- With Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Dr. Edward Laskowski is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center and a professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
He has been on the staff of Mayo Clinic since 1990 and specializes in sports medicine, fitness, strength training and stability training. He works with a multidisciplinary team of physical medicine, rehabilitation and orthopedic specialists, physical therapists and sports psychologists.
Dr. Laskowski is an elite-level skier and approaches sports medicine from the perspective of a physician and an athlete. In addition to skiing, he is an avid hiker, cyclist and climber.
In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Laskowski to a two-year term on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Dr. Laskowski was a member of the medical staff of the Olympic Polyclinic at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and was involved in medical coverage for the Chicago Marathon. He serves as a consulting physician to the National Hockey League Players' Association and is a featured lecturer at the American College of Sports Medicine's Team Physician Course.
Dr. Laskowski, a Cary, Ill., native, has contributed to Mayo Clinic's CD-ROM on sports, health and fitness, a Web site guide to self-care, and hundreds of Mayo Clinic articles and booklets in print and online. He is a contributing editor to Mayo Clinic's "Fitness for EveryBody" book.
"There are many myths and misconceptions about exercise and fitness in general, and also many traditions that don't stand up to scientific scrutiny," he says. "My goal is to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information on sports medicine and fitness topics in a way that you can practically incorporate into your life."
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Question
Hyperextended knee: How is it treated?
My daughter, who is a gymnast, recently hyperextended her knee. What is the treatment for this type of injury? How long does it take to heal?
Answer
from Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Hyperextended knee refers to an injury in which the knee is forced beyond its normal fully straightened position. This position forces the lower leg excessively forward in relation to the upper leg. A hyperextended knee often occurs as a result of an awkward landing after a jump or from a contact injury to the lower leg. It is a common injury in jumping or leaping sports, such as gymnastics, basketball, volleyball and some types of dance.
Treatment of hyperextended knee depends on the severity of the injury. Sometimes the damage is relatively minor, with pain and swelling when you try to extend your knee. But a hyperextended knee may also lead to a partial or complete ligament tear, especially in your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). An injury severe enough to cause knee joint swelling, instability, impaired motion or pain should be evaluated by a doctor.
A doctor can evaluate the injury by:
- Medical history
- Physical examination of the knee
- X-rays of the knee
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
Treatment may include:
- Applying ice to the knee immediately after the injury
- Rest
- Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory medications
- Wearing a knee brace or wrapping an elastic bandage around the knee
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
Avoiding sports and other activities that could further injure the knee is vital as the knee heals. In most cases, resting the leg for two to four weeks is recommended depending on the extent of the injury.
If surgery is required for a ligament tear, however, it may be six to nine months after surgery before the injured person can return to sports. If a child has a ligament tear that requires surgery, doctors often recommend postponing surgery until the child's bones have stopped growing.
