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| Runner's knee; any experience? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 19 2011, 10:10 AM (331 Views) | |
| RosemaryTwo | Jan 19 2011, 10:10 AM Post #1 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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My 12-year-old, who never stops moving / running, was just diagnosed with this condition. His pediatrician recommended some PT. Anyone have any experience? Did PT help? Anything else help, or just time, ice and ibuprofen? |
| "Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua | |
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| Aqua Letifer | Jan 19 2011, 10:15 AM Post #2 |
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ZOOOOOM!
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Ouch, R2. If it's due to overactivity (we are talking about a 12-year-old here), I'd guess good ol' RICE could work wonders. But if something else is causing it I dunno. |
| I cite irreconcilable differences. | |
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| KlavierBauer | Jan 19 2011, 10:46 AM Post #3 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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RICE: Rest Ice Compression Elevation |
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"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper "He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple | |
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| The 89th Key | Jan 19 2011, 11:08 AM Post #4 |
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Hey R2 - I had runners knee (more commonly known as Chondromalacia Patella ) when I first started running. Ibuprofen helps, often before the workout, but also after. Ice after. If possible, a knee brace (might only be helpful in long-run situations), and also a good pair of shoes that are fit for your son (go to a running store?) might help.No experience with PT, but that may help since it's often focused on strengthening the supporting muscles around the knee, thus reducing runner's knee friction/pain. |
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| sue | Jan 19 2011, 11:49 AM Post #5 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I would certainly encourage PT. Find a sports specialist. If he's got knee issues at 12, he's gonna need a relationship with a sports doctor for many years. Rest for sure, but get an expert to get him recovered properly, and teach him how to look after his knee in the future. A friend of my son's (I bet he was also about 12) went through exactly the same thing. Had to give up soccer for a bit, and then gave it up entirely. Because he joined the track team. He's now on a university track team (scholarship), and a provincial champion team.
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| kluurs | Jan 19 2011, 11:59 AM Post #6 |
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Fulla-Carp
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I would support PT. I've had this issue. My bigger issue would be why/how this developed - especially, in someone so young. It may be related to wrong shoes or overuse or ??? Even expensive shoes can be bad on someone. I practically needed crutches after trying some Bally shoes. Some folks need more arch support - and must rely on only certain brands/types of shoes that provide that support. As for guidance on shoes...that's more black magic than science sadly - and may just require some experimentation. |
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| RosemaryTwo | Jan 19 2011, 12:03 PM Post #7 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Thanks all. He's an athlete going through a massive growth spurt. I feel sorry for him dealing with all this. His piano and cello teacher are alternatively loving and frustrated with his growing hands (piano teacher loves it, cello teacher is frustrated. ; ) ) I agree with what you said, Sue. Get the man educated on his own knee issues so he can manage it in an educated way. |
| "Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua | |
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| KlavierBauer | Jan 19 2011, 12:18 PM Post #8 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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PT is great, as it may shed some insight into cause, and allow him to strengthen other muscle groups that will take stress off of the knee. I have "bad" knees (they overextend, as all my joints do), and am prone to knee injury - so for me it's important to strengthen the front and back of my leg to make up for some of what my ACL/PCL want to do, and can't. He may also just need to allow his muscles to catch up to his body - but there's no contraindication for PT, so I'd say it's a good choice. I have little experience as a runner, but like Kluurs said, shoes can make a huge difference. When I wanted to start running, I had a lot of pain, until I went and had my gate analyzed, and got a pair of shoes that strengthened my natural weaknesses. They weren't expensive shoes, they were just the right shoes, to strengthen up the inside of my heel, to prevent the pronation I was experiencing - huge difference in my knees. Again - I didn't run much, and so take what I say with a grain of salt - but it may be worth finding the "right" shoes if he hasn't already. In Colorado there's the "Boulder Running Company" which does this sort of gate analysis with a treadmill and camera for every shoe customer, as part of the fit process - might there be a similar "running" store near you? Are there national chains that do this runners? (perhaps this isn't something special?) |
