Patella Femoral Dysfunction

When the patella or knee cap is not tracking or gliding correctly in the groove made for it, pain can result. The undersurface of the patella/kneecap can become irritated and overtime can become roughened (known as chondromalacia patella) if the tracking is off. Often time the culprit causing poor tracking is poor firing or strength of the quadriceps muscles (the large muscle on the front of the thigh). When the quadriceps fires with normal strength it should pull the patella upward toward the head (superiorly) and inward toward the inner thigh (medially). After injury or surgery to the knee or thigh, the quadriceps muscle can become inhibited, which makes generating a strong contraction difficult. We often see people with patella femoral dysfunction/pain several years after a surgery or injury to the knee who never had the tracking of the knee cap addressed fully. It is important to restore normal flexibility of the soft tissues around the knee to allow good tracking as well as normal firing and strength of the quadriceps. For bicyclists who go through repetitive motions at the knee, having your bicycle properly fit to you is critical in avoiding patella femoral dysfunction. Our physical therapists are trained in proper bicycle fit, as well as in strengthening and soft tissue and patella mobilization techniques to restore normal mechanics at the patella femoral joint.


Some health conditions treated at
Goodell Physical Therapy & Fitness Training:

Diabetes       Fibromyalgia       Weight Loss       Exercise       Arthritis       Back Pain       Carpal Tunnel Syndrome       Bursitis       Headaches       Womens Health       Sports Injuries       Joint Pain       Frozen Shoulder       Spondylolisthesis       Kegel Exercises       Heel Spurs       Trauma       Knee Injuries       Degenerative Disc Disease       Chronic Pain       Lordosis       Kyphosis       Muscle Spasms       Fitness Training       Shoulder Injuries       Nerve Pain       Cardiac Rehab       Spondylitis       Foot Injuries/ Foot Pain       Weakness       Hand Injuries       Dupuytren’s Contracture       Shoulder Impingement       Numbness       Elbow Injuries       Neuromuscular Re-education       Ankylosing Spondylitis       Muscle Injuries       Sports Training       Car Accident Injuries       Disc Bulge       Total Joint Replacement       Myofascial pain syndrome       Fasciitis       Balance Training       Fibromyositis       Work Injuries       Whiplash Injuries       Spine Fusion       Ligament Injuries       Complex Regional Pain Syndrome       Back Pain with Pregnancy       Connective Tissue Pain Disorder       Inflexibility       Joint Dislocations       Low Back Pain       Neck Pain       Neural Fibrosis       Spine Stability       Uneven Leg Length       Patella Femoral Dysfunction       Pelvic Pain       Peripheral Nerve Injury       Personal Training       Plantar Fascitis       Pregancy Pain and Fitness       Post Partum Pain and fitness       Sciatica       Orthotics