Knee cartilage plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth movement and reducing friction in the knee joint. When this cartilage gets damaged due to injury or wear and tear, it can lead to pain, swelling, and restricted mobility. So, what is the fastest way to heal knee cartilage?
These new cells are then reimplanted into the knee in areas of damage during another surgery to promote new growth of cartilage. Hyaluronic acid may be recommended for patients with diabetes who have knee osteoarthritis because hyaluronic acid injections do not raise blood sugar the way corticosteroids do. When they are weak, the bones of the knee joint are subject to increased pressure and a higher risk of cartilage breakdown. A physical therapist will evaluate your knee and hip alignment, muscle strength, range of motion, and movement patterns to develop an individualized plan of care to address your limitations.
For instance, the knee is the joint where the shinbone (tibia), thighbone (femur), and kneecap (patella) all come together. You’re watching your daughter play in the high school championship soccer game. She runs down the field, plants her foot, and cuts sharply to her left. After the game, her knee is swollen and stiff, and she tells you it’s really sore.
Cartilage tears and other knee cartilage damage can occur gradually over time or suddenly from an injury. Knee cartilage tears can be caused by injury, arthritis, or chronic overuse. Not all knee cartilage tears require surgery, but there are certain tears that will heal a lot better if they are fixed surgically.
(Chondral simply means “relating to cartilage.”) Chondral injuries typically don’t heal well on their own, in part, because articular cartilage does not have a blood supply, which promotes healing. When these symptoms don’t go away after a few days, you set up a doctor’s appointment. For the first few days after knee cartilage surgery, patient recovery guidelines for cartilage repairs are similar to the guidelines for any knee surgery.
Non-surgical options
For minor injuries or early-stage cartilage damage, non-surgical treatments can be effective in promoting healing. Physical therapy, which involves targeted exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee, can help reduce stress on the damaged cartilage and improve flexibility. Additionally, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) therapy can help alleviate pain and swelling.
Otherwise, it will just fight you the whole time until eventually you’re forced to stop the activity and then are faced with a much more difficult problem to solve. I like to use the Variable Incline Plane (VIP and I have no affiliation with any companies) because I can find the threshold at which you can comfortably load your leg. This information is invaluable as a training metric and for comparison over time.
Surgical interventions
Osteochondral allograft transplantation uses cartilage from outside the patient, usually from a cadaver. Be sure to talk with your doctor about what’s involved in various procedures and recovery periods. It’s also important to find out the costs of a procedure and how much of that expense will be covered by your insurance. MACI is usually an outpatient procedure, though you can expect to wear a knee brace for about 6 weeks while your knee regains strength and stability. Microfracture is not recommended for older adults with severe osteoarthritis or for repairing large lesions. Also important to me was that Mayo Clinic had orthopedic surgeons who could perform the RECLAIM procedure and that Mayo had the brand respect needed to make a clinical trial happen in the U.S.
In cases of severe cartilage damage or when non-surgical options have not been successful, surgical interventions may be necessary to promote healing. Arthroscopic surgery and microfracture surgery are common procedures used to repair or stimulate the growth of new cartilage in the knee joint. These surgeries can help improve mobility and reduce pain in patients with advanced cartilage damage.
In conclusion, the fastest way to heal knee cartilage depends on the extent of the damage and the individual’s overall health. Non-surgical treatments may be sufficient for minor injuries, while surgical interventions may be necessary for severe cartilage damage. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best course of treatment for your specific condition.
