Back of knee pain (when jumping)

As the topic states, I get knee pain in the back of my knee when jumping off one leg while playing basketball. However, the back story should help explain things. About three years ago I rolled my ankle a number of times over the course of a couple of months. It was to the point where I favored it and just started jumping off my opposite, strong leg. This worked for the most part. However, I still managed to roll my weak ankle incidentally while playing from time to time. One time in particular was enough for me to stop playing for about six months (due to both the pain and frustration of having it constantly re-rolled). To bring you up to speed my left leg, the one that had been rolled was much weaker than my right for some time. I could physically grip my thigh muscles and notice an obvious difference in size. However, for about the last six months I have been doing some strengthen exercise. Specifically, one leg balances and other rehab exercises (which have had a significant impact).

Before these exercise, when I would jump off of the weak leg my ankle would want to roll to the outside, as this was the direction I injured it so many times in (ligament issues I assume). Also, if I were to confidently jump in the air, the back of my knee would usually get a sharp jolt. Enough to where there would be pain all around the knee area and upper/inner thigh temporarily. However, since doing these exercises, these issues have lessened a great deal. Yet, they have not completely gone away. I still get a pain in the back of my knee occasionally when jumping and my ankle does not feel completely up to strength (although I am no longer wearing a brace of any kind). So, what should I do? Should I continue the balance type exercises I have been doing and wait it out?  My guess is that my weak ankle made my entire leg weak and it will take some time to strengthen it back to my pre-injury strength, which both legs were completely healthy. Any ideas on what to do or what is causing the pain?

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

If you had a ligament tear in the past and if it was of a minor gradation then by rest and wearing of a brace it might have healed.

You need to go for scans (X-rays and MRI) to check for any ligament or other soft tissue damage and continue strengthening exercises.

Follow up with an orthopedician for an examination.

Take care!