Fall is here, and so is football. It is the season for knee injuries. Of course, you don’t need to be an athlete to hurt your knee. A clumsy moment can result in a twist or a fall, and presto!

How serious is it?

Well, if you get up and you can bear weight on it, that is a good thing. And if you can squat without difficulty and climb stairs, it is probably time to take an aspirin and rest it with some ice on the tender spot. If it gets better in a few hours, then be patient and let it heal.

But if there is pain that lasts for a day or two, you may have a more serious injury.

First of all, if you can’t bear weight on it, or if there is swelling, it is probably a good idea to see a doctor and get an x-ray to make sure that there is no fracture or dislocation.

Rest, Ice, Ace bandage, and Elevation is common first aid for the initial soft tissue injury.

After a few days, if things get better, then gentle exercises may be advised.

Isometric exercises and lifting ankle weights to strengthen and tone the quadriceps muscle is usually the key.

If you have a sensation of “locking” or “giving way”, then there may a meniscus injury and these are best visualized with an MRI scan.

Ligament injuries are more serious, and can usually be diagnosed with a careful examination by a trained professional, such as an orthopedic surgeon or an athletic trainer or physical therapist. MRI scan will confirm.