A survey of recent knee injuries treated by physiotherapy

The knee is not only the largest joint in the human body, but it is also the most complex (Romanes, 1969). It is an area of considerable importance to the physiotherapist, due to the fact that the knee is the site of frequent injury to both soft tissues and skeletal structures, with a predisposition to complications and a resulting pronounced functional deficit. If acute injuries are not managed correctly, permanent instability and pain may reduce the patient's functional capacity, while the rapid loss of muscle power in the quadriceps may predispose the knee to repeated trauma unless effective management is instituted.