What are the causes of a capsule rupture? | Capsule rupture

What are the causes of a capsule rupture?

A capsule rupture is a common sports injury caused by incorrect movements or by a tensile load on the joint capsule. When a joint is sprained or dislocated, strong tensile forces act on the tendons and the joint capsule, for example through the uncontrolled impact of a ball on a finger during volleyball. Even a fall can, under unfavorable conditions, trigger a tear in the joint capsule.

The stronger the force acting on the capsule-ligament apparatus, the more serious the damage. The rupture of the capsule represents the most serious damage to the joint capsule: The connective tissue structures of the capsule are destroyed by the strong tensile force when the capsule is torn, and the wound can only heal with scarring. A less severe form of injury is the pulling of the capsule, which leads to longer-lasting complaints but not to structural damage. The lightest form of capsule-ligament injury is overstretching, which causes only short-term complaints and also heals without permanent damage.

How is capsule rupture diagnosed?

A detailed medical history alone can provide the doctor with important information that speaks for or against a capsule rupture. The affected joint should be examined in detail and the range of motion compared with the unaffected side. If a bony involvement cannot be reliably ruled out by the physical examination, an x-ray is made, in which, for example, the tearing of a piece of bone can be determined. An ultrasound examination can also help to assess how badly the capsule and ligaments are damaged. In some cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used, especially when the injury to the soft tissue structures cannot be reliably assessed by the physical examination and X-ray image.

How can I prevent a capsule rupture?

A good warm-up before exercise reduces the risk of rupturing the capsule. The load should be increased slowly during warm-up in order to prevent ruptures in the joint capsule during the actual training by improving mobility.