BAKER’S CYST

 The underlying mechanism involves the flow of synovial fluid from the knee joint to the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa, resulting in its expansion. The diagnosis may be confirmed with ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Treatment is initially with supportive care. If this is not effective aspiration and steroid injection or surgical removal may be carried out. Around 20% of people have a Baker’s cyst. It is named after the surgeon who first described it, William Morrant Baker.

sign and symptoms?

There may be painless or painful swelling behind the knee. The cyst may feel like a balloon filled with water. Occasionally, the cyst may break open (rupture), causing pain, swelling, and bruising in the back of the knee and calf. It is important to know whether the pain or swelling is caused by a Baker cyst or a blood clot.

Causes :

A Baker’s cyst can develop from a knee injury due to a sports injury or a knee injury. Baker’s cysts can also sometimes occur if you have a medical condition such as osteoarthritis – usually caused by age-related ‘wear and tear’ on the joints; It particularly affects the knees, hips, hands, and toes.

treatment
To reduce the size of the cyst, your healthcare provider may remove fluid from the cyst using a needle. This is called needle aspiration and is often done under ultrasound guidance. If the cyst is causing joint problems, arthroscopic surgery may be performed to correct the problem.

Exercise

Many activities can put a strain on the knee, and cause pain in the case of Baker’s cyst. Avoiding activities such as squatting, kneeling, heavy lifting, climbing, and even running can help prevent pain. Despite this, some exercises can help relieve pain, and a physiotherapist may instruct on hamstring stretching to reduce pressure on the Baker’s Cyst, and strengthening exercises for the quadriceps and the patellar ligament.