At Saffren and Weinberg, Marc Alan Weinberg, Attorney and Kenneth Scott Saffren, Attorney are partners. The firm’s tagline is “The People’s Voice In Court.” They make themselves available via phone at (215) 309-9577 or by email on the Saffren and Weinberg website. Saffren and Weinberg provides a no-charge, complimentary case review and answers questions for prospective clients.
Most Common Types of Knee Injuries Sustained on the Job and How to Treat Them
Knee injuries are one of the most common causes leading people to visit a doctor’s office. In 2010, over 10 million people visited the doctor because of chronic knee pain or a suffered injury. The majority of these visits are for knee injuries that can be treated at home but sometimes, surgical intervention is necessary.
If you believe you have been hurt on the job and suffered a work injury, you may be qualified for a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ comp provides insurance for wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who are injured through the course of their employment in exchange for the employee’s relinquishment of the right to sue their employer under a tortious claim. While there are a variety of injuries that one can suffer on the job, this post will focus on the common knee injuries that you should keep in mind.
How Does the Knee Work?
The knee is a complicated piece of anatomy. It operates like a hinge-joint and allows you to walk and bend comfortably while performing various movements such as sitting, squatting, running, or jumping. The knee is primarily made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. The bones consist of the femur, tibia, fibula, and the kneecap (patella).
The cartilage is responsible for cushioning the bones in the knee joint. It also serves as a lubrication between the ligament and bone to protect against friction and repetitive motion movements.
The ligaments serve as anchors that support bone to bone stabilization. The tendons on the other hand, anchor bone to muscle to support the knee joint to the bones from the upper and lower leg.
There are many different types of injuries involving the knee, below are the 4 most common injuries to the knee that you should be mindful of when evaluating your knee pain that may be the result of a work injury.
The 4 Most Common Knee Injuries
Bursitis.
Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that act as a cushion for the patella to allow easy movement between the ligaments and tendons. Inflammation of the bursae, commonly known as bursitis is the result of swelling and inflammation from overuse or the repeated pressures of kneeling. This injury is not serious and can easily be treated at home with ice, rest, and NSAIDS.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a ligament on the anterior aspect of the knee, providing stability to the joint. An ACL injury is diagnosed on a scale ranging from 1-3 based on the severity of the tear or sprain to the ligament. These injuries are treated with surgical repair, followed by physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Meniscal Tears
Many times, when people say they have torn cartilage in their knee, they are referring to a meniscus injury. The meniscus is a layer of cartilage that is found between the thigh bone and the tibia. They can be torn instantly or may slowly tear over time from aging and over use.
Tendonitis
This injury to the knee is also known as inflammation or patellar tendinitis. Any person who is physically active or on the move at work can be at risk for developing tendinitis.
Preventing Knee Injuries on the Job
There are precautions you can take to reduce the risk of a knee injury at work. Appropriate shoes and protective gear, such as knee pads for jobs requiring excessive kneeling, depending on your work environment are critical to the health of your knee. Some workers may need to monitor their exertion and use of their knee when their job requires a lot of standing, lifting, or moving around a facility.
There are exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee, to support the knee, and to reduce the impact on the knee. Supporting strength around the knee will help protect against ligament and tendon tears. Finally, stretching before work will keep the muscles around the knee strong, flexible, and healthy, to support a full range of motion on the job.
Who to Call if You are Injured on the Job?
These are just a few of the most common injuries to the knee. Professional assistance will be helpful in evaluating the injury you suffered on the job and its chance of success as a workers’ compensation claim. The workers’ comp attorneys at Saffren and Weinberg are here for you and will be with you every step of the way. Please contact us or call 215-576-0100 to learn more about workers’ compensation and the legal remedies available to you from a work-related injury.
