Skoro w stawie jest obrzęk, nie zginaj kolana szybko.

Not exactly.

Here skoro means since / seeing that / given that. It introduces a reason that is treated as true.

So:

• Skoro w stawie jest obrzęk... = Since there is swelling in the joint...

This is different from jeśli, which means if and introduces a condition:

• Jeśli w stawie jest obrzęk... = If there is swelling in the joint...

In this sentence, skoro tells you the speaker assumes the swelling is already a fact.

W stawie uses the locative case.

The preposition w usually takes:

• locative when it means in / inside / at
• accusative when it shows movement into

Here there is no movement, just location:

• w stawie = in the joint

The base form is staw, and its locative singular is stawie.

Yes. Staw has two common meanings:

• joint in anatomy
• pond in everyday language

So:

• ból stawu = joint pain
• ryby w stawie = fish in the pond

In this sentence, the medical context makes joint the only natural meaning.

This is a very common Polish structure meaning there is / there exists something.

• jest obrzęk = there is swelling

Here obrzęk is a noun, not an adjective. It means swelling or edema.

So the clause literally works like:

• In the joint there is swelling

Polish often uses this kind of structure where English uses there is.

This is about aspect.

• zginać = imperfective
• zgiąć = perfective

The imperative zginaj comes from the imperfective verb zginać.

In Polish, negative commands very often use the imperfective, especially for warnings, instructions, and general prohibition:

• Nie rób tego. = Don’t do that.
• Nie otwieraj drzwi. = Don’t open the door.
• Nie zginaj kolana szybko. = Don’t bend the knee quickly.

A perfective negative imperative like nie zegnij is possible in some contexts, but it is much less natural here. Nie zginaj is the normal choice.

Because after negation, the direct object often changes to the genitive in standard Polish.

Without negation:

• Zginaj kolano. = Bend the knee.

With negation:

• Nie zginaj kolana. = Don’t bend the knee.

So:

• kolano = accusative/nominative singular form
• kolana = genitive singular form

This is a classic Polish pattern. English speakers often notice it because English does not do this.

Because Polish often leaves out possessive words like my, your, his, etc. when the meaning is obvious from context, especially with body parts.

So:

• nie zginaj kolana naturally means don’t bend your knee
• Polish does not need to say twojego kolana unless it wants extra emphasis or contrast

Compare:

• Umyj ręce. = Wash your hands.
• Zamknij oczy. = Close your eyes.

This omission is very normal in Polish.

Szybko is an adverb, and it modifies the verb zginaj.

So it means:

• don’t bend the knee quickly

It does not mean something like soon here. It describes the manner of bending: the movement should not be fast.

Polish adverbs are often placed quite flexibly, so you could also hear:

• Nie zginaj szybko kolana.

The meaning is basically the same.

No. Polish word order is fairly flexible, though some orders sound more natural than others.

The original sentence:

• Skoro w stawie jest obrzęk, nie zginaj kolana szybko.

is natural and clear.

You could also say:

• Nie zginaj kolana szybko, skoro w stawie jest obrzęk.
• Skoro jest obrzęk w stawie, nie zginaj kolana szybko.

But the original version sounds neutral and well-structured. In Polish, changing word order often changes focus or emphasis, not the basic meaning.

It sounds a bit instructional or medical, mainly because of the nouns:

• staw = joint
• obrzęk = swelling / edema

So the sentence feels like something you might hear from:

• a doctor
• a physiotherapist
• a written instruction
• a rehab guide

In everyday casual speech, someone might phrase it more simply, but this sentence is perfectly natural in a medical or health-related context.