What supplements are good for ligament injuries?

Written by Zhang Ying Peng
Orthopedics
Updated on September 18, 2024
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Patients with ligament injuries are advised to consume more foods containing high-quality protein, such as beef, eggs, and milk. However, it is not recommended to eat high-calorie, high-nutrient foods, such as sea cucumber and abalone. Ligaments are important structures that connect two bones at the joint. Once a ligament is injured, it can only recover under strict rest, which may involve immobilization with plaster casts and bed rest. After a ligament rupture, a great amount of energy is consumed during the healing process. It is crucial to balance meat and vegetables in the diet and maintain nutritional balance. It is suggested to appropriately increase the intake of high-quality protein foods, such as beef, eggs, and milk, but it is not advised to consume high-calorie, high-nutrient foods, like sea cucumber and abalone.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What should I do if the ligaments in the knee joint are injured?

Knee ligament injuries first require us to determine which ligament is damaged. The injury mechanism can help determine which ligament is affected, such as an inversion or eversion injury of the knee, which could cause damage to the medial or lateral collateral ligaments of the knee. Sometimes, knee flexion and rotation injuries may damage the cruciate ligaments of the knee. Once the specific ligament is identified, the extent of the injury must be determined. If the injury is minor, such as a contusion, rest may allow the ligament to gradually recover. If there is a tear, but the knee joint is still stable, conservative treatment can be pursued; however, if there is a tear and the knee joint is unstable, or if the ligament is completely ruptured, we recommend surgical repair to restore the stability of the knee joint.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What should I do if the patellar ligament is injured?

Once a patellar ligament injury occurs, the first step is to immobilize the area; stop all activities to prevent further damage and secondary injuries. Secondly, apply ice. The initial ice application should last from half an hour to an hour, applied directly to the injured patellar ligament. Thirdly, bandage to immobilize the area, primarily using an elastic bandage and cotton padding to compress the knee joint. This can help stop bleeding and limit swelling. Fourth, elevate the injured limb to at least 30 degrees above the level of the heart. After these measures, it's necessary to go to the hospital for further examination including physical assessments by a doctor, X-rays, or an MRI to fully understand the extent of the ligament damage. If there is a partial tear of the ligament without complete discontinuity, conservative treatment such as casting or bracing can be effective, typically for three to four weeks. However, if the ligament is completely torn and surgery is clearly indicated, surgical treatment should be followed by the use of a brace for six weeks. Thus, proper early management of a patellar ligament injury is crucial, followed by hospital evaluation. Additionally, since patellar ligament injuries often coincide with fractures or damage to other structures such as the meniscus or cruciate ligaments, these factors cannot be overlooked.

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Written by Wang Fei
Orthopedics
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How long will it take for a ligament sprain and soft tissue injury to fully heal?

Ligament strains or soft tissue injuries are common in everyday life, and they also typically require grading. Some minor ligament strains or soft tissue injuries generally heal after about three weeks of rest and immobilization. If a ligament strain or soft tissue injury is very severe, such as when the ligament has reached the level of tearing, or if there is significant bleeding, edema, and swelling at the time of the injury, this indicates a very serious soft tissue injury. In such cases, the duration of immobilization might be much longer, possibly around six weeks. The recovery time for such soft tissue injuries or ligament strains can also be very lengthy, sometimes extending up to three months or even six months.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to treat patellar ligament injury?

First, it is necessary to qualitatively assess the injury of the patellar ligament, determining whether it is a partial or complete rupture, whether it is a simple rupture, or a compound rupture, the latter involving other injuries such as fractures or joint dislocations. The treatment of patellar ligament injuries, like other tendon injuries, follows the principle of "three earlies": early diagnosis, early treatment, and early rehabilitation. Early diagnosis has been mentioned before. Early treatment means that if surgery is needed, it should be conducted as soon as possible, as earlier surgeries often result in better postoperative recoveries. If surgery is not required, an immediate fixation with a cast or brace should be applied to keep the knee joint in an extended position, and this fixation should be maintained for three to four weeks. The third step is early rehabilitation. As the knee joint is immobilized during the fixation period, and pain and swelling starts to decrease, early functional exercises should be initiated, focusing on distal joint movement and muscular isotonic exercises, but avoiding flexion and extension movements of the knee joint. Early rehabilitation primarily aims to prevent muscle atrophy, prevent joint adhesion, and promote recovery from the condition.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of ligament rupture

After a ligament rupture, the area will experience pain, swelling, and restricted movement, and it will not be possible to actively extend or bend. Taking the rupture of the finger extensor tendon as an example, after the rupture caused by accidental bumps or other reasons, the site exhibits pain and cannot be straightened. When passively straightened, it will flex on its own after removing the support, unable to actively extend. These are the symptoms of functional limitation after a ligament rupture. Furthermore, some patients may also experience persistent local pain and significant swelling. At this time, it is advisable to combine local hot compresses and physical therapy. For distal finger extensor tendon ruptures, hyperextension fixation can be applied. About four weeks later, if the hyperextension fixation splint or plaster is removed, some patients can heal on their own. However, if some patients cannot heal naturally, surgical anastomosis treatment is required.