This article is from **Dr.. knee, usually below the kneecap... knee, experience.... This condition, known as **anterior knee pain in teenagers**, usually occurs in many healthy young athletes, especially girls.. Anterior knee pain in teenagers is usually not caused by a physical abnormality (defect) in the knee, but often due to **overuse of the knee.. to his favorite sport.... Anatomy of the knee **Knee** is the largest and strongest joint in your body... This joint consists of the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), the upper end of the lower leg bone (tibia) and the kneecap (patella). The ends of these three bones are covered with articular cartilage. A smooth and slippery substance that protects and supports the bones when bending and straightening the knee. The bones are connected to each other by ligaments. having bones and Stabilizing the knee works... Muscles are attached to bones by tendons.. Causes of front knee pain In many cases, the exact cause of anterior knee pain is unknown. The complex anatomy of the knee joint, which allows for bending while bearing heavy loads, is very sensitive: - Small problems in adjusting the knee - Physical activity - Type of exercise - Excessive use For example, weakness in the quadriceps in the front of the thigh may lead to pain in the front of the knee... When the knee is bent and straightened, the quadriceps help keep the kneecap in the groove at the end of the femur. Weakness in the quadriceps can cause the kneecap to move improperly in the groove. Includes: - Imbalance of the thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstrings) that support the knee joint.. - Stiffness of quadriceps and hamstring muscles - Leg adjustment problems between hips and ankles - Using inappropriate sports techniques or equipment - Changing shoes or playground surface - Overdoing sports activities or changing the type of sports - Starting a new sport or rapidly increasing physical activity Symptoms of anterior knee pain in adolescents The most common symptom of anterior knee pain is a dull, nagging pain that begins gradually and is often associated with activity. Other common symptoms include: - Cracking or cracking sound in the knee when climbing stairs or walking and standing after sitting for a long time.. - Pain at night. Pain during activities that repeatedly bend the knee (jumping, squatting, running, and other exercises that include weight lifting) - Pain associated with a change in the level or intensity of activity, the surface of the playing field or equipment Anterior knee pain syndrome in teenagers usually does not cause swelling around the knee. Symptoms such as clicking, locking, sticking, or dropping in the knee are also uncommon. These symptoms indicate a mechanical problem in the knee and are a reason to see a doctor. If your knee pain does not go away and interferes with your activities, see a doctor... ### Physical examination Your doctor: - He will examine your knee to determine the cause of the pain behind the kneecap and rule out other problems... - He may ask you to stand, walk, jump, squat, sit, and lie down.... During the physical exam, the doctor will also check for: - The level of the legs and the position of the kneecap - Knee stability, hip rotation and knee and hip range of motion - Kneecap for allergy symptoms - Connection of the thigh muscles to the kneecap - The strength, flexibility, stiffness, tone and size of the muscles in the front of the thigh (quadriceps) and back of the thigh (hamstrings) - Heel tendon stiffness and leg flexibility ### Experiments **X-rays:** Plain x-rays provide fine detail of dense structures such as bones.. Special x-ray views help the doctor see if there is a problem with the shape or position of the kneecap....the tendons and muscles around the knee....unless you have symptoms such as a locked or stuck knee, an MRI usually does not address pain symptoms.. have themselves or do not improve with treatment, the doctor may prescribe an MRI at a subsequent visit to check for an internal problem of the knee joint, such as damage to the cartilage or ligaments.... Treatment of anterior knee pain in teenagers There are simple changes you can make to relieve front knee pain. ### Changes in activity -Stop activities that cause knee pain until the pain is completely gone....this probably means you need to change your exercise program....switching to less stressful activities during this period will put less stress on the knee joint....cycling, swimming and yoga are good options to reduce stress....gradually resume running and other vigorous exercise after the pain is gone....-If you are too much to help lose weight....knee pain may It has to do with your athletic technique.... A coach at school may be able to help you evaluate and improve your technique, such as how to land from a jump or press from the starting line... - Your knee pain may be due to an imbalance in your hamstrings from repeating a particular activity or exercise.... This means that one muscle is stronger than the rest... Your doctor or trainer may recommend cross-training to improve the strength of a weaker muscle (usually the quadriceps or hamstrings).. Quadriceps Thighs because they are the main stabilizers of the kneecaps... Your doctor may give you exercises or recommend that you see a physical therapist who can design an exercise program to improve the flexibility and strength of your hamstrings. ### Shoes Your doctor may recommend insoles....Soft, firm, and molded insoles can prevent overpronation (when the arches of your feet flatten out too much) and relieve pain and fatigue....Different types of insoles can be purchased at your local drug store....Make sure your athletic shoes provide proper support for your activities and are the right size..Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen may help relieve your pain. To avoid possible side effects of an upset stomach, always take these medications with food.... Read more: **Injection in the knee joint** Improvement of anterior knee pain in adolescents Anterior knee pain in teenagers is usually completely relieved with simple measures... However, if you do not change your exercise program or activity level, the pain may recur. It is important to maintain good posture in the muscles around the knee, especially the quadriceps and hamstrings. Additional measures you can take to prevent the return of anterior knee pain include: - Wearing appropriate shoes for your activities - Complete warm-up before physical activity - Adding stretching exercises to the warm-up program and stretching exercises after physical activity - Reducing any activities that have damaged your knees in the past Limit the total number of kilometers you run in training and racing - Cross-training to avoid overuse of a muscle group or joint