The knees joints allow movement of the body while supporting the legs, allowing the ability to stand, bend, turn, and walk. The knee joints connect the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). Each knee joint includes ligaments to hold the bones together and cartilage to cushion and stabilize the knee. Injuries to the knee joints are common. The two most frequently seen sports-related knee injuries involve a twisting motion of the knee while it is bearing weight.