- With Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
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Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Dr. Edward Laskowski is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, including subspecialty certification in sports medicine, and is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center and a professor at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic.
He has been on the staff of Mayo Clinic since 1990 and specializes in sports medicine, fitness, strength training and stability training. He works with a multidisciplinary team of physical medicine, rehabilitation and orthopedic specialists, physical therapists, and sports psychologists.
Dr. Laskowski is an elite-level skier and an avid hiker, cyclist and climber. He approaches sports medicine from the perspective of a physician and an athlete.
In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Laskowski to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and he has received a Distinguished Service Award from the Department of Health and Human Services for his contribution to the Council.
Dr. Laskowski was a member of the medical staff of the Olympic Polyclinic at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and has provided medical coverage for the Chicago Marathon. He serves as a consulting physician to the National Hockey League Players' Association and is a featured lecturer at the American College of Sports Medicine's Team Physician Course.
Dr. Laskowski, a Cary, Ill., native, has contributed to Mayo Clinic's CD-ROM on sports, health and fitness, a website guide to self-care, and hundreds of Mayo Clinic articles and booklets in print and online. He is a contributing editor to the "Mayo Clinic Fitness for EveryBody" book, and he has presented lectures throughout the world on health, fitness and sports medicine topics. His teaching expertise has been recognized by his election to the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame at Mayo Clinic.
"There are many myths and misconceptions about exercise and fitness in general, and also many traditions that don't stand up to scientific scrutiny," he says. "My goal is to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information on sports medicine and fitness topics in a way that you can practically incorporate into your life."
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Question
Hyperextended knee: Cause of serious injury?
My daughter hyperextended her knee when she landed off balance in gymnastics class yesterday. What kind of injury should she be checked for, and is it likely to be serious?
Answer
from Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Knee hyperextension occurs when excessive pressure forces your knee past its normal straightened position and bends your knee backwards. Hyperextension is the mechanism of many knee injuries in gymnastics, basketball and volleyball. Your knee can also become hyperextended from the force of a fall or blow.
Hyperextension injuries can damage ligaments, cartilage and other stabilizing structures in your knee. If your knee absorbs a strong, sudden force when your leg is straight and tense — a common scenario in car crashes — the injury may be severe. Your knee could be dislocated and several knee ligaments could be torn or detached from adjoining bones and muscles.
In sports, the damage from a hyperextended knee is usually less extensive. The effects might be limited to bruising, swelling and pain when you try to straighten your knee. On the other hand, forceful hyperextension may tear one of your knee ligaments, frequently the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
An injury severe enough to cause knee joint swelling, instability, impaired motion or pain should be evaluated by a doctor immediately. Even if the injury doesn't need surgical repair, you're likely to require a period of rest from activity along with physical therapy interventions to restore your leg strength and stability.
If surgery is required, you may need to wait six to nine months before returning to sports. If a child has a ligament tear that requires surgery, doctors often recommend postponing surgery until the child's bones have stopped growing.
- Miller RH, et al. Acute traumatic lesions of ligaments. In: Canale ST, et al., eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopedics. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/186905450-3/962043049/1584/328.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50046-5--cesec62_2286. Accessed March 4, 2010.
- Fornalski S. Biomechanical and anatomical assessment after knee hyperextension injury. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2008;36:80.
- Farmer KF. Unusual pattern of injuries following knee hyperextension: A case report. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 2003;13:53.
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