Is Knee Pain Holding You Back?

Knee pain is one of the most common injuries we see in our clinic. This is partly due to there being many different types of knee pain. Today we want to talk to you about the most common knee injury we treat here, it’s known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.

Keep reading…

So, what is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and who is at risk?

Great question!

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is a term to describe the pain in and around your knee cap.

For some patients the source of pain can be hard to locate and even harder to describe. As clinicians we describe the pain as vague and diffuse in nature.

Almost everyone who is active is at risk of knee pain, including Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, but there are certain groups that are more susceptible.

People who exercise or play sports, particularly those that involve sudden changes in movement or speed could be vulnerable to knee injuries. This is because when you run, jump, twist and turn, the extra force and impact is taken by the knee joint.

What leads to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?

Just like any injury, the exact causation can vary tremendously from one person to the next.

Some of the most common contributing factors include:
- Feet which roll inwards (pronate),
- Having a knee cap which sits towards the outside of the knee,
- Lower limb muscle tightness,
- Poor muscle function or weakness/imbalance (very common),
- External factors such as poor training routines or inadequate footwear (also very common and often missed in differential diagnosis to the untrained eye).

In many of the Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome cases that we treat, there is often a combination of several of the above contributing factors present.

What can you do to help combat this injury?

First of all, you will need to be assessed by an expert who sees Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and successfully treats it often.

When you do present to your practitioner, it will really help in our differential diagnosis and subsequent management if you can keep a record of how your pain has been behaving up to that point.

Important aspects for you to note are:
- The specific location of your pain (although this is often difficult),
- What activities make your pain worse,
- A thorough history of when your pain started,
- Whether you are experiencing any clicking, or giving way of your knee,
- The presence of any swelling around the knee.

You should also always inform your therapist of any previous injuries you have suffered that may be affecting your present condition and future management.

The more accurate the information you are able to provide your physiotherapist, the easier it is to determine the best management plan for you so that you can make a successful recovery.

So if knee pain is preventing you for performing the activities you enjoy, or if you believe the way your body moves may be placing you at risk of developing knee pain in the future, please call our clinic for an initial consultation and we can get you on the road to recovery.

That’s all from us today.