How are knee sprains diagnosed?

A twisted knee leaves you guessing about what happened inside the joint, so the natural question is how anyone finds out.

It starts with a hands-on exam

Cleveland Clinic says a healthcare provider will diagnose a sprained knee with a physical exam.

That means the first step is a person looking at and moving your knee. It is not guesswork, and it does not begin with a long list of tests.

What the provider checks during the exam

Cleveland Clinic notes that your provider will examine your injured knee. It adds that they will check your range of motion and might compare it to your other, uninjured knee.

The comparison gives the provider a reference point that belongs to your body. Your healthy knee shows what normal movement looks like for you.

If you want to understand the parts being examined, read how the knee joint is put together. For the injury itself, the Cleveland Clinic page on sprains and their symptoms is a clear companion.

Getting ready for the visit

Before you go, write down when the knee was hurt and which movement caused it. A clear note helps the exam stay focused. It also helps you check afterward that every question you had was answered.

A reader in Elmwood Park can start with a guide to knee pain to find words for what the knee feels like.

A closing note on what a finished diagnosis looks like

A diagnosis that skips the physical exam is missing the first step Cleveland Clinic describes. Look for an exam that checks your range of motion, ideally with a look at the other knee for comparison.