Patello-femoral
pain
Definition:
Patella = kneecap; Femoral = femur (thigh bone)
Patello-femoral
pain is an umbrella term used for pain felt behind your kneecap, where your
kneecap articulates with your thigh bone. The pain is mainly due to poor kneecap
alignment. Poor kneecap alignment is
usually a result of muscle imbalance.
Causes:
You have
4 quadriceps muscles which attach to the kneecap. If there is a muscle imbalance between
the muscle that pulls the patella up and out (vastus lateralis), and the muscle
that pulls the patella up and in (vastus medialis oblique), then your patella
will track laterally in the groove of the femur and cause pain and irritation.
Longstanding
tightness of the lateral knee structures will encourage the patella to
drift sideways over time.
Poor
buttock muscle control can also cause the knee to roll in, and thus
cause a relative lateral displacement of the patella.
Symptoms:
·
Gradual onset
·
Pain during weight bearing or jarring activities
that involve knee bending e.g. Stairs, squatting, kneeling, running
Treatment options:
*Diagnosis
of reason for symptoms (Physiotherapy assessment can help with this)
*Rest,
reduce pain and swelling
*Taping,
mobilisation of kneecap, strapping
*Strengthen
weak muscles, stretch short muscles
*Address shoes and foot biomechanics
Credit to: https://physioworks.com.au/injuries-conditions-1/patellofemoral-kneecap-pain-syndrome