Knee pain and chondromalacia patella

Patellar chondromalacia is the name given to the pain people feel in the front of the knee.

This is a very common topic in office consultations and which still raises many doubts: it is the famous Chondromalacia Patelar. Ugly name, difficult, but very famous. Everyone hears or knows someone who has or had chondromalacia. I usually say that if I see 20 people a day, 15 have a previous overload, due to chondromalacia.

What is that

The kneecap, or former patella, is a bone held together by tendons. From the kneecap extends upwards the quadriceps tendon, which is the end of the thigh muscle. In the opposite direction, down, is the patellar tendon. When we bend and straighten the knee, the kneecap moves, up and down, sliding over the femur, in an area that looks like a gutter. Chondromalacia, therefore, is an overload, an inflammation in this anterior portion of the knee. It is just the beginning of the injury to the cartilage of the patella, the part that slides on the femur.

What causes

It is mainly caused by muscle imbalance that occurs during or after activities where there is a lot of knee movement, such as running and cycling. It is a very important fact that everyone should know. The kneecap is controlled by the quadriceps, i.e. the thigh muscle controls the kneecap. The femur, where the kneecap runs, is controlled by the buttocks. So, if there is an imbalance between the thigh and buttock muscles, the kneecap will move one way and the femur the other. But they have an intimate relationship. If this relationship isn’t perfect, the femur ends up injuring the kneecap and its cartilage, resulting in anterior knee pain. So this is chondromalacia. It most often results from a muscle imbalance.

Treatment

There are many remedies, including injections, that can be used to treat chondromalacia. But resorting to drug treatment or infiltration without promoting adequate muscle balance will not combat the cause. So unless the patient has an injury or some kind of deformity, conservative treatment is administered through muscle rebalancing. That’s why it’s good to press this button: strengthening the buttocks and thighs makes the knee work better. It’s something that depends too much on it.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.