Daughter gymnast (12 yrs) with patellar compression syndrome...how can we help her?

[campbells7]

Ginger, thanks for your reply.

What you say ties in with the Doc's comments, and also with what I have researched so far on the internet. I can see that the problem/or its causes is not isolated within the knee which makes it even more important that she gets a physio who understands this kind of injury.

I am quite careful not to follow blindly all medical advice and strongly believe in patient participation - in fact the Ortho said to my daughter that she must try to understand her problem so that she can better learn how to deal with it. This is what I'm trying to help her to do.

No swelling, but pain coming and going over a year. Pain seems to be behind the knee, "inside" -she says, and sometimes to the sides. She has had xray, TAC and
MRI. Orthopaedic doc also mentions Vastus exterior and said her patella seems tilted. (I am attempting to translate from the Portuguese so I may just be confusing the issue!)

I will look into the orthotic devices you mention, I have no idea what they are but...knowledge is power! Also the taping method.

If you are a physio yourself, how would you advise her to look after her knee at home...eg. would you tell her to avoid sitting with it very bent, would you advise her not to wear flip flops for walking - or is all that irrelevant?

I am glad you say it's fixable, she also loves to ski and I would hate to think she's heading for a lifetime of knee problems.

Thanks again.

[campbells7]

physiobob,

lol, don't worry - she definately understands that gymnastics comes with pain...she is constantly telling me that as I worry and fuss! However, this time she wants it dealt with - she has been at National level with competition and is desperate to continue and feels that her knee won't let her.

Yes, involves a lot of hard landings....backward somersaults off her partner's shoulders, tumbling, backflips - you can imagine.

Our Regional hospital (30 mins drive) has a Sports injury department - but I am at present planning to find a physio in our local town to better tie in with school, training etc. But your comments have confirmed what I already had in mind - that she needs a specialist physio and if I can't find one locally I'll try and get to the hospital.

All your comments are really helpful, thanks.