Anterior Knee Pain
By Jared Ernest PT
Anterior Knee Pain
Knee Pain
Do you have pain in the front of your knee(s) with running, going up/down stairs, sitting for a prolonged time? Have you ever been diagnosed with Runner’s Knee, Chondromalacia, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome or IT Band Syndrome? All of these diagnoses are synonymous with anterior (front of the knee) knee pain. Often times the pain associated with all of these diagnoses is a result of poor tracking of the patella (knee cap). The mal-tracking of the patella in the femoral groove is usually related to a few problems:
Anterior Knee Pain
-Tight muscles and lateral knee structures
–Weak muscles or weak medical quad muscles
-Improper Mechanics
Continue reading to find ways to address these issues and hopefully put an end to that knee pain.
Here is a video from The Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute on why Knee Pain Can’t Wait.
TIGHT MUSCULATURE:
Tight lower extremity musculature can cause compression of the patella into the femoral groove by creating direct pressure (quads) or excessive flexion of the knee (hamstrings & calves). In addition, other tight muscles can cause the patella to pull out of the femoral groove. Both of these scenarios can cause significant pain, inflammation and possibly arthritis if left untreated resulting in a very painful and debilitating condition.
Stretches: Hold for 30 seconds.
Hamstrings Stretch:
lay on your back with uninvolved leg out straight. Keep involved leg straight and pull it up and over your head until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg.
seated hamstring stretch in chair
Iliotibial Band Stretch:
lay on your back with uninvolved leg out straight. Place a rope or golf putter around the outside of foot of involved leg. Keep leg straight and pull it across body and up towards opposite shoulder until you feel a stretch along the outside of leg/buttocks area.
iliotibial band ITB stretch with belt
Quadriceps or Quad Stretch
: Lay on you side and grab your ankle with your hand or place a rope around foot of involved leg. Bend knee and pull foot to buttocks until feel stretch in front of thigh.
side lying quadriceps stretch
Calf Stretch
Please see the picture below. The calf you are stretching is the leg which is the furthest behind you.
Proper way to stretch the calf
TIGHT LATERAL STRUCTURES:
Tight lateral structures of the knee cause the patella to track improperly in the femoral groove. An improperly tracking patella can result in several problems including, but not limited to, baker’s cysts, fat pad inflammation and early arthritis due to wearing down of the articular cartilage of the patella and/or femur. Patella mobilizations can assist to keep these lateral structures loose and the patella tracking normally.
Patella Mobilizations: Medial Glide and Medial Tilt
Human Knee joint
STRENGTHENING:
It’s good to keep all the muscles in the lower extremity strong, but the two most important to focus on are listed below:
Quads VMO-Vastus Medialis Obliques: keeps the patella tracking properly by pulling it medially into the femoral groove.
Quad sets With both legs straight contract thigh muscles. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 20x.
Mini Squats With feet shoulder width apart and toes straight forward bend hips and knees as if sitting in chair. Make sure knees align with middle of foot and stay behind toes. Perform 30-50 reps.
Buttocks PGM-Posterior Gluteus Medius: maintains proper hip/knee mechanics when climbing/descending stairs, bending, and standing.
Gluteus sets While standing and feet straight forward and planted, rotate knees out and squeeze buttocks together. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 6x.
Gluteus sets Side lying straight leg raises- lay on uninvolved leg with leg slightly bent. With involved leg straight and thigh muscles contracted, extend leg behind body, rotate hips so toes point to the ceiling and lift leg up toward the ceiling. Don’t allow your body to roll backwards as you lift your leg. Perform 30-50 reps.
MECHANICS:
Mechanics play an important role in avoiding and eliminating anterior knee pain. Many times people don’t realize how poor their mechanics are when they stand, bend, climb stairs, etc.. Improper mechanics can cause compression of the patella in the femur and/or medial and lateral knee structures. Improper mechanics can cause compression of the patella in the femur and/or Alignment of hip knee-ankle: Keep knees aligned with middle of foot when standing, bending and climbing or descending stairs.
A knee brace may also help keep the patella in the correct alignment within the knee joint. JOI Rehab can provide you with a Shields Brace.
Shields Brace for Patella Tracking
Keep knees behind toes when bending: Foot Hyper-pronation (flat feet) can lead to a valgus knee causing mal-tracking of patella and/or compressive forces on medial/lateral knee structures. An evaluation may be needed to assess this condition. Correction can be attained with foot orthotics. To schedule for physical therapy at JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.
Please watch this video on How To Put On a Medial Unloader Brace.
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Book an Appointment with The Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute Today!
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Article By: Jared Ernest, MPT