A knee injury can be a huge disappointment to a young athlete. Knee injuries from sports can be caused by a number of different factors, including injuries to the bone, ligaments or protective padding that comprise the knee. Consult your child's doctor to get a proper diagnosis of the condition as well as treatment and therapy plans to improve your child's knee health and reduce the risk of re-injury.
Cause
Many sports injuries in child and teen athletes, particularly in the knees and elbows, are caused by repetitive, excessive stress placed on immature bones and muscles, which are more susceptible to injury. Youth knee injuries often occur as a result of damage done to the soft tissues around the knee, which stabilize and cushion the knee joint. Conditioning, prompt treatment of injuries and rehabilitation exercises are important measures, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons advises, because repetitive overuse can lead to fractures, muscle tears and bone deformities in young athletes.
ACL Injuries
The knee is sustained by four ligaments that connect the femur and the tibia: the medial collateral ligament, the lateral collateral ligament, the anterior cruciate ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament. Writing in 2008 in the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's “Sports Medicine Update” newsletter, Drs. Christopher Ahmad and William Levine reported that the increasing popularity of competitive sports has been accompanied by a rise in ACL injuries in young athletes. ACL injuries in young athletes can be difficult to treat due to the risk of growth disturbances that may occur after surgery, the doctors noted.
Non-Surgical Options
Young athletes who experience knee injuries may be able to avoid surgery after a knee injury with options including rehabilitation exercise, bracing and modification of activity to help treat the condition, depending on the type and severity of the injury. Proponents of this approach argue that delaying reconstructive surgery of the bones and ligaments until the bones and muscles have matured will yield more successful, long-term results. Patients who do not undergo surgery often continue to experience knee instability, Ahmad and Levine reported, which can result in repeated injury or damage to other areas surrounding the knee, such as meniscus tearing. Discuss surgical and non-surgical treatment options fully with your child's doctor.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a condition often found in young athletes wherein the knee ligaments are of unequal strength and pull the patella, or kneecap, unevenly. PFPS often causes severe pain around the knee area when the athlete runs, jumps or squats. PFPS frequently occurs when an athlete begins a new sport or drastically changes the intensity or frequency of a conditioning regimen, physical therapist Matt Kirchoff warns. Rest, physical therapy and proper stretching of the knee can help to reduce symptoms and improve strength in the knee.
Prevention
Contact sports and high-impact sports often increase the risk of sustaining knee injuries during activity. However, the ScienceDaily website reported in 2009 that warmup activities that involve flexibility, balance and strength, as well as drills that enhanced jumping and foot-planting skills, may help to strengthen the knees and prevent injury in young athletes.
Considerations
There are numerous forms of knee injuries and causes of pain in young athletes. Speak with your child's doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment measures specific to her condition.
References
- ScienceDaily; Young Athletes Most at Risk of Knee Injury ies Reap Big Benefit From Warm-Up Exercises; March 9, 2009
- "Sports Medicine Update"; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Skeletally Immature Athlete; Christopher S. Ahmad, M.D., William N. Levine, M.D; July/August 2008
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: The Young Athlete
- Therapeutic Associates; Knee Injuries in the Young Athlete; Matt Kirchoff, D.P.T.
