Going home after your visit
Knee soft-tissue injury — sprains & strains
How to look after a sprained or strained knee at home, and when to come back.
You have a soft-tissue knee injury. The ligaments, muscles or tendons around the knee are strained or partly torn. No broken bone was found. Most injuries like this settle over a few weeks with simple care at home.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
this Emergency Department your nearest A&E other:
none needed
Come back to A&E or an urgent treatment centre if any of these happen
These can be signs of a more serious injury and need checking.
- You cannot put weight on it or walk on it at all
- The knee locks, gives way, or will not straighten
- The knee looks bent out of shape, or you felt a loud pop
- It swelled up large and fast
- Severe pain that will not settle
- Days later: calf pain, swelling, warmth or redness (a clot)
- The knee becomes hot and red and you feel feverish
CALL 999 Call 999 if the foot or toes go numb, pale, cold or blue, or you are too unwell to travel.
For the first 2–3 days
- Rest the knee, but keep it gently moving — do not let it stiffen up.
- Ice wrapped in a cloth for up to 20 minutes, a few times a day.
- Use a compression bandage or support during the day.
- Raise the leg on a pillow when you rest.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you are able to.
- Avoid Heat, Alcohol, Running and Massage for the first few days.
Getting better
- Put weight on it and walk as the pain allows.
- Do gentle movements and thigh-muscle exercises to keep strength.
- Most injuries settle over a few weeks.
- Build back to sport and running slowly over a few weeks.
- See a physiotherapist if it is slow to improve.
Where to get help
999
Life-threatening emergency, or a red-flag symptom above
111
Urgent but not life-threatening, or you're not sure — call or visit 111.nhs.uk, 24/7
Your team
Use the department phone in Your care details above