HealthCare

Why might a fairly active 21-year-old female sometimes get knee pain?

Understanding Why Active Young Females Experience Knee Pain

Why might a fairly active 21-year-old female sometimes get knee pain? Well, I like the term sometimes, because that means that it's not happening with relative frequency. Because if it was when you're active or playing a sport that I'd be more concerned about something going on inside of your knee like a cartilage injury or meniscal tear. But if you're sometimes getting knee pain and it's non traumatic, then the most common cause in females event is anterior knee pain or patellofemoral pain. When we say patella, we mean kneecap. And if you can see here, I've pulled up my tights, but if you can see there's my kneecap right through here, and this is my patellar tendon. And if I straighten my knee and bend my knee, you can see that kneecap tracking. I'll give you a lateral view too. You can see that kneecap is moving back and forth. So if the muscles in the anterior aspect of your leg, the thigh muscles and your hip muscles are tight. For example, you spent a long time studying for a midterm or final, or working on a project at work, those muscles up here in the quadriceps and the hip flexors can get tighter, and that can cause an alteration in how your kneecap tracks when you're playing activities. So make sure that before you participate in your sport activity, you're doing a really good knee, quadricep stretch, and hip flexor stretch to be able to make sure that your kneecap is tracking well, and you can avoid that occasional knee pain.

Anterior knee pain or patellofemoral pain is the most common cause of knee pain in fairly active 21-year-old females. This can be caused by tight thigh and hip muscles, so it is important to do a good knee and hip stretch before participating in any activities to ensure that the kneecap is tracking well and prevent occasional knee pain.

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Sometimes, a fairly active 21-year-old female may experience knee pain. If the pain occurs infrequently and is not related to trauma or sports activities, the most common cause in females is anterior knee pain or patellofemoral pain. The patella, or kneecap, and the muscles in the anterior aspect of the leg, including the quadriceps and hip flexors, play a role in this condition. Tightness in these muscles, which can occur after prolonged periods of studying or working on projects, can alter how the kneecap tracks during physical activities. To help alleviate occasional knee pain, it's advisable to perform proper knee and quadricep stretches, as well as hip flexor stretches before engaging in sports or activities. This can ensure that the kneecap tracks well and help prevent discomfort.

How long does it take for a strained muscle to heal?

Muscle Strain Healing Time: Grades and Recovery Lengths Revealed

This is a good question. How long does it take for a strained muscle to heal? I do want to point out, though a strain is the same as a pull, which is the same as a tear, it all means the same thing, which is that the muscle fibers have been disrupted, and there's been injury to the muscle fibers. The other thing to know is that the muscles attach to bones. And so for example, the biceps, a muscle, starts off and attaches at the bones, at the top of the shoulder, at the shoulder here. And then attaches all the way past the elbow, elbow crease at the radial head. But it's the muscle belly itself typically that we want to talk about in terms of if an injury happens in the muscle belly. Now if the injury happens at the tendon, would attaches on either side of the bone and the injury happens there. Then typically, a surgery may be needed. And that's a whole different situation. But let's talk about a strain to the muscle belly. It really depends on what muscle is injured as well as the degree. And we call it grade I, grade II, or grade III. Grade I, a few fibers. Grade II, more fibers. And grade III, a total tear. So grade I is typically around 2 to 4 to 6 weeks. Grade II can be up to 8 to 10 weeks, and even 12 weeks. And then a grade III injury, a complete tear, can sometimes be as long as six months before you have enough healing and scar tissue and remodeling for someone to return back to activity. OK, thanks.

Healing time for a strained muscle depends on the severity of the injury and the muscle affected, with grade I injuries taking 2-6 weeks, grade II 8-12 weeks, and grade III up to 6 months.

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The healing time for a strained muscle can vary depending on several factors. A strain, which is the same as a pull or tear, indicates injury to the muscle fibers. It's important to note that muscles attach to bones, and injuries can occur in the muscle belly or at the tendon.

If the injury happens in the muscle belly, the healing time will depend on the specific muscle and the severity of the strain. Strains are categorized as grade I, grade II, or grade III. Grade I involves a few disrupted fibers and typically takes around 2 to 6 weeks to heal. Grade II involves more fibers and can take up to 8 to 12 weeks for recovery. Grade III is a complete tear and may require as long as six months for sufficient healing, scar tissue formation, and remodeling before returning to activity.

