Patellofemoral knee pain
Description:- Patello femoral knee pain or anterior knee pain is possibly one of the most common knee pain issues seen in active people. Commonly the issues relate to the way the knee cap (patella) moves in relation to the thigh bone (femur).
Often pain is described as being underneath the patella either during or after activity. The pain is usually a dull ache or toothache type pain rather than a sharp pain.
Causes:- There are a number of reasons that may cause pain in this area.
Patella tendoniitis
(Jumpers knee, Osgood Schlatters)
Patella tendoniits (jumpers
knee):-
Patella
tendoniitis differs from patellofemoral pain as the pain relates to
pain below the knee cap in the qyaudriceps tendon which inserts
into the top of the tibia (shin bone). The tibial tubercle is a
boney lump which is at the top of the tibia in the centre
immediately below the knee (see picture to the
left).
Osgood
Schlatters disease:- Is more specifically related to the
boney lump (tibial tubercle) in children or young adults being
softened. The pull from the quadriceps muscle which inserts into
the tibia at the tubercle (top of the shin) stresses the insertion
point causing the area to become painful and
inflamed.
Causes (of both):- Jumping, running or kicking can stress the tendon and insertion over time, which causes pain in this area.
Treatment:-
Avoidance of
the activity causing the problem is advised as well as
Physiotherapy to help reduce the symptoms.
Knee braces
can also help to help reduce the pain from the pull of the
quadriceps tendon.