What is a knee sprain?
A person with a knee sprain has stretched or torn a ligament in the knee. Ligaments are strong fibrous bands that hold the bones in place during movement. Sprains occur when the joint moves beyond the normal range of motion. Knee sprains may result in injury to the collateral ligaments, cruciate ligaments, the medial meniscus, or lateral meniscus.

What are the symptoms of a knee sprain?
Symptoms of a knee sprain include knee pain that worsens with movement, knee bruising, knee swelling, knee tenderness, and difficulty walking.

How does the doctor treat a knee sprain?
The treatment for a knee sprain includes rest, elevation, cold compresses, an elastic wrap, or the application of a splint. Additional treatment may include narcotic pain medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain, and arthroscopic surgery of the knee to repair a torn ligament.