WAG Jumpers Knee

[gymmom39]

what do you do to help your DD? Looking for ideas. This is an annoying chronic injury which impacts progress on floor and vault. Thanks in advance for your help in sharing what works for your DD!

 

[GymCMLA]

Already have a patellar strap?

 

[gymmom39]

Got one but she doesn't like it or it doesn't seem to work. I've seen girls with what looks like a rubber band but can't seem to find it anywhere. Any brand suggestions that gymnasts like are welcome.

 

[GymCMLA]

I'd try kt tape (k tape) how to here
http://www.kttape.com/instructions/osgood-schlatter/
This is a good article http://gymnastcare.com/how-to-fix-osgood-schlatters-disease
It may be worth some PT to make sure quad strength is optimal and balanced with hamstring flexibility.

 

[2G1B]

The rubber bands arr probably just prewrap rolled up.

 

[gymmom39]

I'd try kt tape (k tape) how to here
http://www.kttape.com/instructions/osgood-schlatter/
This is a good article http://gymnastcare.com/how-to-fix-osgood-schlatters-disease
It may be worth some PT to make sure quad strength is optimal and balanced with hamstring flexibility.

Thank you. We've been doing PT also.

 

[munchkin3]

make sure her quads are very stretched...
Cho Pat strap....mandatory....no strap, no gymnastics.
here is a story....
May 2106,
MOM says, 'My DD has patellar tendinitis that now has become a stress fracture'.......I ask, when did you find out?....MOM ' She has been complaining about her knee for months...the MRI shows a stress fracture.'
Me- 'Oh, why is she practicing on it?'
MOM-' we are going away for the summer and I don't want her to miss more gymnastics'....
Me-' Knee issues and patellar tendinitis, and stress fractures are a huge deal.....you need to keep her off it'
MOM ' well, we are leaving in a month, so she can rest then'
FLASH FORWARD after summer vacation....Mom takes her for an MRI since the knee has not healed and her DD is still in pain.
MOM- 'Bad news, second MRI shows no healing of the stress fracture, doctor says she must remain in a brace for 2 months, and then PT for anothr 3 months'

A simple condition that needs attention, like a strap, and stretching, and modified activity (like no running/jumping for a few weeks)....can take a few weeks or a month to be managed.....
By not addressing it or letting the child dictate the treatment is irresponsible......the above story is true and was totally avoidable.
This Child will have missed a full 6 months plus of training and will be behind a level as a result......

Im not trying to scare you but gymnastics related injuries are all serious.....and then they need to keep using the injured part so treat it carefully.

 

[sce]

I agree with getting proper treatment. I do not agree though that you need to do what others are saying here. A strap might be a good idea or might not. She needs to follow the direction of a doctor and or PT. Has she seen a sports Doctor?

With my son's Osgood Schlatter's the sports Doctor said that the strap was not necessary. Am the Doctor was also able to tell us what stage the injury was in and what he could or could not do. Runner's knee is a different condition but I still feel she needs a doctir's direction.

 

[GymCMLA]

Many use jumpers knee and OSD and SLJ interchangeably as they are all associated with the infra patellar tendon but OSD is an apophysitis at the tibial tubercle, jumper's knee is a tendonitis and SLJ is an apophysitis at the infra patellar pole itself.
Treatment for all 3 is rest, ice, activity modification. OSD is "cured" when the growth plates close.
Straps work best for the tendonitis of jumper's knee but are often used (or tape) in OSD and SLJ. In none of these is a strap "necessary"; activity modification, stretch, strengthen help all 3 and completing growth are what "fix" the apophysitises.

 

[gymmom39]

I agree with getting proper treatment. I do not agree though that you need to do what others are saying here. A strap might be a good idea or might not. She needs to follow the direction of a doctor and or PT. Has she seen a sports Doctor?

With my son's Osgood Schlatter's the sports Doctor said that the strap was not necessary. Am the Doctor was also able to tell us what stage the injury was in and what he could or could not do. Runner's knee is a different condition but I still feel she needs a doctir's direction.

She's been to the doctor. All they've said is that she's going to continue to have pain and it's okay pain for years while she's growing. Some recommending motrin and resting all together is really the only relief. They said there is nothing major showing and if she wants to continue she just has to press through. I've proactively used PT but that doesn't last forever with insurance.

 

[sce]

She's been to the doctor. All they've said is that she's going to continue to have pain and it's okay pain for years while she's growing. Some recommending motrin and resting all together is really the only relief. They said there is nothing major showing and if she wants to continue she just has to press through. I've proactively used PT but that doesn't last forever with insurance.

Well, that's good to hear. If a strap or taping helps relieve the pain then it could be worth trying a well.

 

[gymmom39]

Well, that's good to hear. If a strap or taping helps relieve the pain then it could be worth trying a well.

We'll try some new straps and taping techniques. Something is bound to work .

 

[Madden3]

Even though this is about my son, I hope our experience might be helpful. When my son had ongoing knee pain a couple years ago at 11 it was a frustrating experience until we got what appears to have been a proper diagnoses and treatment plan. Ultimately, my son was diagnosed by a sports medicine specialist with patellar tendonitis. What we were told (if I recall correctly) is this is different than Osgood Schlatters (which was the first diagnoses) because he had inflammation and so the knee did require rest.

The answer in his case was no floor or vault training at all for about 3 months, (until the pain went away and stayed away.) Wearing a knee strap that attached both above and below the knee (he felt it fit more securely than the single below knee strap) and changing his footwear. No more sliders or flip flops, as those tend to aggravate knee issues. Only proper tie on sneakers for every activity (except gym, of course) even for just walking around. And PT, after our appointments ran out he did his exercises at practice under the watch of a coach with PT experience. So that was two years ago and no return of the pain and inflammation.

The brand of strap he used was Mueller. But it is not like we shopped around, that is what they had at the drugstore for the right price.

 

[gymmom39]

Thank you

 

[mommyof1]

I had patellar tendonitis as a young teen, and several weeks of rest + PT + ice healed it. I had a few very minor recurrences as a high school athlete, but nothing beyond annoyance level. My daughter recently went through a different form of tendonitis, and PT and a brace were not sufficient. She needed about three weeks off of all impact to really let it heal up. I now regret not insisting upon rest early on--I believe it would have been resolved much more quickly if we hadn't messed around with just PT for the first couple of months.

 

[mariposa]

My daughter didn't like the single strap, she preferred this one. She used it for Osgood Schlatters, so she took out the tube in the top.

Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Strap, Black, Medium, 14 Inch-16 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QRG970/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_sqiWxbRXZ96WV

 

[gymboymom]

We found being really consistent with 2 strengthening exercises (3times a day) for the VMO muscle. The main one I had ds do was #2 because he could do it in the car on the way to gym
http://sportskneetherapy.com/the-best-vmo-exercises/
The knee strap helped too. Hope it heals soon!

 

[ascarter1]

Knee strap. Dd wore one for at least a year.