Knee pain in young individuals is a common condition, esp in individuals involved in sports, prolonged sitting or standing jobs, industrial jobs and even office jobs.
Most of these patients have
- anterior knee pain, which is a dull aching pain:
- aggravated by activities like prolonged standing or sitting, going up and down the stairs, jogging or doing sports.
- Some of them can get grating sensation on moving the knee.
- There is no swelling or redness of the joint
- and there is no history of any previous knee injury.
So if you are having these symptoms, you could be suffering from one of these conditions:
- Chondromalacia Patellae
- PFPS – Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- Patellar tendinitis
- Prepatellar bursitis
- Patellofemoral arthritis, to name a few.
See your doctor who will do a through examination do determine the condition you are having.
Sometimes X-rays, blood tests and rarely MRI Scans may be done.
X-ray showing malalignment of patella, one of the causes of knee pain.
Do's and Don'ts for the Anterior knee pain:
Don'ts:
- Do not sit cross legged, Do not squat or Do not kneel down
- Do not do jogging/cycling and do other sports.
- Do not stand/sit/walk for more than 30 mins at a time, you need to give a 10 mins break.
- Do not go up and down the stairs frequently, take support.
- Do not drive frequently.
Do's:
- Can go for walk: Normal speed, level ground with frequent breaks.
- Can do swimming.
Any activity you think is increasing your pain, you should avoid.
These restriction apply only for few weeks, till the pain comes down, use a knee brace and then you will need to undergo prolonged physiotherapy,under supervision.... Hopefully you will be painfree soon...Take care....
