Knee cap pain can be a serious obstacle for high school athletes, turning a promising sports season into a painful experience. Known as patellofemoral pain, this condition affects athletes across various sports, particularly those who run, jump, or put repetitive stress on their legs. Fortunately, with the right treatment, it’s a manageable issue.
Let’s take a look at the most common causes of knee cap pain in young athletes and how we treat them effectively.
The iliotibial (IT) band is a thick band of connective tissue that runs from the hip down to the knee. When it becomes tight, it can pull the patella (knee cap) out of alignment, leading to friction and irritation. This type of knee pain is common in athletes who engage in repetitive leg movements like running or jumping, making it a frequent issue in sports such as track, soccer, and basketball.
How We Treat It: We focus on loosening the IT band through manual therapy and deep tissue work, reducing the tension on the knee cap. Class 4 laser therapy helps further by reducing inflammation and promoting faster healing. Full spine and extremity adjustments are also critical to restoring proper alignment, ensuring that the entire kinetic chain works together to reduce stress on the knee.
Patella tracking issues occur when the knee cap doesn’t glide properly within the groove of the femur, often moving sideways instead of straight up and down. This misalignment leads to pain, especially when the knee is bent. It’s common in athletes with muscular imbalances or biomechanical issues, which can be exacerbated by intense training or improper technique.
How We Treat It: We start with extremity adjustments to help correct the alignment of the knee cap. Manual therapy is used to release tightness in overactive muscles, particularly the quadriceps, which often pull the patella out of position. Strengthening exercises for the glutes and hamstrings are also incorporated to balance out muscular imbalances that contribute to patella tracking issues.
During rapid growth phases, like those seen in teenagers, the bones can grow faster than muscles and tendons, creating tension and leading to knee pain. This is especially true in cases of Osgood-Schlatter disease, where the growth plate at the top of the shinbone becomes irritated, resulting in pain and swelling just below the knee cap.
How We Treat It: For growing athletes, we focus on reducing stress through manual therapy and adjustments to maintain proper alignment during growth spurts. We also encourage stretching and strengthening exercises that target the quads and hamstrings, preventing excessive strain on the knees. Class 4 laser therapy may also be used to reduce inflammation in severe cases.
Frequent jumping, especially on trampolines, places a lot of strain on the knees due to the force exerted when landing. This can contribute to knee cap pain, particularly in younger athletes whose muscles and joints are still developing. Jumping sports like volleyball and basketball can have a similar effect.
How We Treat It: The key here is to relieve the pressure on the knee through manual therapy, which helps release tightness in overworked muscles, and spinal and extremity adjustments to improve biomechanics. Strengthening the surrounding muscles (quads, glutes, and hamstrings) helps build the stability needed to absorb the impact from jumping.
Our treatment approach is all about addressing the root cause of the pain, not just the symptoms. Here’s how we typically approach knee cap pain in young athletes:
Knee cap pain in high school athletes is common, but it doesn’t have to keep them off the field or court for long. By addressing IT band tightness, patella tracking problems, growth spurts, and issues like Osgood-Schlatter disease, we create a comprehensive plan to get athletes back to doing what they love—without pain.
If your athlete is dealing with knee pain, don’t wait to address it. The right treatment can make all the difference!
