The cartilage in the knee joint is called articular cartilage. Articular cartilage is the material that covers the ends of the bones. It acts as a shock absorber allowing the knee to move smoothly, and prevents the bones from rubbing against one another. Every year in the U.S., more than 6 million people suffer damage to the articular cartilage in their knees. If the damage is not treated, it can lead to arthritis and the need for a knee replacement.
Algonquin – Ortho Illinois and Dr. Geoffrey Van Thiel are pleased to announce the opening of their new Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Clinic in Algonquin, Illinois. Now residents and people in and around Algonquin have convenient access to prompt, high quality orthopedic and sports medicine services.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common knee injuries in athletes, especially in sports that involve a lot of pivoting and jumping, like football, soccer, basketball and tennis. Learning to recognize the symptoms associated with ACL injuries is important for making sure medical treatment begins as early as possible, before the injury has a chance to progress.
Meniscus tears are the most common injury in orthopedics. Any physical activity where the knee twists, there is sudden stopping, or a fall, can result in a meniscus tear.
Dr. Geoffrey Van Thiel represented Ortho Illinois at the Boys and Girl Club Career Day. Dr. Van Thiel talked with the children about Ortho Illinois, perusing a career in orthopedics and the human anatomy. The children loved the presentation and hopefully received a spark of inspiration about the rewards of perusing a career as a doctor.
