Increasingly more and more people have been coming to see me at the clinic with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (or pain at the front of the knee).The pain is often associated with grinding, clicking and clunking in the knee which is made worse by squating type movements and walking up/downstairs.
This grinding, clicking and clunking is NOT normal and will most likely indicate that your patella (or knee cap) is tracking poorly. If your patella is not tracking correctly at the front of the knee then it will 'rub' against the edge of the femur, which will in turn cause it to grind, click or clunk.
Alongside the grinding, clicking and clunking some people also report a 'giving way' in the knee or a general feeling of being unstable.
Again this is NOT normal.
The good news is that with the correct treatment this pain (as well as the associated grinding, click and clunking) can normally be resolved successful with out the need for any surgical intervention.
The cause of this 'poor tracking' in the knee is often due to muscle imbalances in the thigh muscles (quadriceps) and weakness in the hip muscles.
With the correct exercises and treatment most often these imbalances can be addressed.
For a more detailed explanation of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome click here.
Additionally if you have any questions you would like answered about you own knee pain please do email me.
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Treatments that I use to resolve Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, may include some / all of the following:
- Mobilisations to the patella to 'free up' tight structures.
- Massage to the IT-Band, to help address the muscle imbalances.
- Home exercises specifically designed to even out the muscle imbalances.
- Ultrasound to help improve the inflammatory process.
- Taping to help re-position the knee cap.
- Referral to a podiatrist if your imbalances are associated with poor bio-mechanics at your feet.
