Overuse problems of the knee :

Tendon strains at the back of the knee - - Posted by mikedelderfield (mikedelderfield), 21 January 2003

Hi

I am new to this website, but not knee injury of one kind or another.

I am looking for info/potential diagnosis for a recurring problem I have.

I am currently experiencing mild aching pain at the back of my right knee. The pain is located at the back of my knee but to the right of centre almost moving to side (lateral) of the knee.

This is not the first occurrence. The pain usually goes away after a fairly long lay off.

I play soccer, run & rock climb. I think the first two activities appear to cause the pain.

Any ideas?

Regards

Mike


Posted by Linds (Linds), 22 January 2003

Hi Mike, you might want to consult a physician or a Physio therapist. You could do some research on Anterior knee pain syndrome, Patella Femoral Syndrome and Patella Femoral Pain syndrome and see if it sounds like anything you are experiencing.
Take care and good luck
Linds
Posted by admin (The KNEEguru), 23 February 2003

Your description does not fit with the pain over the front of the knee known as 'anterior knee pain'. Yours sounds more like a sprain or iliotibial band friction:
see http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archives/knee-pain.htm
KNEEguru
Posted by CGP (CGP), 7 April 2003

Hello, I may as well weigh in here

Pain behind knee?

It looks like my knee problems are due to a tear back in Oct., 2002 in a small muscle behind the knee knows as the popliteus or a tear where the top of the calf inserts behind the knee, or both.

I have had a history that Summer of a calf strain which got better, then a recurrence of butt pain & stiffness...then...this last incident of a huge, disabling, grabbing feeling behind knee which was first believed to be a cartilage tear but just didn't quite seem like a cartilage tear.

Xrays show moderate arthritic change.  

Do recall for a week it was impossible to go up on toes on that foot or to stretch calf. Then this pinching feeling in medial side of knee which was troubling for a long while was evident. This gradually has gone away but there is lingering stiffness after sitting for awhile & after cycling.

Presently am having active release therapy treatment plus strengthening exercises, plus stretching, minus running for awhile (though I was making a small comeback there).

I'm possibly going to be advised to stay off my bike too, hope not. please!! How will get around

Chris
Posted by ATsoccergirl (ATsoccergirl), 7 April 2003

Hi Mike,

Do you ever get a snapping sensation on the lateral side of your knee?

Is the pain over the joint line?

It really does not sound like IT band syndrome to me.  I am leaning more towards a mensical tear.  Any orther history/symptoms you could give would really help.
Posted by mikedelderfield (mikedelderfield), 7 April 2003

Hi

In reply to the second post. I got anterior and posterior mixed up. A cardinal sin, I know .

The POSTERIOR knee pain from, which I have been afflicted, has settled down alot now.

To atsoccergirl - I have never felt a snapping sensation in my knee. To add a bit more detail the pain seems to respond to 'compression' in that wearing a fabric support seemed to reduce the pain level quite a lot.

As I mentioned the pain was to the rear of my knee and located toward the outside. There was no obvious tender spots, just a general ache in the area previously described. The pain would become worse shortly after taking exercise.

If I tried to locate the pain centre with more precision. I would say it centred in a tendon which runs from the hamstrings into the back/outside of the knee. Not very technical I know!

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Mike D
Posted by ATsoccergirl (ATsoccergirl), 7 April 2003

If you stretch your hamstring  does it increase the pain?  Also try stretching with your foot externally rotated.  

Another thing to try-  sit in a chair with your affected leg at a little less than 90 deg flexion.  Place you other foot behind your affected leg.  Contract your hamstring and attempt to further flex your knee.  THe key is not to let you leg flex by using your foot.  If this does not cause pain externally rotate the foot on your affected leg.  

external rotation= toes pointed laterally from the midline.  

This is a variation of a manual muscle test that I could use to test for tendonitis, the external rotation will isolate the lateral hamstring.  

I am now thinking more of a biceps femoris tendonitis.  
Posted by mikedelderfield (mikedelderfield), 8 April 2003

Hi atsoccergirl

I tried the tests you suggested. None of them caused immediate pain, but overall the injury seems to have flared up a little after trying them.

In the past stretching my hamstring seemed to aggravate the injury.

I was surfing about for Biceps Femoris Tendinitis info. It seems to be an overuse injury or caused by an increase in the intensity of an activity. Is that your thought also?

At the moment using a neoprene knee support during activity seems to effectively control the problem. It has felt quite good for the last few weeks.

So I am keeping my fingers crossed.

thanks & regards

Mike D

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