Injuries Among Dancers

Common Knee and Thigh Injuries

 

 
 

Adolescent Anterior Knee Pain:

Adolescent Anterior Knee Pain is when there is alot of pain in the front and center of the knee. Pain is noticed in the anterior or front of the knee and the dancer will see swelling and tenderness of the patella or kneecap. This is common in adolescent girls who are still growing and training hard. The dancer will hear popping and crackling while walking up stairs or after sitting for long periods of time and then standing up.

Patellar Malalignment/Dislocation:

Patellar Malalignment is the displacemnt of the kneecap. This is when the kneecap slips out of place on the thigh bone. It will slip out of place but then relocate back to place. Patellar Dislocation is when the kneecap slips out of place but dose not return to its original location. Dislocation is serverly painful for the dancer and will need someone to set it back into place. What causes this is either jumping or changing direction rapidly. Dancers will notice the pain in knee movement and then the knee will "give out". In serious cases immediate swelling will occur, maybe numbness, or partial paralysis below dislocation.
 

Menucus Tears:

Menucus Tears is when the two "c" shaped pieces of cartilage which protects the femur and the tibia grind together. This is caused by landing wrong in jumps or twisting the knee. Minor cases wont feel immeditate pain, but the pain will worsen over time. In serious cases immediate pain and swelling will occur. Dancers will notice this in their knee range of motion, while walking, or frequent joint lock up.