Playing a sport recreationally or professionally is great exercise that is good for your health and wellbeing. However, in any sport there is the possibility for injury—like what’s known as the unhappy triad. If you do get injured during practice or a game, make sure to get yourself checked out by your doctor immediately, because waiting too long to seek medical attention can lead to more problems, including permanent damage.
Do you think you need Brampton sports injury treatment for an unhappy triad? So you have an idea of what you will hear at a doctor’s office, here is an overview of the unhappy triad.
About the unhappy triad
The unhappy triad, which is also known as the terrible triad or O’Donoghue’s triad, is bad news for athletes. It is a severe knee injury that involves debilitating full or partial tears of a particular set of knee components—the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the medial collateral ligament and the medial meniscus.
There was a time when suffering from the unhappy triad would go on for a long time, never really healing right. Today, modern medicine can help sufferers heal and regain full knee function after treatment and rehabilitation.
Causes of this type of injury
While anyone can fall victim to the unhappy triad, it’s most commonly seen among athletes. This type of injury typically only occurs after significant force has been inflicted upon a knee. In sports, this injury will likely be the result of a tackle—like in football, soccer or rugby—or on occasion it happens when the foot lands down hard and the knee is twisted. The unhappy triad can also be the result of a car accident.
Symptoms
Sustaining this type of injury usually brings on pain right away. If you do take a tumble and suffer a traumatic injury while playing a sport, don’t ignore extreme pain in your knee:
- Upon injuring the knee, there’s a high possibility that you will hear a tearing or popping sound, or at least feel something move in your knee area.
- The next thing you’ll experience is swelling of the knee. The unhappy triad injury will swell rapidly and not go unnoticed.
- It will be difficult and painful to move the injured knee. If you can walk on it at all, you might not be inclined to do so for long!
- You will start seeing a nasty bruise within two to three days.
Treatment and healing
When it comes to treating an unhappy triad injury, here are the steps you need to take to ensure you get the help you need:
- Immediate treatment: Sit down and make sure to rest and support the injured knee. Elevate the knee and apply an ice pack. You may also want to use a compression bandage.
- Medical help: You need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The doctor will take x-rays or perform an MRI to confirm the injury before suggesting surgery. In some cases, the ACL needs reconstruction and/or a meniscus tear will need repair or removal, while the medial collateral ligament usually heals naturally. Finally, rehabilitation is required to help you regain full knee strength and mobility.
If you need Brampton sports injury treatment for an unhappy triad injury, call us at Paramount Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Clinic. We have years of experience treating these injuries and helping athletes to achieve full recovery.