Medical History for a Knee Injury

To determine the history of a knee injury, such as an anterior cruciate ligament injury or meniscus tear, your doctor will ask the following:

• When did the injury occur?
• Where is the pain located?
• What position was your leg in when you injured it? Was the knee bent (flexed) or straight (extended)?
• What type of motion caused the injury (cutting, stopping, twisting, jumping, landing, or falling)?
• Was external force, such as a direct blow, applied to your knee as part of this injury?
• Did you feel or hear a pop at the time of the injury?
• When did your knee start to hurt—immediately or later?
• Did your knee joint feel stable after the injury?
• Were you able to walk? What caused difficulty or an inability to walk?
• When did your knee start to swell—how many minutes or hours after the injury?
• Have you had knee problems before? Have you ever had treatment for knee problems?
• What home treatment have you done between the time of the injury and the current exam?

Because knee pain may be caused by a problem elsewhere (referred pain), your doctor may ask questions about other body parts, especially about your hip.

Your doctor will also ask you general questions about your health, such as past and current health problems and about any medicines you are currently using.