Do you suffer from pain in your elbow when you play tennis? Or does your knee hurt when you run? Tennis elbow and runner’s knee are common sports injuries. They are typically due to overuse or acute trauma of the part of the body involved in the physical activity. Do you want to learn whether you are at risk, and how to prevent and treat sports injuries?

Question by evefar

Hi,

i have problems with both of my knee caps. i used to dance which involves quick turns, jumping and landing etc and sometimes my knee cap pops to the side and swell. which will last for weeks. to avoid more injuries, ive stopped. As an active person, i could not just sit around, and currently im into more agressive sports like netball, running and jogging. knee brace is the only thing to support my knee cap for now.

I would like to know what other alternative that i can do to prevent future injuries, supplement or ways i can avoid. how will this injuries affect as i get older?

Thank you
Eve

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

It is difficult to assess your knee simply based on your symptoms. I suggest you see an orthopaedic surgeon to determine if you indeed have any significant knee pathology. In general supplements do not really help to prevent future injuries or degenerative changes.

Question by foo0876a

Hi prof

During the recent Olympics games, I saw on TV some of our atheletes have colourful strips of tape pasted on various parts of their bodies. I was just wandering if the tape really helps in preventing sports injuries?

Thanks

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

The colourful tapes you saw were Kinesiotapes. They are useful for reducing swelling and improving muscle function after injury or surgery. There is no real role in preventing sports injuries.

Question by rsim

Dear Prof,

My knee does hurt whenever I jog, initially I attribute this to my inactive lifestyle, irregular jogging routine, thus I just continue my jog, what are the risks if we leave this untreated?

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Generally, it is wise to slowly increase your physical activity level. If you are sedentary and inactive, gradually build up your training from cycling and brisk walks and eventually to running. Pain usually indicates something is wrong and should not be ignored.

Question by pocoyosky

Hi Prof Chang,

How do we prevent knee pain/hurt when we run/jog?

Is 20 minutes warm-up exercise before our run/jog the solution to avoid knee pain?

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Knee pain can arise from many sources. If you do a proper warm up and stretching before running, it will help to prevent injuries and overuse syndromes. 20 minutes is usually sufficient.

Question by esim

Hello Prof,

Is avoidance of over strenuous sports the solution to prevent sports injuries? What are the methods to ease the pain? There are pain relief cream available at retail pharmacy, but they dont seem to provide much relief for me.

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Over strenuous sports can be embarked upon gradually without injury or pain. Avoidance of activity will only be temporary as pain will recur once sporting activities resume. Start with warm ups and gradually increase your activity within the pain threshold. If you experience pain, you will eventually stop sports or worse, may be aggravating an existing condition.

Question by ireneneo

I understand that Glucosamine is good for painful joints, but there's side effects for long-term usage of Glucosamine. Is there any other alternatives beside glucosamine for painful knees?

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Glucosamine is good for painful joints because they have a mild anti-inflammatory action and work to relieve pain. There is no strong evidence that glucosamine rebuild hyaline cartilage. If the glucosamine don’t work, then there is no reason for long term usage.

Question by onglj

Hi Prof Ironically I don't play tennis but I have tennis elbow. According to my ortho doc, it is because I carry heavy loads and lifestyle.

As a mum, I need to carry heavy grocery and do marketing.

What shd I do as not to get it worsen? Can it be cured?

Thanks

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Dear onglj

The cause of tennis elbow is not necessarily from playing tennis. It is often caused by repetitive micro trauma or tears to the forearm muscle attachment to the outside part of your elbow. The general treatment for this condition would initially consist of rest, ice, anti inflammatory medication, stretching and importantly avoidance of the activities that caused it in the first place. In your case it is likely the repetitive heavy lifting. During the later part of rehabilitation one should do strengthening exercises. I would highly recommend a course of physiotherapy for your condition.

Question by kitparfum

I used to jog frequently in the early morning (about 3-4 times a week, each lasting at least 45mins to at most an hour). However, last year, I experienced certain kind of weird pain/feeling at my left knee and have thus stopped this routine exercise. I heard that people who are a little overweight would have this problem as well when they started jogging, but I am not overweight and have an acceptable BMI of 18.9. Is it right for me to stop jogging or is it okay for me to continue? Will cycling be a better choice? Also, does glucosamine supplement (or any other supplement/food) help? If it does, can I continue jogging if I'm taking it? In addition, I believe many people associate knee pain with old age, but I am only 22 years old and I don't recall having any sport injury on knee. Thank you!

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Dear Kitparfum - Jogging is a very good form of exercise. Knee pain is usually due to wrong running techniques or shoes and improper warm-up. Visit a running specialist shop to get advice on equipment. Try to shorten your runs and persist with running. If all else fails, see an orthopaedic surgeon to exclude significant knee pathology

Question by tayleehiang

What is the reason for having intense bone pain (tibia) whenever I do fast brisk walking ?

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Dear Tayleehiang – It may be due to shin splints which is muscle overstrain or even stress fractures.

Question by​ mosmos

Hi, I do not play sports just some occasional running. For the past few months, whenever I walk up the slopes or climb up the stairs, my knees will feel slightly lock and pain. As it does not affect my daily activities, do I need medical care for this problem?

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Dear Mosmos – This is likely due to anterior knee pain. A visit to a physiotherapist for proper stretching and strengthening regime will likely improve your pain.

Question by octane

After some brisk playing of badminton, the next day my neck will feel tight and pain. Is this pain a cause for concern as the apin will go off after a few days without medication?

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Dear Octane – if the neck pain is temporary, it is unlikely to be of significant pathology. Do proper stretching before badminton.

Question by norahs123

Hi. I'm a runner who regularly takes part in >10 km runs and marathons. It has been 4 years plus since I took up long distance running. Recently, I feel ache/pain in my knees during my runs or after my runs. Is this normal? The pain is not unbearable, and it would go off when i stop my run. Someone recommended me to take Recogen for my joints. It contains rose hip extract that's said to be good for joints. May I know how true this is? Thank you!

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Dear Norah 123 – All supplements, including Recogen may have mild analgesic effects. There is no evidence that it helps to build up the joints in any way.

Question by Amanda.simin

Hi,

I swim alot and played waterpolo previously. Through the years, my right shoulder joint has progressively gotten weaker and more painful whenever I tried to stretch my right arm backwards or forward. I can no longer swim freestyle properly because my right arm doesn't allow me to stretch and pull without feeling pain.

I am wondering if this is a skeletal problem or muscular? What happened to my right shoulder?

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Dear Amanda, simin – It is likely due to mild shoulder instability visit a physiotherapist for strengthening exercises. If it persists, see an orthopaedic surgeon.

Question by Japhet

Dear A/Prof Chang, I have this nagging feeling of numbness on my lower right leg (shin) area. Because of that, I do not know whether my shin muscles are exerting the right effort when I do my sports. I am saying "numbness" coz the feeling is different compared to my left leg. I had reconstructive right knee surgery done 5 years ago and the numbness feeling started around 3 years ago. Please advise. Thank you, Japhet Labay

Answered by Assoc. Prof. Chang Chee Cheng, Paul Senior Consultant & Director, Sports Medicine Service Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Singapore General Hospital

Dear Japhet – It is best you go back and see your surgeon. The numbness can be due to many different reasons.

Ref: T12