Surfing & Knee Problems

Surfing can be hard on the joints.

While compared to a contact sport like football, surfing is relatively safe. However, it can become an extreme sport if weather-related conditions push the body to the limit. More and more surfers are taking risks to have adrenaline-rushing experiences. The knees take an especially hard beating when it comes to surfing-related injuries and problems.

MCL Tears

The MCL or medial collateral ligament makes up one of the four ligaments that stabilize the knee joint. Tearing occurs after the knee is struck, causing it to buckle. Anything from a board to a rock can strike the knee while surfing. Symptoms of an MCL injury include pain at the ligament sight along with swelling and bruising. There are three stages of MCL tears. A grade I tear is an incomplete tear, and it usually only sidelines a surfer for one or two weeks. A grade II tear usually sees instability in the knee along with pain and swelling, and it could take three or four weeks of rest. The most serious is a grade III tear, and it requires six weeks of rest along with a knee brace.

Saphenous Neuritis

Saphenous neuritis is a pinched nerve and comes from straddling a surfboard. It causes the inside of one of the lower legs to experience numbness. It is often treated with anti-inflammatory creams or medicines.

ACL Tears

The Antenor Cruciate Ligament is one of two cross-shaped ligaments of the knee joint. They cross over each other as they run down the thigh and leg bones, providing support. The prime symptom of an ACL is hearing a pop during the moment of injury. Afterwards, there is pain and swelling along with the knee feeling unstable. Only one-third of all ACL injuries do not require surgery, and even then, the rehabilitation process is lengthy.

Patellofemoral pain

Patellofemoral pain is caused from squatting on the board and overturning while riding waves. While it is often associated with runners and is called "runner's knee," it is also seen in surfers. After the injury, pain can occur while going down steps or hills, or it can occur after sitting for long periods of time. Treatment usually includes ice and rest, and depending on the severity of the case, your doctor can recommend physical therapy.

Surfer's Knob

This issue is seen mainly on the knees of Southern California surfers. The knobs of skin overgrowth are caused by surfers adopting a kneeling position on their boards to avoid chilly waters. Because of the weight put on the lower knee, knobs appear at pressure points. Doctors have concluded that the knobs cause no permanent danger or predispose surfer's to serious diseases like cancer, and they usually disappear once the surfing season has ended.

References

• Sports Injury Bulletin: Surfing Injuries and Surfer Training
• Surfline: Injuries in Surfing
• "Time": Trauma, the Knee and the Board
• MCL Tear: Signs and Symptoms
• Patellofemoral Pain: A Review and Guidelines for Treatment