The Training Room Bulletin The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
Runner’s knee, Patellofemoral pain, knee cap pain – just a few of the many different names for pain that affects the front of the knee. This type of knee pain is very common among many athletes and non-athletes alike. Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is considered one of the most common forms of knee pain, affecting adults, adolescents, and physically active populations. It has been reported as the most common athletic injury affecting up to 25% of all people involved in sporting activities. This can be a very frustrating and debilitating condition especially to someone who wants to stay active. Understanding Knee Anatomy Ok, so first let’s go over a little anatomy…The patellofemoral complex consists not only of the patella (knee cap) and femur (thigh bone) joint, but also of the quadriceps (thigh) muscle and tendon, the patellar tendon, and the structures that attach to the knee cap including the iliotibial band (IT band). The knee cap must glide on the groove in the thigh bone. This is controlled by the alignment and the soft tissue surrounding the knee cap. It is these soft tissue structures that become inflamed and are often the source of anterior knee pain. Patellofemoral pain is typically classified as an overload or overuse injury, as large stresses are exacerbated by repetitive loading leading to a cumulative effect. People with this condition usually complain of front of the knee pain that worsens with activities such as squatting, climbing stairs and running. Pain may also be present with prolonged sitting or standing due RUNNER’S KNEE by Mandy Huggard, PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS, & Owner
to the static position of the patellofemoral joint. Often knee symptoms are worse after activity. What’s the Cause? The cause of PFP is often multifactorial and varies from person to person. Risk factors include foot mechanics, muscle strength imbalance, tightness in leg musculature, and weakness of the hip/core muscles. Deficits in these areas can lead to stress of the patella and poor alignment of the lower extremity. Tightness of the lower extremities can compress the joint structures causing increase in pain. In addition, overtraining, improper footwear and trainingmethods may be a source of the problem. How Physical Therapy Can Help Ultimately, uncovering these causes become the solution and cure to the pain. A thorough evaluation is necessary to determine where deficits occur.The evaluationmust include the entire kinetic chain from core including hips and abdominals, to a gait analysis. A rehab program that addresses the person’s individual deficits will likely eliminate the pain and prevent the symptoms from recurring. Stretching, core stability exercises, hip strengthening, soft tissue mobilization and neuromuscular control drills may be part of a physical therapy program. Does it sound like PT can help you? Call The Training Room today to schedule an evaluation.
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