The odds & perils of Genu Recurvatum and treatment with Functional knee braces!

Hyperextension of the knee, or if scientifically named as Genu recurvatum is a condition when the knee is pushed past its normal range of motion from a normally straightened position. It is a fact that Knee hyperextension can cause serious damage and injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and cartilage. It is also classified as hyperextension knee or back knee. Hyperextension of the knee can be mild, moderate, or severe.

The development of genu recurvatum may progressively lead to knee pain and ultimately turn into knee osteoarthritis.

There are numerous instances of damage or injury that can affect the knee tendons & ligaments. Torn ligaments in Knee patients are a result of underlying main factors:

ACL Injury – This ligament runs diagonally through the middle of the knee and serves to support and stabilize the three bones that meet in the knee joint. An ACL injury is referred to as a ‘sprain’. Sprained knee symptoms are caused by minor ACL injury that include tenderness and swelling at the injured site.

PCL Injury – The posterior cruciate ligament stabilizes the tibia and prevents it from being bent too far backward. A traumatic injury to the front of the knee (if the knees are bent) might lead to a PCL tear. Such tears are partial and can heal with mild treatment or without any treatment.

There are various grades of PCL Pain that can be summarised as follows:

Grade One

Generally, in Grade One sprain, the Posterior Cruciate Ligament is damaged to a small extent due to sudden twist or turn of the knee as is the case in light sports and activity. Most likely your knee will be slightly stretched or slightly pulled from friction or too much stretching in sports like football, soccer or baseball. Grade one injuries are mild and heal on its’ own as the Posterior Cruciate Ligament is quite capable enough to retain the ability to stabilize the knee joint even after a minor injury.

Grade Two

If the ligament has become loosened as a result of being stretched, the injury is classified as a Grade Two injury, or a partial ligament tear.

Grade Three

Grade Three ligament tears are also classified as complete ligament tears. In Grade Three PCL injuries, the ligament is split in two, severely destabilizing the knee joint causing discomfort, pain & immobility.

There are broadly three categories of Genu Recurvatum :

External Rotary Deformity.
Internal Rotary Deformity.
Non-rotary Deformity.

Primary causes of Genu Recurvatum can be summarized as follows:

◆Inherent laxity of knee ligaments

◆Knee Injury

◆Misalignment of ankle joint

◆Knee Joint Instability

◆Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear

◆Weakness in the hip extensor muscles or quadriceps femoris muscle

◆Malunion of bones around the knee

◆Connective Tissue Disorders

◆The discrepancy in lower limb length

◆Birth/Congenital Defect

◆Certain diseases, such as Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Multiple Sclerosis

The major Key Symptoms of Genu Recurvatum Syndrome are as follows:

°Pain in the inner-leg or outer back portion of the knee

°Extension of gait pattern

°Poor proprioceptive control

°Pinching in front of the knee

°Difficulty in carrying out endurance activities

Therefore it is extremely important to consult an orthopedic surgeon to have the symptom of the disease properly examined thoroughly for a proper treatment plan to a safer & faster recovery. You should therefore consult an Orthopedic Surgeon for a remedy to such a malady. Your physician will discuss at length on nature of the problem of the knee, check your gait, take details of your family history and suggest for few routine tests like X-RAY, MRI scan to properly detect the nature and extent of the injury of the knee, the ligaments and the tendon. He may suggest physical therapy to improve the strength of the quadriceps to compensate for the knee hyperextension and might well suggest for use of a functional brace as a course for conservative treatment of genu recurvatum. Orthosis protects the knee, stabilizes the leg, and limits abnormal hyperextension of the knee joint, thereby enabling the patient to move actively and maintain a more balanced gait pattern.

Treatment of Cruciate Ligament tear or rupture aims to relieve pain, discomfort, and stabilize the knee to restore optimum performance and mobility of the joint. Medical knee braces provide much-needed support and help alleviate pressure off the joint. Braces certainly play a very crucial role in the recovery process of acute and postoperative procedures. Your orthopedic surgeon will definitely suggest you opt for a functional brace especially tailor-made to counter this malady.

You should therefore opt for a knee orthosis that offers control of anterior and posterior tibial glide and stabilization of collateral ligaments.

To further explore in details on a broad range of exclusive products covering treatment for ruptures and or instability of collateral ligaments and conservative care for instability of knee joint, it is to be noted that PMIPL has earned a significant reputation in health-care & wellness to stand apart as sole Importer & Distributor of reputed orthopedic products offering a wide variety of choices easily accessible across the Rehab clinic, wellness chains, Reputed pharmacies, and major Distributors & Suppliers for your tailored needs. With a strong PAN India presence and it’s Head Office ideally located at the heart of KOLKATA covering a major dealer strength of 400+ and a wide network comprising of 140+ cities.