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

[iliastolos]

Looking forward to hearing from you campbell7. All my best wishes to you and your daughter.

[estherderu]

dear Campells7,

you have already had some good suggestions.
I will add a few.
Girls her age are in the middle of a growth spurt.
Many girls with knee function problems have been found to also have weak external rotators of the hip.

Advice for your daughter so far:
- she should refrain from any action that causes pain
- not sit with knees fully bent for long periods of time
- not passively extend her knees, feet on table and knees unsupported at all.

A good therapist is your best bet. Trust your gut feeling as a parent. A good health professional should understand your worry and appreciate your imput. They should do a proper assessment and then treat. If you, or your daughter do not trust your health professional, try finding another.

I realize that being in another country, with a different culture, doesn´t make it easier. Good luck to you all.

Esther

[estherderu]

dear Campbells7,

I found a free access article about patella dysfunction problems that I suggest would be good reading for everyone treating these patients. Might be good to give to your daughters physio.

Dynamic Medicine | Full text | Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS): A systematic review of anatomy and potential risk factors
It is a systematic review of PFPS anatomy and potential risk factors.

kind regards

Esther

[estherderu]

Sorry folks, forgot to send this one as well.

Scientific Research - Neural Aspect to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome | Shacklock's Clinical Neurodynamic Solutions (NDS) | NDS Global

Esther

[campbells7]

esther, thanks for your reply - sorry I have only just seen it.

I will try to suggest the physio evaluates her hip and core strength, not just the knee itself, but judging by the reaction so far I will be seen as an armchair physiotherapist who should leave the job to the professionals! I do believe, of course, that the right therapist will not be offended by my input but am not sure yet whether that is the reality.

So far since my last post.

Have not actually started physiotherapy because the authorisation from the hospital has not yet arrived - they say it was posted on 16th October. More phone calls tomorrow trying to track it down. In the meantime we have seen a doctor specialising in rehabilitation (who is also a friend). He will start her on physio at his clinic even without the hospital document, but there are no vacancies at present. He examined her knee (both knees in fact) and has said she needs physio 30 to 60 mins every day for three months. He says she can train, but to stop if it hurts.

We also saw a physio connected to the gym club, who told her to stop all training, not to do anything that involves a "reception" (translating here but I'm sure you know what I mean). She has water on the knee too.

Neither of these professionals investigated anything other than her knee, not feet, hips, back etc....so this is what I'm up against. Grrrrrrr

Daughter herself is frustrated and depressed - her knee is hurting a lot in the last few days - We have allowed her to go to training and she confirms she's avoiding all actions involving the knee. However, I'm thinking of pulling her out of it totally for the next week - which she will won't like one little bit. She has just started training with a fab new partner who's 16 and at European level. It would be easier if she was in plaster from hip to ankle then she would be forced to stop!

Am very frustrated that I still haven't managed to get her started on physio which she obviously desperately needs.