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"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper "He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple | |
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| RosemaryTwo | Jan 19 2011, 12:22 PM Post #9 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Yes, we have stores that video your feet as you run a bit on a treadmill and they make recommendations. It is expensive, but maybe not a bad idea. I guess I will see what the PT says first. The boy inherited his coloring from me but his tightness from his father. |
| "Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua | |
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| Mikhailoh | Jan 19 2011, 04:26 PM Post #10 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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No clue. But I developed a ganglion on my foot this week. Or maybe I just hadn't noticed it. Which is unlikely because I have to put tea tree oil on my heels to keep them from cracking when I have to wear those damnable shoes. Bah. Devils work they are. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| George K | Jan 19 2011, 04:28 PM Post #11 |
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Finally
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Ganglion tip: They tend to come & go. I've had one on my right wrist for years. Sometimes massaging it (firmly) over the course of a week or two can make it go away for a while. It's likely to come back, but you can rub it down again. I've been doing my ganglion that way for 10 years, avoiding the knife. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| blondie | Jan 19 2011, 04:57 PM Post #12 |
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Bull-Carp
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Is he a long distance runner? Does he train year round for competition? What other sports does he do? Did your pediatrician ask these things? |
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| Mikhailoh | Jan 19 2011, 05:29 PM Post #13 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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It's kinda cool looking, actually. Variety being the spice of life and all. Doesn't hurt at all. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| musicasacra | Jan 19 2011, 08:16 PM Post #14 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Yes, had a bucket load of runner's knee when I started running last summer, overuse, too much too fast. Immediate pain relief from these: http://www.amazon.com/Mueller-Jumper%2527s-Knee-Strap-Black-One/dp/B000F5R4RW/ Walgreens, CVS, etc., have them as well. Other than that, rest until they feel better, and ease back into sports. |
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| Lisa | Jan 20 2011, 05:36 AM Post #15 |
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Junior Carp
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One thing I don't see mentioned is the foam roller. Runner's knee is often caused by tightness in the muscles of the legs, particularly the IT band. I struggled with it through a course of PT, had a relapse, and finally "cured" myself with the foam roller. As long as I'm diligent with the rolling, I stay pretty much pain free these days. A foam roller can be purchased on amazon for around $25 and I recently saw one in Target and Kohls, of all places. Google something like "foam roller knee problems" or "foam roller IT band" to see what you should do with it. It is definitely worth a try. One other thing - I did a course of PT in the spring that helped a little but didn't really fix the problem. When my pain flared back up in the fall, I saw a different doc who sent me to a PT group that was more runner-focused. Within the first 2 sessions, I could tell the PT was helping alot more than the whole 6 weeks I did in the spring did. So if you go the PT route, ask your doc to recommend a PT who really knows runners and focuses right in on the muscles needed for running. You can also DIY the PT (if you think your son will do it and not slack) if you google "exercises for runner's knee" or something like that. You may want to go to a session or two and learn the exercises, then just continue them at home. Good luck! |
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| RosemaryTwo | Jan 20 2011, 10:49 AM Post #16 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Thanks, MS and Lisa. Both good, specific ideas. Thanks also, Blondie. And yes, the pediatrician spent a lot of time with us, asking about his activities, growth and shoes. She recommended a group of PTs that work with athletes. She was very specific in her recommendation and spent a long time talking to us. She was able to see us in less than 24 hours of my call to the office. He feels better today but I will probably set up a PT session next week. |
| "Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua | |
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| sue | Jan 20 2011, 11:03 AM Post #17 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Good. Sounds like you're on the right track. The fact that he is still growing is important. He'll need some good long term strategies. |
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) when I first started running. Ibuprofen helps, often before the workout, but also after. Ice after. If possible, a knee brace (might only be helpful in long-run situations), and also a good pair of shoes that are fit for your son (go to a running store?) might help.


10:58 AM Jul 11