Kneecap laxity, which is not a well-known problem, is important in terms of the different troubles it can cause if not taken care of. Pointing out that people with loose kneecaps can face much more serious problems in the knees with a wrong move, Orthopedics, and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Gökhan Meriç said, “If a person experiences pain in front of the knee, especially while doing sports, has difficulty in climbing stairs and there is a sound in his knees, he should definitely consult a doctor.”

Kneecap laxity, which is a serious orthopedic problem although not seen frequently, is of great importance because of the different troubles it can cause. Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Gökhan Meriç said that according to the researches, unconscious sports activities at an early age are an important factor in the emergence of this problem.

Noting that many people have recently started to develop knee pain due to muscle weakness, Yeditepe University Hospitals  Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Gokhan Meriç said that;  “Many of us were at home during the pandemic, and there are still people who continue to work at home. In this case, joint problems and knee pains due to muscle weakness began to be seen more frequently. Therefore, the need to exercise arose. However, sudden intense sports activity causes extra load on the joints because the muscles are weak and can cause different troubles in the knees.

Women at Greater Risk

Stating that women are more likely to encounter this problem, especially because their joints are a little looser than normal, Prof. Dr. Gökhan Meriç said; “Looseness in the kneecap is the case what we call patellar instability. In this situation; if exercises such as bending and standing up, and squats are concentrated on in an intense sports activity, anterior knee pain due to excessive laxity in the kneecap can be seen.

Attention to Sports Activities

Saying; "Especially those who suffer from anterior knee pain, need to extend their feet when sitting for a long time, feel pain when going up and down stairs, or who think that their knees are making noise, have anterior knee pain or a tendency to cartilage damage," Prof. Dr. Meriç drew attention to the points to be considered while doing sports: “Not every sports activity is suitable for every patient. People who go to the gym especially for group activity should pay attention. Likewise, it may not be appropriate to have 20 people do the same type of exercise in group exercises in gyms. If a movement you perform while doing sports causes pain in the front of the knee or the knee joint, stop that exercise. Because pushing against it or forcing it can cause serious damage in the future.”

'Young Patients Need to Be Warned'

Stating that the anatomy of the person is also important in knee cap laxity, Prof. Dr. Gökhan Meriç said, “From a very young age, such as 15-16, looseness in the joints can cause excessive load on them and cause pain there. Young people whose cartilages have never been damaged and who do not have serious problems in their knees may lose their knee and joint health while playing sports. It is necessary to warn them about this and inform them about doing sports consciously. However, if our patients suffer from anterior knee pain, especially while doing sports, we can follow the pain for a few days. We may recommend ice application, rest, and pain relief treatment. However, if the patient's pain continues for 15 days, if there is increasing pain, if the knee or joint has started to sound, he should definitely consult a specialist.

Consult a Specialist If You Have a Sound From the Knee and Joint

Prof. Dr. Gökhan Meriç shared the following information about the treatments applied for knee cap laxity: “If the patient has constant anterior knee pain, if it affects his daily life, if he has difficulty climbing stairs, if there is excessive volatility in the knee cap, he should go to a doctor. Different treatments such as drug therapy, exercise, physical therapy, bandaging, or the use of knee braces can be applied, depending on the patient's condition. If the patient's complaints become chronic and if damage forms on the articular cartilage, curative injection treatments can be applied for the articular cartilage. If the complaints progress seriously, then an intervention may be required. Although these surgical interventions are performed either closed or open, they vary according to the patient's age, activity level, and the structure of the kneecap.

May Cause Kneecap Dislocation!

Stating that they recommend the patients especially strengthen the upper leg and hip muscles and avoid excessive bending and lifting exercises in order to prevent anterior knee pain, Yeditepe University Hospitals Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Meriç concluded his words as follows: “In people with intense laxity in the kneecap, even dislocation of the kneecap may develop when forced with a reverse movement. Although dislocation is very rare, it is a serious problem. It causes damage to the ligaments holding the kneecap and knee cartilage. This, in turn, causes severe knee pain and limits the patient's daily life. Most patients may require intervention after kneecap dislocation.”

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