Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 10/15/2008

Question
At the begging of this term my right knee started to hurt in ballet. I was at
the barre and I fondu my right leg. As I went deeper in the fondu I felt a pain
just under my knee cap then my leg gave way. I didn't think nothing of it and
I tried it again and I felt the same pain in the same place. Then later on in the
class we where doing some jump work and this made the pain worse. Every
time I plie to jump I would feel the pain in my knee and then when I landed
from the jump into a plie I would feel the pain again. This would mean that I
wouldn't do a deep plie (because I would only feel the pain when my knees
are bent just below 90 degrees) which would mean I wouldn't get a high jump
but then when I land I wouldn't plie deep enough to absorb the shock from
jumping because again the knee would hurt. However  if i don't put any
weight on my leg and then bend my knee I don't feel any pain. Also if I do
fondu at the barre but take most of the weight by holding onto the bar and
fondu past , just below 90 degrees then I dont feel pain but when i straighten
up my knee and I straighten through that 90 degree area the I feel the pain.
What I'm trying to say is there is a specific point in my knee bend when i feel
the pain. Anything below or above it does not cause me any pain. What could
this be as it is really frustrating me. It means I cant do any jump work or
single legged fondu work

Answer
Hi Bertram. The sooner you get this diagnosed the better. I recommend seeing an activator chiropractor - go to www.activator.com. If there aren't any in your area, call the local ones and ask each one if they have experience with ballet or sports medicine. Choose one with experience if you can. Ask at your ballet studio too, they may recommend one.

A chiropractor can diagnose with x-rays and examination. They can muscle test the strength of all the muscles related to the use of your knee, and also assess the tension in your quads. Quad muscles can pull on the kneecap. Also, a chiropractor can adjust misalignments that can occur around the knee joint, and of the kneecap, which may be causing your problem.

You need to know right away if there are any tears in the ligaments in your knee. If there is only a sprain, then you can heal it with rest, ice, compression and elevation. A chiropractor will tell you exactly how to do that. Most chiropractors offer various physio therapies as well, to speed the healing.

If you have a tear - that takes you in another direction, medical.

What you can do, today, is start icing your knee every hour or at least three times a day. This will help with inflammation, increase the circulation and healing ability of the area.

It is your job as a dancer to know how this happened - for example, turning out from the feet, the usual suspect in knee problems....but not the only one. I have written many articles at http://www.balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com that might give you a review of your strengths and weaknesses, if you like to read.

If you do not see someone about this, it will likely get worse. All the best, Dianne