Knee Pain – 3 Sports It Effects

Knee injuries are common in nearly all sports because the joint is often pushed too hard. Here are 3 sports where knee pain is common, the reason it occurs and how athletes can reduce the risk of injury.

Soccer and knee pain are synonymous and players are constantly spending time on the sidelines as a direct result of the troublesome joint. Because of the rapid movements and changes of direction, its easy for the knee to become twisted or jarred which can lead to a number of injures. Anterior cruciate ligament damage is one of the worst knee problems that soccer players can pick up and serious cases of the injury can end a career. Coaches are constantly hammering into players the importance of a long and thorough warm up to ensure the knee is adequately prepared and this is the best way to avoid injuries. Unfortunately, because soccer is very much a contact sport there’s a good chance of impact injuries as a result of tackles from other players and these are largely unavoidable.

Tennis is another sport where knee pain is common. However, tennis isn’t a contact sport like soccer so many of the injuries are avoidable. Sharp changes of direction from side to side and back to front are constantly required in tennis but players can condition and train themselves to cope with these demands. As well as warming up and carrying out strengthening exercises, players should also practice their movements so they’re prepared for the court.

Basketball players are susceptible to overuse injuries that cause knee pain. Patellar tendinitis or ‘jumpers knee’ is common and occurs because athletes constantly put pressure on the knee joint. The motion of jumping up and returning to the floor is often harmless enough but repeated over and over again as basketball players do, can lead to problems. The answer is to carry out strengthening exercises as part of a balanced training regime. Added to that, athletes should always ensure their jumping technique is correct to avoid any serious problems.

These sports are just three of many where knee injuries are common. Whatever sport an athlete competes in, they should make themselves aware of the knee problems they could face and the techniques they can learn to minimise the risk of injuries.

By: Toby Beckett

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There's more information on the causes of knee pain knee pain at Sports Injury Bulletin.