It's important to consult with a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and to determine the appropriate treatment plan and expected healing time for a strained muscle.

What are the most common injuries for soccer players?

Surprising Soccer Injury Data: Lower Extremity Injuries and Concussions Reign

One of the most common soccer injuries for soccer players. In papers that we published in 2018, looking at injury data for high school and collegiate soccer for both boys and girls, men's and women's, we found that the vast majority of injuries were to the lower extremity. And those are strains and sprains. For example, that would be Achilles, calf, thigh, like hamstring or quad type of injuries, as well as ligaments injuries, primarily to the ankle and the knee. But 25% almost of the injuries that were reported were concussions. And so those are the most common injuries that we have found in soccer players at the high school and collegiate level.

The most common soccer injuries for high school and collegiate players are strains and sprains to the lower extremities such as Achilles, calf, thigh and ligament injuries to the ankle and knee. 25% of reported injuries were concussions.

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One of the most common injuries for soccer players, based on our research published in 2018, is lower extremity injuries. These typically involve strains and sprains, such as Achilles, calf, thigh (hamstring or quad), as well as ligament injuries primarily affecting the ankle and knee. These types of injuries accounted for the majority of reported injuries in high school and collegiate soccer for both boys and girls.

Additionally, approximately 25% of the reported injuries were concussions, making them another common injury among soccer players at the high school and collegiate level.

Is it possible to get a ganglion on your palmaris longus?

Uncovering the Possibility: Ganglion Cysts on Palmaris Longus

Is it possible to get a ganglion on your palmaris longus? The palmaris longus is a tendon on the inside of the wrist or the volar aspect of the wrist, palmar aspect. You can see it right there. And I have never seen it but, of course, it could be possible. Because over 90% of ganglion cysts in our body are located in the hand and wrist. And women are three times more likely to get ganglion cysts compared to men. Now, ganglion cysts I want to emphasize are non-cancerous. So you don't need to worry about those being cancer. And it's a benign fluid-filled cyst, and usually, it originates from joints or tendon sheaths from overuse, from tissue degeneration. And when you see them, they're usually not painful. But they can get disfiguring if they get large. And they can sometimes interfere with function. So while I have never seen a ganglion on the palmaris longus tendon, that doesn't mean that it wouldn't happen. And again, the chances are high that it could because, again, 90% of ganglions arise from the wrist and hand.

It is possible to get a ganglion on the palmaris longus tendon, as 90% of ganglions arise from the wrist and hand. However, they are non-cancerous and usually not painful. They can become disfiguring if they become large and interfere with function.

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It is possible to develop a ganglion on the palmaris longus tendon. The palmaris longus is located on the inside or palmar aspect of the wrist. While I personally have not encountered this, it is within the realm of possibility. It's worth noting that over 90% of ganglion cysts occur in the hand and wrist, with women being three times more likely to develop them compared to men. Ganglion cysts are non-cancerous and benign fluid-filled cysts that typically arise from joints or tendon sheaths due to overuse or tissue degeneration. They are usually not painful, but they can become disfiguring and potentially interfere with function if they grow large. So, while I haven't personally seen a ganglion on the palmaris longus tendon, it could certainly occur given that most ganglions originate from the wrist and hand.

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Dr. Cindy Chang, MD answers your HealthCare questions. See all the advice Dr. Cindy Chang, MD has and get answers to your own HealthCare questions.

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Dr. Cindy Chang is a specialist in primary care sports medicine with almost 3 decades of experience. She has served as head team physician at UC Berkeley, chief medical officer for Team USA in 2008 & 2012 Olympics, and assisted in the WNBA COVID "Wubble." Chang takes an individualized approach to care, seeing athletes of all ages. She is Program Director of UCSF's Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, board of trustees for the American College of Sports Medicine, chairs the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee for the California Interscholastic Federation & National Federation of State High School Associations, and past president of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Ohio State Univ. College of Medicine, followed by a residency in family medicine at UCLA Medical Center & a fellowship in sports medicine at Ohio State Univ. Medical Center.