DEMYSTIFYING BREASTSTROKE KNEE ISSUES
Swimming specialist physiotherapist Alex Ewart explores knee pain
Asa physio who specialises in the treatment of swimmers, I have seen my fair share of breaststroker’s knee. While it isn’t as common as swimmer’s shoulder, it is still common. Left untreated, it can be painful, debilitating and can really affect performance in the water.
What is breaststroker’s knee?
Breaststroker’s knee is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of ailments. It can include, but is certainly not limited to, a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear, meniscal pathology or irritation around the patellar tendon. What these conditions all have in common is they result in pain on the side of the knee. This is where most swimmers with breaststroker’s knee have discomfort.