of your knee. 

Alternative Treatments

Luckily, there are plenty of non-invasive alternative therapies available that can complement or replace traditional surgery. For example, acupuncture or massage therapy can help reduce pain and improve circulation. Moreover, aquatic therapy can make it easier to rebuild muscle function by doing low-impact exercises in water for gravity-resisting buoyancy. 

The Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale offers additional, cutting-edge alternative treatments, such as pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, which uses electromagnetic pulses to encourage cellular repair and help reduce inflammation and pain. Our joint specialists can also conduct ARPwave therapy, which uses electrical currents and range-of-motion exercises to facilitate the body’s natural recovery and relieve pain.

Preventing Knee Hyperextension Injuries

Being proactive and intentional can help you reduce your risk of injuring your weight-bearing joints. Some examples of ways you can prevent knee hyperextension are:

• Strengthening exercises – Do low-impact workouts that focus on the muscles near the knee, including the hamstrings and quadriceps, to improve joint stability.
• Proper warm-up and stretching – Prepare muscles and joints before physically demanding activities. Your medical provider may be able to provide a list of jogging, tennis, or basketball warm-up drills to protect your joints.
• Appropriate footwear – Wear supportive shoes to enhance your balance and alignment while performing everyday activities like walking outside or climbing stairs.
• Good form – Maintain proper technique and posture during all physical activities and sports to avoid awkward movements that can hyperextend your knee.

By practicing all of the strategies above, you may be able to avoid knee hyperextension injuries, but it is still important to know when it is important to see a doctor.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Early intervention is vital for most medical concerns, including knee hyperextension. If left unchecked, the situation can worsen and lead to long-term damage. So, if you experience persistent pain or swelling that doesn’t improve with rest, you should schedule an appointment with a joint specialist as soon as possible. Additionally, if you are experiencing instability or difficulty bearing weight on the affected knee during everyday activities, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Treat Knee Hyperextension Injuries with the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale

Many events can cause knee hyperextension, including sports-related accidents or falls. Typically, knee hyperextension symptoms can manifest as pain, bruising, or immobility, warranting a consultation with an experienced medical provider—they should know how to treat knee hyperextension as efficiently as possible. After getting professionally assessed, you may be asked to rest, attend physical therapy, or schedule surgery as a knee hyperextension treatment. Still, you should remember that every individual’s knee hyperextension recovery time may vary.

The Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale offers personalized care and expert guidance for all types of knee injuries, including hyperextension. For patients with persistent pain and mobility issues, we can perform minimally invasive surgery that reduces recovery time by using reliable, high-end technology like Mako SmartRobotics to make small, accurate incisions. Nevertheless, we always recommend non-intrusive alternative therapies before resorting to total knee replacements or partial knee replacements.

Contact the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale to schedule an initial consultation explaining the best treatment options for your unique knee problems.