Athletes have experienced or will experience pain due to the stress put on the body through strenuous exercise.
Ignoring these warning signs can lead to severe damage if not diagnosed and treated by a medical specialist " especially concerning the knees.
A common knee injury found at Logistical Support Area Anaconda is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS).
PFPS is pain from physical and biochemical changes in the patellofemoral joint.
"It's very painful and the best way to treat it is avoid getting it," said Capt. David Browder, orthopedic section, 332nd Air Force Theater Hospital.
Patients with PFPS have anterior knee pain that typically occurs with activity and often becomes worse when they are descending steps or hills. PFPS can also be triggered by prolonged sitting.
The patella articulates with the patellofemoral groove in the femur. Several mechanisms act on the patella to provide stability and keep tracking properly.
Bending the knee increases the pressure between the patella and its various points of contact with the femur. PFPS is often classified as an overuse injury. Repeated weight-bearing impact is a contributing factor, particularly in runners.
"A lot of it can be contributed to poor training habits and rapid increase in training like running more with no rest days," Browder said.
Steps, hills and uneven surfaces tend to cause PFPS. Once the syndrome has developed, prolonged sitting can be painful because of the extra pressure between the patella and the femur during knee flexion.
Initially, knee activity should be reduced because patellofemoral pain is caused by overuse.
If the patient is a runner or engages in impact activity and insists on continuing some rigorous activity, swimming or another non-impact aerobic activity is a reasonable alternative.
Ice is the safest anti-inflammatory, but positive results, require discipline. Apply ice to the area for 10 to 20 minutes after the activity. A common complaint is the inconvenience of holding an ice bag on the knee, but a simple elastic wrap solves this problem. Frozen gel packs or crushed ice in a plastic bag also work well.
Another preventive measure is strengthening the leg muscles. Weak quadriceps can lead to PFPS because the muscles play a significant role in movement.
When using weights, avoid knee extension machines because it places stress on the knee. Use the hamstring curl and the leg press machines with a non-painful range of motion.
Make sure to stretch your quadriceps. The best way is the quadriceps stretch. Stabilize yourself by holding onto a wall or chair. Keep your hip straight and pull your leg behind you stretching the quadriceps.
To increase the stretch, instead of holding it, place your foot on a table or chair with the leg bent. Face away and then lean back towards the table.
Hold for at least 30 seconds, repeat 10 times.
You should continue to train aerobically, but do not train with pain. Swimming and elliptical trainers are non-impact aerobics.
When you return to running, a good pair of shoes is essential.
Proper footwear, such as running shoes with extra cushioning and an arch support can be helpful, Browder said.
The shoe should be comfortable and have good cushioning in the heel along with a strong heel counter and midsole. Also make sure the toe box flexes under the ball of foot and not at the arch.
As always, if you have extremity pain, visit a TMC to help determine the severity of the problem.
| Date Taken: | 01.19.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2006 10:19 |
| Story ID: | 5146 |
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| Web Views: | 76 |
| Downloads: | 18 |
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