All-Star Knee Pain

[mytriplek]

My CP has been complaining about knee pain when she jumps or tumbles. She has recently went from 1 day of tumbling to 4 days of tumbling up to 2 hrs a day plus her regular practice for 2 more days.

We've tried icy-hot and heating pads.

Does anyone know of any products to help?

 

[LeahofthePack]

If my knee hurts I take prewrap and use that to make a band right under the knee cap. With you knee slightly bent take it and wrap it tightly around your knee 4-5 times and then roll it upwards to it sits right under your knee cap. It takes the pressure off of your knee, I think it really helps.

 

[kickdblcj]

All star is horrible for the joints.... I heard that there is something like 5-8 times your body weight of pressure put on your joints whenever you punch or land a skill...... Give her some ibuprofen an hour before her first class it will help a lot. Also icy hot does nothing for joints because its not actually really getting to the inner part. Try 15 minutes of cold and then 15 minutes of hot on her knee it should also help. From the sounds of it it just sounds like her body needs to get use to all of the extra classes that shes doing....... What @LeahofthePack is describing is a common treatment for patellar tendonitis (jumpers knee). It wont really help if you don't have a patellar issue.


Honestly; all of these things are treatments for side effects of an injury and don't really help prevent it from hurting. Really work on strengthening her knees. Have her coach give her extra conditioning that's specific to the knee joint. Girls are far more prone to knee injuries than boys, so the stronger her joints are the lower her risk of injury is. Her acl will thank you in the long run.

 

[UEAcheerchick]

I personally use KT tape for my knee pain which helps a ton!

 

[luv2cheer92]

Knee strengthening is great, but I would also work on strengthening her hips as well. You would be surprised at how many knee injuries are actually associated with weakness/issues at the hips, especially if it's medial knee pain (inside of the knee). I would use ice more so right after a practice/tumbling and use heat if it's bothering her later, not directly after practice as it would make the inflammation/pain worse.

 

[kickdblcj]

Knee strengthening is great, but I would also work on strengthening her hips as well. You would be surprised at how many knee injuries are actually associated with weakness/issues at the hips, especially if it's medial knee pain (inside of the knee). I would use ice more so right after a practice/tumbling and use heat if it's bothering her later, not directly after practice as it would make the inflammation/pain worse.

Hips are the reason girls are more prone to injuries that and estrogen.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Hips are the reason girls are more prone to injuries that and estrogen.

Yep, that is true. Although hip issues that present as knee pain are also very prevalent in men. But yes, wider hips means more chance of knee problems. A lot of people don't think of that when they are having knee pain. It's one of the first things they taught us about the knee in PT school, if a patient comes in with knee pain, one of the first things you want to look at are their hips.

 

[xtremeteal4life]

Hips are the reason girls are more prone to injuries that and estrogen.

Even more specifically, our hip flexors as well as a disproportionate ratio of strength between our quads and hamstrings (stronger quads, weaker hams). I'm not 100% convinced of the estrogen connection, just my opinion, but I do think gender related biomechanical factors to be one of the more prevalent factors. Strengthening those two areas though are of utmost importance for prevention of knee related injuries in women.

 

[tdittmar]

Had a girl with knee pain recently told by her doctor that her body can physically do the skills but her muscles weren't strong enough to support them. She has severe tendinitis and the only way the pain will subside is if she stops tumbling for a couple weeks and gives things a chance to rest. So I would have to agree with everyone saying to strengthen certain muscles.


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android

 

[AlliRenee36]

I have terrible knees! But before every practice I take aleeve, and after practice I ice it! This can help take some of the pain away!


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android

 

[kickdblcj]

Even more specifically, our hip flexors as well as a disproportionate ratio of strength between our quads and hamstrings (stronger quads, weaker hams). I'm not 100% convinced of the estrogen connection, just my opinion, but I do think gender related biomechanical factors to be one of the more prevalent factors. Strengthening those two areas though are of utmost importance for prevention of knee related injuries in women.

A knee specialist came into our gym once and did this entire presentation on knee injuries and how to prevent them. It was super informative, he said estrogen played a part in it because it softens the joints/muscles. But I don't see that being something that goes across the board.... Definitely think that hip shape has a lot more to do with it...... thinking back a lot of the girls who I know that have had acl tears all have wide hips. hmmm...

 

[Carriejoe]

My CP had a bout with knee pain and it was diagnosed as Osgood Schlattner (sp?). This, luckily, is something that will go away with rest and growth. It is caused by "overzealous" training and overuse. Add a hectic two-team training schedule and gym in school and it was a recipe for disaster. She rested it and used a knee band and the pain is almost gone.

 

[xtremeteal4life]

A knee specialist came into our gym once and did this entire presentation on knee injuries and how to prevent them. It was super informative, he said estrogen played a part in it because it softens the joints/muscles. But I don't see that being something that goes across the board.... Definitely think that hip shape has a lot more to do with it...... thinking back a lot of the girls who I know that have had acl tears all have wide hips. hmmm...

I'm not saying you're incorrect, just that there are a few different theories regarding knee injury in women. Actually, when you said you think hip shape has a lot to do w/it, that can be both biomechanical and hormonal; since when women hit puberty, what's one of the first things that happen for females? A widening of the hips. Another time hormones play a part in female development- when we bear children our pelvis relaxes during pregnancy. However, that's not due to estrogen, it's due to a different hormone called relaxin (which men also make). You can see then why the theories range from biomechanical to hormonal.
Hip flexors are pretty important w/regards to knee pain (take my word on it- years of experience, lol).

Like you said though, that can't really be determined across the board. I've had knee problems my entire life and I used to run ~5-7miles a day for years (or the equivalent on other cardio equipment when my knees yelled at me to stop- my brain just didn't like to listen) and I have a slightly higher than average amount of free level testosterone than most women.

 

[xtremeteal4life]

Had a girl with knee pain recently told by her doctor that her body can physically do the skills but her muscles weren't strong enough to support them. She has severe tendinitis and the only way the pain will subside is if she stops tumbling for a couple weeks and gives things a chance to rest. So I would have to agree with everyone saying to strengthen certain muscles.


The Fierce Board App! || iPhone || Android

Although tendinitis is technically an overuse injury, not necessarily the result of weak surrounding muscles associated w/things like ACL and Meniscus tears.

 

[kickdblcj]

I'm not saying you're incorrect, just that there are a few different theories regarding knee injury in women. Actually, when you said you think hip shape has a lot to do w/it, that can be both biomechanical and hormonal; since when women hit puberty, what's one of the first things that happen for females? A widening of the hips. Another time hormones play a part in female development- when we bear children our pelvis relaxes during pregnancy. However, that's not due to estrogen, it's due to a different hormone called relaxin (which men also make). You can see then why the theories range from biomechanical to hormonal.
Hip flexors are pretty important w/regards to knee pain (take my word on it- years of experience, lol).

Like you said though, that can't really be determined across the board. I've had knee problems my entire life and I used to run ~5-7miles a day for years (or the equivalent on other cardio equipment when my knees yelled at me to stop- my brain just didn't like to listen) and I have a slightly higher than average amount of free level testosterone than most women.

Oh yeah I know I was agreeing with you lol. I was more so talking about the angle of hips to knees, and bow leggedness.