Why Do My Child's Leg Keep Locking?

The knees are very important joints in the human body and play a significant role in performing basic actions such as walking, running and balancing. Having a locked knee, where the knee is unable to either bend or straighten, can be a major inconvenience to the affected individual. In most cases, locked knees can be classified into one that is caused by a pain too severe to allow any kind of knee motion or a mechanical block to the motion of the knee. One of the most common occurrences of a locked knee in the event of a mechanical blockage is the presence of a tear in the meniscus. When there is a tear in the meniscus, a large fragment of the meniscus remains lodged within the knee thereby preventing its normal motion. The meniscus can be easily torn by rather innocuous activities such as walking or even squatting, while factors such as a traumatic blow to the area could also do significant damage. For elderly individuals, the tear can be a simple and natural occurrence as a result of the degeneration and wear and tear of the meniscus. Most of the pain suffered during a locking of the knee will disappear after the knee has been unlocked. Some people may experience a certain amount of pain and swelling, while others may only notice a strange clicking sound emanating from the knee.

In order to successfully treat the condition, you could try sleeping on your side all through the night, using the help of a pillow to make sure that you stay on your side. This will allow the joints around the knee area to relax and gradually automatically pop right back into place. If you are obese, you may want to think about losing a significant amount of weight as being overweight places a considerable amount of stress on the knees. This could be greatly compounded if your knee is already weak. Make sure that your choice of footwear is not uncomfortable. With the increasing prioritization of fashion, a number of people seem to forget the essence of good footwear is comfort. Make sure the heels are not too high otherwise the weight of the body gets thrown forward and stress on the knees increases. Certain birth conditions such as being bow legged or knock kneed increase the likelihood of an individual suffering from the constant locking of knees. This misalignment can also greatly hamper the correct performing method of activities such as swimming and cycling.

answered by G M

Advice on leg locking

I assume that when you refer to your child's leg locking, you mean that he or she is unable to move from a particular position - either bend or straighten the leg. There is a long list of possible causes for such a condition, and it is best to visit a doctor immediately. This is obviously not a minor problem, particularly for a child, and it should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

There are a variety of purely physical problems with the joint itself that can cause it to lock up. Since you have not mentioned your child's age, any other symptoms, and how long this condition has existed, any suggestions given here are only rough guesses. Your child may have injured his or her knee when playing, and the locking may be due to a torn cartilage or bone fragment, a torn ligament, or a dislocation. Another possibility is a condition known as osteochondritis dissecans, in which blockage of an artery causes loss of blood supply to an area. This in turn may result in a bone fragment breaking off and obstructing movement. A diagnosis will be possible only after a thorough examination, most probably including an x-ray and other tests.

answered by M W