If a patient has hyperflexed their knee, what does this mean?

When a patient has hyperflexed their knee, it refers to the knee bending backward beyond its normal range of flexion. This condition can occur during certain activities, sports, or accidents where excessive force is applied to the knee joint, causing it to bend more than what is typically allowed. Hyperflexion can lead to injury, affecting ligaments and other supporting structures around the knee.

In the context of the other options, complete extension would indicate a straightened knee, which is the opposite of hyperflexion. Bending sideways refers to an abduction or adduction movement rather than flexion. Therefore, hyperflexion specifically describes a backward motion of the knee joint that exceeds normal flexing limits, making the correct answer indicative of a potential knee injury mechanism.