What:
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (a fancy term for non-specific knee pain) is the common culprit for knee pain that is located around or underneath the surface of the kneecap. It is more common in females than males and in young athletes. Often jumping sports such as basketball or netball can result in patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Patellofemoral pain is often increased with activities such as straight-line running, downhill running, going up or down the stairs, cycling and extended periods of sitting. Squats or lunges may also be difficult with pain travelling up or down your lower body.
Why:
Patellofemoral pain may be insidious or it may be secondary to another knee injury such as muscle sprain, ligament strain or meniscus injury. This may result in muscle weakness and imbalance of key muscles surrounding the knee joint. In turn, there may be evidence of poor technique and motor control, leading to increased patellofemoral pain.
How (to manage):
In general, treatment often requires an initial phase of de-loading the knee joint to promote healing. Then, motor control of the hips and knees is introduced to improve lower limb movement technique. This is followed by a hip and knee strengthening protocol to target the weak muscles and the muscle imbalances. In some people, an ankle component may also be necessary.
For those looking to return to sport or a specific work function, a gradual return is important. The timeframes can vary from weeks to months for each individual as specific biomechanical abnormalities must be considered. In addition to the strengthening protocol, there may be focus on agility exercises, patella taping and foot orthotics to correct any other biomechanical issues in the lower limb.
As pain levels and aggravating activities vary from person to person, it is important to visit your Physiotherapist to diagnose and treat the condition accordingly. Patellofemoral pain has a high risk of relapse, so it is important to target the root cause of the problem.
Feel free to contact Back in Motion Braybrook for a FREE initial assessment to help you manage patellofemoral pain syndrome today.