Patellofemoral Syndrome
Patellofemoral Syndrome is a common issue to do with your knee, and can sometimes be called “Runner’s Knee”. It is used to describe when you feel pain around your kneecap. It occurs when nerves in the tendons, tissue and bone around the kneecap sense pain. Specifically, it occurs when the tendon that connects the kneecap, also known as the patella, to the shinbone is injured.
The most common symptom of patellofemoral syndrome is a dull, aching pain in the front of the knee. Certain movements, like squatting, kneeling, sitting for long periods of time, or going up/down stairs can cause the pain to worsen. Sometimes mild swelling can occur, or a feeling of grinding when the leg is bent or straightened.
As patellofemoral syndrome is also known as Runner’s Knee, it often occurs in athletes, and people who enjoy sports where there is running or jumping. But, patellofemoral syndrome does not discriminate, and can be seen in non-athletes, teenagers and young people, manual workers and older people. However, both age and gender can play a role in patellofemoral syndrome. It is more common to see patellofemoral syndrome in teenagers and young adults than older people. And as stated by the Mayo Clinic, women are twice as likely as men to develop it. It is thought that women may experience it more often than men due to women’s wider pelvis which increases the angle that the bones in the knee meet at.
Physiotherapy can help to treat patellofemoral syndrome. Nicole will work with you to develop a plan that works for you. This can include exercises to help strengthen the quads and abductor muscles which can help keep the knee balanced during activity. She can also help you with modification to exercises to help decrease strain on the knee. Taping the patella, massage and stretching may also be incorporated to help treat patellofemoral syndrome. Treatment will help the pain go away, and prevent it from coming back.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/patellofemoral-syndrome#outlook
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319458#outlook
https://pivotalphysio.com/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome-physiotherapy/