Overuse Injuries: Who Is At Risk For Knee Pain?

Why Is The Knee Joint Vulnerable To Overuse Injuries?

Overuse injuries are often related to playing sports. Because many sports activities involve the knee joint, knee pain is a common symptom of an overuse injury. The knee joint has numerous attachment points for ligaments and tendons to connect to the bones, leaving the knee joint susceptible to damage.

Injuries that cause knee pain

Injuries that cause knee pain can be identified in 2 different categories: acute injuries and overuse injuries. An acute injury is the result of one traumatic event, such as a fracture, a sprain, or dislocation. An overuse injury occurs gradually over time due to repetitive micro-trauma to tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints.

Overuse injuries can be challenging to diagnose

An overuse injury is caused by repetitive trauma. Because overuse injuries occur over a long period, these types of damages can be hard to diagnose. Since the pain from this trauma increases slowly, individuals often do not realize the pain has become severe.

What are common overuse injuries?

A significant number of knee injuries can be classified as overuse injuries. Common examples of overuse injuries include patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runner’s knee, and patellar tendonitis, also called jumper’s knee.

Sports-related activities put athletes at risk

When an athletic activity is repeated, stress is exerted on joints in the body. Athletes often do not have enough time to rest and recover before using those joints again, increasing the likelihood of an overuse injury.

Older people are at risk for knee pain

Joints become weaker with age. For that reason, age is a significant factor in most overuse injuries. Joint weakness increases the likelihood of an overuse injury in people older than 40, which can result in knee pain.

Why are children being treated for overuse injuries?

In recent years doctors have now seen a significant increase in overuse injuries in children. Most commonly, these injuries are associated with children involved in sports. Because young adults are still growing, they are at higher risk of injury than adults because injures can impair growth.

When should you see a doctor for knee pain?

Consider contacting a medical provider if there are severe knee pain symptoms such as:

• Pain that continues despite rest
• Marked knee swelling
• Inability to flex or extend the knee
• Instability or inability to bear weight

How can you prevent an overuse injury?

Most overuse injuries are avoidable. To prevent overuse injuries, people should use proper form and gear, gradually increase training over time, mix up routines, and make rest a part of the sports activity regime. For more information, speak with an orthopedic specialist.