Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooKnee Dislocation
Knee
What It Is
Knee dislocations are rare and they are a serious injury. They occur when the shinbone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur) are forced out of their normal position, either completely or partially (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). Most knee dislocations are the result of severe, high-energy trauma to the knee, such as a car accident, a sports injury or a fall (McCue, 2025; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). Occasionally a less forceful injury, such as stepping in a hole and twisting the knee, can dislocate it (McCue, 2025).
In a full dislocation, the end of the thigh bone completely loses contact with the top of the shinbone. Some dislocated knees slip back into place on their own before the person reaches hospital, but the knee will still be very swollen and unstable, and it still needs urgent hospital checks (McCue, 2025). A dislocated knee should only ever be put back into place by a medical team.
A knee dislocation almost always damages at least one of the knee ligaments, and it often comes with other injuries, such as a fracture, torn cartilage or a torn meniscus (McCue, 2025; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a).
Knee Dislocation Anatomy
Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.
Treatment
Self-Care & Treatment
How a Knee Dislocation is Treated
In the early stages of a dislocation, the hospital team's main priority is to put the knee back into place and to check for and treat any injury to the blood vessels or nerves. Once these structures are safe, attention turns to the ligaments, meniscus and cartilage that were damaged during the dislocation (McCue, 2025).
Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team
Tips
- Do not try to move the leg, and never try to put the knee back into place yourself.
- Call for help: call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital. Ask for an ambulance rather than trying to get there yourself.
- After surgery, follow your surgical team's instructions on keeping the leg raised, wearing a brace, how much weight to put through the leg and when to start moving the knee.
- Follow the guidance of your physiotherapist.
- Recovery after a knee dislocation takes many months. Follow a thorough rehabilitation programme to regain as much strength as possible in your leg. Once your medical team agrees, I can support the programme your physiotherapist gives you with hands-on work and exercise. See the My Approach tab for how I work.
Treatment
My Approach
After a knee dislocation, your hospital team decides how far the knee can bend, how much weight it can take and whether you wear a brace. I work inside those limits and support your physiotherapy programme. If you had surgery or a fracture, or you can't yet manage your normal daily activities, I need your team's okay before we start hands-on treatment.
Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.
While the Knee Is Protected
- Easing the other leg, hips and low back, and your shoulders if you're on crutches
- Gentle lymphatic drainage above the knee for swelling
- Hip, ankle and gentle thigh-tightening exercises, as your team allows
- Setting up crutches or a walker and practising walking with them
As Your Team Allows More
What to Expect
Typical Course
What I Focus On
Please read
When to See a Doctor First
Why a Knee Dislocation is an Emergency
The main blood vessel behind the knee (the popliteal artery) and the nerves that run to the lower leg can be injured when the knee dislocates. The nerve most often injured is the peroneal nerve, and damage to it can cause "foot drop", where it is hard to lift the front of the foot. An injury to the artery can threaten the leg if it is not found and treated quickly, and it can be present even when the pulses in the foot feel normal, so the hospital team will check the blood supply carefully (McCue, 2025).
If the knee looks deformed or out of place after an injury, or it is very swollen and feels very unstable, call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital. Do this even if the knee seems to have gone back into place by itself.
Sources
References
- McCue, J.Y. (2025) Knee (tibiofemoral) dislocations. MSD Manual Professional Version. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/dislocations/knee-tibiofemoral-dislocations (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.a) Common knee injuries. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/common-knee-injuries/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.b) Collateral ligament injuries. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/collateral-ligament-injuries/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).