Knee injuries are becoming more common in female athletes. Interest in women's athletics at the amateur and professional level has changed the face of sports. Greater participation has heightened appreciation of health and medical issues specific to the female athlete. Studies comparing male to female susceptibility to injury of the knee have shown women to have considerably higher rate of injury. Statistics gathered over a three year period in the early 90s in the U.S.A showed that women suffered knee injuries more often than men, nearly 4 times as often in basketball, 3 times as often in gymnastics, and nearly 2 and a half times as often in football. This is a concern for all female athletes.
anatomy
The reason may seem complicated at first but its really quite simple when you get your head round it. Women athletes have a wider pelvis than their male counterparts as this facilitates natural child birth. However this extra width has a negative effect when its comes to lower limb biomechanics. Have a look at the diagram on the right. The angle that is created between the thigh bone and the shin bone is called the Q angle. The greater the Q angle the more unhelpful biomechanical forces operate around the knee. There is therefore more stress placed on the knee itself and the associated structures such as ligaments and tendons. The two major components that affect the Q angle are (i) increased pelvic width (as increases the angle that the thigh bone joins the knee) (ii) Position of the foot during the contact phase (when the foot is on the ground) as this alters the angle that the shin bone enters the knee.
treatment in the acute phase
to restore normal function
Exercises should not hurt, if they do stop! Here are some exercises to help your knee pain. After you do all the exercises as shown in the drawings, reverse your position, and do the exercises with your other leg, so both knees get the benefit of stretching
stretching exercises
strengthening exercises
Repeat the exercises below several times with each leg on a daily basis. Over several weeks, increase the resistance by adding ankle weights or by looping purse straps or the handle of a weighted pail over your ankle. Start with one or two pounds, adding one-half pound at a time as you build strength.
to help prevent injury
The bad news is that not a lot can be done about the width of your pelvis but the good news is that the position of the foot can be altered thus improving the Q angle. Strength training and a good stretching regime whilst not altering the Q angle significantly, will help reduce injury and is vital for pain free sport in the female athlete. Read on! Golden rule- Don't ignore the problem, it won't go away!
The way we function biomechanically is predominantly controlled by genetics, its hereditary (runs in the family). The way you function is set and cannot be cured. What you can do however is control lower limb biomechanics by altering foot position during the contact phase of gait. This can only be done by wearing a good shoe (see our shoe guide) and with orthotics (foot beds). This is the cheapest and most cost effective way for any athlete to reduce the risks of injury from occurring and from helping to prevent re-injury. Overall costs for the average athlete will run into pennies per mile/hour of sport. Orthotics are designed to alter the biomechanics during the time the foot is on the ground. They are also used to provide increased shock absorbency working in harmony with the sport shoe worn. Wobble boards- Designed to improve proprioception these devices used as per the manufacturers instructions will improve the connection between the brain and the nerve fibres in the leg. Have a look at the wobble board information page in our online store. Check your running shoes, are they worn, how long have you had them? Trainers used for running are designed to last at most about 750 miles. If you think you have done more mileage then replace them with a new pair. Read the running shoe page to get practical advice on running shoes.
returning to sporting activity
You have full range of motion in the injured leg compared to the uninjured leg.
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sports podiatry.co.uk
knee pain in women
