Health blog Category: knee joint
Patellofemoral Dysfunction
Pain around the knee or knee cap is generally referred to as Patellofemoral Dysfunction.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a condition in which the tissue or bone around the knee is damaged due to injury or overuse. This is commonly seen in athletes but can occur in nonathletes as well.
Causes:
- Muscle imbalances – ITB tightness, VMO weakness
- Alignment of the knee cap
- Overuse or repetitive activity – such as stairs, kneeling, squatting movements
- High impact activities – sports
Pain will generally decrease with rest and ice, but may return with resuming activity.
Read full blog3 Prevalent Knee Problems, and How to Treat Them
Knee problems are one of the most common injuries that we see in physical therapy, whether it’s due to a sports-related injury or due to degenerative changes that occur as we age.
Some of the most common knee injuries include:
- Ligament injuries
- Meniscus injuries
- Osteoarthritis
All of these cause pain, weakness and a decrease in functional activities.
Ligament injuries
Ligament Injuries are more common knee problems that occur among the active patient population.
Read full blogTop 3 Tests for Knee Injuries
Knee pain and knee injuries is often the result of an imbalance in tension of muscles. When certain muscles are tighter or weaker than others, it affects the way the joint moves. When we assess someone who has knee pain, we often find that their patella, or the knee cap, is not tracking properly due to tight connective tissue. When the kneecap rubs against the sides of the knee joint, it can cause irritation and pain.
Read full blogPatellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) is considered a diagnosis of exclusion for anterior knee pain (pain in the front of your knee or around your kneecap). Structurally, there is no specific tissue that is seriously damaged. Despite its seemingly vague description, this diagnosis is commonly the answer given. Let’s dive into what it means!
What is the patellofemoral joint:
It is where the kneecap (patella) and thigh bone (femur) meet at the front of the knee.
Read full blogHiking and Knee Pain
I found myself out hiking this past weekend to get out of the house and enjoy the weather which is something I love to do! I’m always amazed how taxing it is on my body, especially my knees as I woke up the next day and hobbled out of bed and down the stairs!
Hiking Downhill VS Hiking Uphill
Hiking is a recreational activity that offers many benefits for the human body! However, the constant pounding endured by the knees during lengthy hikes can wear out the joints and cause inflammation, especially when hiking downhill.
Read full blogStrains in These Muscles, Means Trouble Bending Our Knees
The hamstrings play an important role in the lower body. They are responsible for helping us stand, walk, run, and jump. Hamstrings are often neglected and can result in an injury to them, such as strains. One of the most common hamstring injuries that we see in the clinic is the hamstring strain.
What are the Hamstrings?
The hamstrings are made up of three muscles that make up the back of your thigh.
Read full blogThe Fancy Word for Knee Discomfort
Patellofemoral pain is a general term used to describe pain that resides in the front of the knee and around the kneecap, also known as the patella. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, PFPS, is also known as both runners’ and jumpers’ knee due to the type of athletes who commonly complain of the problem. Based on the nicknames of PFPS, most people tend to believe that it can only occur in athletes or those who participate in high intensity sports, however it can also occur in the older and more sedentary populations.
Read full blogThe Knee and Arthritis
Arthritis is a degenerative joint condition that occurs overtime. Our joints wear down over our lifetime, and the cartilage or cushioning layer on our bones disappears. When this layer is gone your bones begin to rub other bones. What you might not realize is that knee arthritis specifically, impacts every age group.
Knee Arthritis Symptoms:
- Pain and swelling inside the joint
- Stiffness not only in the joint but also in the surrounding muscles
- Loss of range of motion in your knees
- Bending and extending your knees becomes difficult
- Grinding and popping in your knee joint.
Say ‘No’ to Knee Problems
Knee pain is a very common problem which can result in difficulty with many daily activities. It can greatly limit our functional mobility. Some people also experience stiffness in and around the knee causing difficulty moving the joint and generalized weakness in the affected leg.
How Can Knee Pain Affect Us?
Having pain or stiffness in our knee can cause:
- Difficulty walking
- Pain with going up or down the stairs
- Pain with squatting
- Difficulty standing up from a chair
- Inability to kneel
- Difficulty with lifting, pushing, or pulling objects.
- Difficulty moving after staying in a prolonged position
- Inability to sit for a period of time.
What Makes this Joint Snap, Crackle and Pop…
What exactly is patellofemoral pain? Patellofemoral pain is a general term used to describe pain that resides in the front of the knee and around the kneecap, also known as the patella. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, PFPS, is also known as both runners’ and jumpers’ knee due to the type of athletes who commonly complain of the problem. Based on the nicknames of PFPS, most people tend to believe that it can only occur in athletes or those who participate in high intensity sports, however it can also occur in the older and more sedentary populations.
Read full blog