Patella Femoral Stress Syndrome (chondromalacia patella) 

​Patella tracking pain occurs when the patella (knee cap) does not move in its proper position. The patella has an optimal range of function, gliding over a groove in the femur (thighbone). When imbalances in the knee joint occur, from factors such as asymmetrically tight muscles or inflamed ligaments, the patella can be pulled off of this tracking.  As seen in the diagrams above, abnormal tracking results in a redistribution of the compressive forces experienced within the knee joint, causing arthritic changes to the thin layer of articular cartilage on both the under surface of the patella and the femoral condyle. 

Symptoms include:
  • burning pain in the front of the knee, especially when squatting, jumping, kneeling
  • the sensation that the knee is buckling, or cannot support weight 
  • catching, clicking, grinding, or popping in the kneecap when the joint is manipulated 
  • pain when sitting or having the knee joint in a bent position

At Granville Physio, your therapist can use shockwave therapy to target the outside thigh and associated tight muscles accelerating the lengthening of the outside quadriceps muscles and fascial tissue.  Additionally, we can teach you how to improve your arch mechanics, appropriately release and stretch the muscles of the thigh, strengthen the pelvis to obtain stability and reduce reliance on the quadriceps muscles, and potentially apply insoles to the feet.