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BODYCAST - THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CSOT Patellofemoral Syndrome What is patellofemoral syndrome? Patellofemoral syndrome is best described as anterior knee pain. The patient with this syndrome requires precise physical examination based on a thorough history. The most common reasons for anterior knee pain are:
There are six major anatomic structure sources of patellofemoral pain.
Whether pain occurs because of the direct trauma, overuse, malalignment, or a combination of factors, rest often reduces symptoms. Weak hip external rotator muscles can cause problems with patellofemoral joint, particularly in female patients. For the same reason, they are higher risk than men for ACL tears. Weak muscles can contribute to functional internal rotation of the hip, which results in an accentuation of lateral patellar tracking or shifting and instability. Malalignment or imbalance of the extensor mechanism can overload the retinaculum and subchondral bone. Repetitive, high-frequency overload to the malaligned joint can cause degeneration, nerve damage, and chronic retinacular strain, and aggravation of the peripatellar synovium. Studies have re-emphasized that quadriceps muscle deficiency is also a fundamental problem in patients with this condition. This abstract is a portion of the article
which appears in the Summer 2006 issue of BodyCast. |
