Accepted Answer

It doesn't sound like you visited a physician after your recent injury. I would encourage you to do so. Although you could have injured the knee only minimally, and you might be in the normal process of recovery, you might also have done some substantial damage to the ligaments and/or meniscus. This is especially true if you are still having pronounced trouble walking. So I would recommend a visit to the physician. They can do a good exam, look for any increased laxity in the joint, maybe take an Xray or even a CT scan/MRI if necessary. Some injuries require surgery.

That being said, if all you did was strain the ligaments and tendons, and you did not have an acute tear, then there a few exercises that you can do. The principal muscles around the front of the knee are the quadriceps. While seated, with you legs bent, gently extend your knees until your legs are straight, hold this position for a second and focus on tightening the muscles around the joint, and then bend your knee again and relax. Repeat this, without weight or resistance, focusing on strengthening the joint. Similarly, you can stand on the healthy foot, lift the other foot off of the floor slightly, and then bend the knee, this time focusing on tightening the muscles behind the knee and upper leg. Hold for a second, and then relax. As you heal, eventually, you might need to involve weights or more resistance. But first, make sure the joint is at least not tender and you can walk without pain.

Again, I think a visit to your physician would be prudent to rule out ligament tear, meniscal injury. I hope that this has been of some help. Take care

Expert:	Jonathan Fay, M.D.
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:
Answered:	3/22/2006

Doctor (MD)

Physician health consultant