The short explanation
Swelling soon after a twisting injury, followed by clicking and the knee giving way, can suggest an injury inside the knee, such as a ligament tear or a meniscus (cartilage) tear. These are common in sports that involve quick turns, like badminton. A doctor should examine your knee to check its stability. Depending on the findings, they may suggest an MRI. Many such injuries are managed with physiotherapy, while some need surgery, especially in active people. Avoid sports until the knee has been assessed.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Swelling within hours of an injury often means bleeding inside the joint, which is more common with ligament injuries.
- Locking, where the knee gets stuck and cannot straighten, can suggest a torn meniscus.
- Ice, rest, compression and keeping the leg raised can help with swelling in the first few days.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell what has been injured. That needs an examination and possibly a scan.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could I have a ligament or meniscus injury?
- Do I need an MRI?
- Will I need surgery or physiotherapy?
- When can I return to sports?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day if you cannot bear weight, the knee is locked, or it becomes hot and red with fever.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days if your knee swelled after injury or gives way.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Osteoarthritis NHS
- Osteoarthritis MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
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No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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