2023-11-03 16:47:01
If patellar syndrome mainly affects athletes, it can also affect children and young adults as well as seniors.
What are the symptoms of patellar syndrome ?
We also talk of a patellofemoral syndrome to suggest abnormal functioning of the patella. This small bone located in front of the knee helps absorb shock, extend the leg and reduce the forces exerted on the bone. If it is inflamed, worn or damaged, you feel pain in the front part of the knee during certain exercises such as running or climbing stairs.
Patellar syndrome: causes and origins
For patellar syndrome to appear, there must generally be several small simultaneous disturbances. “It often takes a combination of several factors to cause the kneecap to not move normally,” explains Denis Fortier, physiotherapist (1). Among them :
- muscle weakness (to the quadriceps, hamstrings, other muscles of the lower limbs or those of the trunk)
- repeated flexion movements or prolonged flexion positions such as skiing for young athletes who are not sufficiently prepared
- An increase in the number of days of exercise per week
- The use of inappropriate sports training techniques or equipment
- Poor alignment between the knee, foot, hip and the rest of the body
- An old injury such as a sprained ankle, hip injury or even a fracture. Mobility has not been recovered well so other joints will be affected.
In case of pain in the front of the knee, we consult a doctor. The latter carries out a complete physical examination to find out whether or not you are affected by patellar syndrome. Knee pain can also be due to osteoarthritis, tendinitis or stiffness. Then he asks regarding a history of knee problems and asks us to perform certain exercises or movements. If necessary, he also prescribes a knee x-ray.
Thanks to physiotherapy sessions – for at least 3 to 6 months – prescribed by the doctor. According to Denis Fortier, consulting a doctor and doing physiotherapy exercises are crucial to cure but also to reduce the risk of recurrence. He also advises “stop, reduce or modify activities that reproduce pain” Otherwise “injury is encouraged all the time”.
Exercises to do to relieve pain
- We work on the rehabilitation of the quadriceps femoris. Example: we do the skier exercise (we bend our knees slightly while keeping our back straight)
- We work on strengthening the quadriceps femoris. Example: we do lunges
- Stretch the quadriceps femoris (while standing, bring your heel towards your buttocks)
- We stretch the hamstrings (we place our heel on a chair, we move our buttocks back and we lean forward).
If our two legs are not the same size, the doctor may also prescribe orthopedic insoles to compensate for the imbalance. They relieve the knees but also the hips and spine.
We also recommend wearing a knee brace when hiking or doing other sports exercises.. Before tackling a walk or a run of a few kilometers, you also need to train well.
On the other hand, there is no point in taking medications because none of them rebuild the cartilage.
1. Video “Knee pain: treating patellofemoral syndrome” by Denis Fortier
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