Knee & Leg Care

Offering the Progressive Knee Care You Need

Your ability to move through life comfortably can be negatively impacted by knee pain. The unique range of motion of your knee joints makes them prone to injury over time. That’s where Excelsior comes in. Our expert team specializes in treating knee and lower extremity conditions using the most advanced techniques, giving you back the range of motion you need to continue daily activities without pain. Let us be your guide in eliminating the knee pain that’s holding you back. Request an Appointment

Common Conditions Our Approach to Care Your Treatment Options Knee Care Physicians Outpatient Total Joint

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Common Conditions Our Approach to Care Your Treatment Options Knee Care Physicians Outpatient Total Joint

Looking to Learn More About Your Diagnosis?

If you’ve been diagnosed with a knee or leg condition, there is a lot of information out there to help you learn more. We want to make sure you get accurate information from a reliable source. Read about some of the most common conditions and click the links to learn more.

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints. While it can affect any joint, it is particularly common in knees. Osteoarthritis is degenerative wear and tear of the cartilage, resulting in bone rubbing on bone. It occurs most often in those aged 50 and older. Osteoarthritis can be treated with a number of different non-surgical or surgical therapies and remedies.

Common Causes

Age. Osteoarthritis is more common in those over 50
Weight. More pressure on the joints speeds up wear and tear
Repetitive Stress, i.e. jobs that require frequent kneeling and squatting

Common Symptoms

Stiff, swollen knee joint (osteoarthritis may affect 1 or both knees)
Pain and swelling that worsens after sitting or resting
Knee that stiffens, locks, buckles or feels weak during movement

For young athletes or active children, pain in the front and center of the knee, typically under the kneecap, is common. This type of knee pain is more common in girls, but can occur in any young body. This condition is typically neither serious nor permanent, and can be treated with rest, strength and conditioning exercises, and over-the-counter medications. If the pain interferes with activity, it’s time to see a doctor.

Common Causes

Tight or unbalanced quadriceps & hamstrings
Misalignment of the legs
Overuse, overtraining, or improper/changes to footwear

Common Symptoms

Popping or crackling in knee movement after prolonged sitting
Pain at night
Pain related to prolonged physical activity

Osteochondritis Dissecans is most common in children and adolescents. It can occur in any joint in the body, though it’s most common in knees, ankles and elbows. OCD is a condition that occurs when a small segment of bone loses blood supply and separates from the surrounding region. This typically causes the cartilage to crack and loosen. In severe cases, that fragment may detach completely.

Common Causes

Causes of blood supply interruption are relatively unknown
Repetitive trauma
Repetitive stress

Common Symptoms

Pain, swelling and tenderness, increased with activity
Joint catching or locking (advanced cases)
Joint weakness or decreased range of motion

A sprain or tear of the ACL is one of the most common knee injuries among athletes, particularly those involved in high-demand sports like basketball, soccer and football. Your ACL runs down the middle of your knee, between your femur and tibia, and provides critical stability to your knee joint. Grade 1 sprains are mild, while Grade 3 sprains are complete tears of the ligament.

Common Causes

Sudden change of direction
Sudden stops
Improper landing after a jump

Common Symptoms

Sudden “popping” noise upon injury
Pain and swelling within 24 hours
Loss of range of motion; discomfort while walking

Your articular cartilage is the smooth tissue that covers your bones at the site of a joint. It provides a cushion as well as a frictionless surface. Cartilage can be injured through wear and tear over time, or from an injury. It often accompanies other knee joint injuries, such as meniscus and ligament tears. Left untreated, cartilage injuries can lead to arthritis of the knee.

Common Causes

Wear and tear, or stress on the joint over time.
Inactivity, joints must move to stay healthy
Direct blow to the knee

Common Symptoms

Joint pain, upon rest or weight bearing
Swelling of knee joint, may be delayed
Stiffness, clicking, grinding or locking of the knee

Your knee joint has two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as shock absorbers between your femur and your tibia. These are your menisci. There are several common types of tears, but meniscus tears are common among athletes (although they can happen to anyone). Treatments range from simple at-home therapies, to surgical intervention, depending on the type and severity of the tear.

Common Causes

Sudden tear, caused by twisting or forceful rotation
Degenerative tear, caused by weakening over time
Pivoting, deep squatting, or heavy lifting.

