How to manage knee pain in adolescents
It’s important to correctly diagnose the condition and rule out other possible knee conditions.
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Physiotherapy is particularly beneficial for individuals with this condition to improve the symptoms and assist the individual return to his/her usual activities.
An individualised management plan with exercises tailored to the level of severity of the condition is implemented. Exercises performed include:
Range of motion exercises
These are designed to decrease any stiffness and swelling in the affected leg so that normal movement in the leg is achieved.
Strengthening exercises which are also incorporated into the management to strengthen the muscles around the knee so that the stress placed on the knee joint is considerably reduced.
Stretching exercises helps to relax any tight muscles in the leg.
The following exercises can be performed but should not cause any pain in the leg.
Calf stretch
Stand tall and face a wall. Place both hands on the wall at about shoulder level. Keep your affected leg back with your heel on the floor. Place the uninjured leg forward with your knee bent.
Ensure that you straighten your injured knee whilst you keep your uninjured knee bent. Gently lean forwards into the wall until you feel a stretch in the back of your calf muscles. Hold the stretch for 15 to 20 seconds.
Repeat as often as you can throughout the day.
Thigh muscle stretch
Stand with your uninjured leg towards the wall and the injured leg farther away from the wall. Place the hand which is close to the wall against the wall. Reach out and grasp the ankle of your injured knee with your other hand.
Gently pull your heel towards your back. Make sure that you keep your back straight throughout the stretch as well as your knees together. Hold the stretch for 15 to 20 seconds.
Leg raise exercises
• Lie on your back with your legs stretched out in front of you. Bend your unaffected knee and place your foot firmly on the floor/ bed. Tighten the thigh muscles of your injured knee and lift your leg off the floor or bed.
Keep your knee straight and your thigh muscles tight. Hold your leg up for 15 to 20 seconds and slowly place your leg back down to the floor/bed.
• Lie on your unaffected side and tighten the front thigh muscles on your affected leg. Gently lift your affected leg and hold it for a few seconds, 15- 20 seconds. Place your leg slowly down unto the bed or floor.
You may repeat the exercise as often as you can throughout the day. Ensure that you keep your affected knee straight throughout the exercise.
• Lie on your unaffected side. Keep your hips and knees bent. Also ensure that both feet are together and gently lift the injured leg upwards away from the bed or floor.
• Try and hold the position for 2-5 seconds and place your leg done slowly. You may repeat as often as you can throughtout the day.
Can this condition be prevented?
One good way of preventing this condition is to always ensure that you have enough stretch in your thigh muscles at all times. You can add a stretching regime in your training sessions so that you can keep the muscles in a good condition.
Enough time should be spent on stretching the muscles each day or during periods of training.
For many adolescents involved in sports, some other measures that are put in place to prevent recurrence of the condition include:
Education
Individuals are informed about the usual causes or risk factors involved in this condition. The condition is usually caused by repetitive stress placed on the knee during activities and implementing strategies to reduce or eliminate this repetitive stress eventually decreases the recurrence of the condition.
It’s also important to advice individuals on the need to rest adequately in-between training periods and desist from training when in pain. It’s also helpful to identify the growth spurt period and stay cautious during this phase since it’s the period during which the injury occurs.
The writer is a Senior Physiotherapist at the 37 Military Hospital. (panerius @live.com)