Dodgers 2nd baseman, Jeff Kent, out with knee injury

The knee is a complicated joint – it’s the largest joint in the body and, because of its complicated role, is one of the most easily injured. The knee is where the femur (thigh bone), shin bone (tibia), and knee cap (patella) meet. Importantly – and what causes many of the injuries – is the number of large ligaments (8) that crisscross over the joint to help connect the bones and brace the joint. In addition to that, there is also the cartilage that cushions the knee and absorbs shock.

So, with all that that can go wrong in a knee, it’s hardly surprising that the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons say that there are over 19 million visits every year of people complaining of knee injury. Many people also live with chronic pain from their knee(s) without visiting a doctor.

And now, there’s one more to add to the list: the Dodgers’ second baseman, Jeff Kent. While they’re not saying for sure, this could be a career-ending injury for the baseball player: Kent to undergo MRI on left knee. According to the article, Kent has been experiencing knee pain for weeks now and has been playing through it. Whether that was a smart decision, only he and his surgeon will know.

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Image: iStock

Tags: chronic pain blog, pain blog, chronic pain, patella, tibia, femur, thigh bone, shin bone, knee cap, patella, knee injury, knee pain, baseball player Jeff Kent, Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent, Jeff kent photo