Common Symptoms

Sudden “pop” upon injury. Many people can still walk with a torn meniscus.
Stiffness and swelling, decreased range of motion
Sensation of your knee “giving way”

Injuries to the ligaments in your knee are very common, particularly for athletes. Your MCL and LCL run on either side of your knee joint and connect your femur to your lower leg bones. These ligaments control side-to-side movement and provide stability. Injuries to these ligaments are called “sprains,” and can vary from overstretching (Grade 1) to complete tears (Grade 3).

Common Causes

Force to the knee from the side, often contact injury
Direct blow to the outside of the knee
Direct blow to the inside of the knee

Common Symptoms

Pain on the outside(s) of your knee (MCL injury)
Pain on the inside of your knee (LCL injury)
Feeling of instability of the knee

Your patella, or kneecap, is the small bone that sits at the front of your knee joint. Because it protects the joint, it’s susceptible to fracture if it sustains a direct hit. Fractures can be a simple break, called a stable fracture, in which the pieces stay in place, or a displaced or a displaced fracture, in which the pieces become misaligned as a result of the break.

Common Causes

Falling directly into your knee
Sharp blow to the knee
Sudden force to the knee, such as hitting a vehicle dashboard

Common Symptoms

Pain, swelling and bruising
Inability to walk or bear weight
Inability to straighten or extend knee

A misalignment of the bones in the knee is called a dislocation. Your patella typically sits within a V-shaped notch called your femoral groove. When the patella, or kneecap, slips out of place, it causes pain and instability to the joint. Dislocations can be partial or complete. Patellar dislocations are more common in children and adolescents, but can happen to anyone.

Common Causes

Sharp blow or direct force to the knee
Shallow or uneven femoral groove
Instability from previous dislocation

Common Symptoms

Buckling and inability to bear weight
Sensation of or visible misalignment of kneecap
Pain that increases with activity

Advanced Treatment Options for a Better Recovery

Non-Operative Treatment Surgical Treatment Recovery Upcoming Patient Seminars

Non-Operative Treatment

There are many ways to treat orthopaedic injuries. Often, a knee injury or condition can be treated non-surgically. We’ll explore these options first, including cutting-edge treatments in the field of orthobiologics (injection therapy), physical therapy and durable medical equipment such as braces. You don’t have to live in pain or fear — let’s explore your treatment options together.

Injection Therapy (Orthobiologics)
Minimally Invasive Treatments
Work Force Rehabilitation & Conditioning
Physical & Occupational Therapy
Durable Medical Equipment

Surgical Treatment

If non-operative treatments haven’t achieved your recovery goals, there may be surgical options to eliminate your pain and get you back to full function. Your care team will work with you to find the right solution. Excelsior is proud to offer our Outpatient Total Joint program, which allows for total knee replacements without a hospital stay. If surgery is the right solution for you, our advanced techniques and skilled surgeons minimize both recovery time and pain.

See Our World-Class Surgical Facilities

Outpatient Total Joint

Total Joint Replacement Surgery
Arthroscopic Surgery
Outpatient Total Joint Program
World-Class Surgical Facilities

Recovery

Whether your treatment is surgical or non-surgical, our goal is always long-term recovery. For many knee conditions, transitional physical therapy programs are critical to recovery, in addition to strength and conditioning training, durable medical equipment such as braces, nutrition education and wellness seminars — all offered in-house from Excelsior for your convenience.

Physical & Occupational Therapy
Strength & Conditioning
Durable Medical Equipment
Sport Rehabilitation & Conditioning

Upcoming Patient Seminars

Hear it from our physicians! Our upcoming seminars cover topics related to all aspects of orthopaedic care, including information on specific conditions and treatments. We want you to get the treatment that will work best for you, and that starts with education.

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Knee & Leg Care

Offering the Progressive Knee Care You Need

Looking to Learn More About Your Diagnosis?

Common Causes

Common Symptoms

Common Causes

Common Symptoms

Common Causes

Common Symptoms

Common Causes

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Advanced Treatment Options for a Better Recovery

Non-Operative Treatment

Surgical Treatment

Recovery

Upcoming Patient Seminars

Our Knee & Leg Care Doctors

James P. Behr, MD

Adam O. Burzynski, MD

Donald P. Douglas, MD

Peter L. Gambacorta, DO

Patrick J. Hlubik, MD

Matthew A. Mann, MDCM

David T. Miller, MD

Michael J. Ostempowski, MD

David A. Pula, MD

James A. Slough, MD

Andrew C. Stoeckl, MD

Daniel V. Vargo, MD

Nicholas J. Violante, DO

Ryan D. Wilkins, MD

Matthew J. Zinno, DO

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