Chondromalacia patella

Chondromalacia patella

Chondromalacia patella Description

Chondromalacia patella – mitigate or wear of the articular cartilage on the underside of the kneecap. Articular cartilage is a smooth substance, that covers the thigh bone, tibia and patella. These structures form the knee joint. Articular cartilage is lined these three bones and allows them to move freely and easily at the junction of the tribe. But, when the articular cartilage wears off or wear out, the knee can appear pain and inflammation.

Causes chondromalacia patella

Chondromalacia patella occurs when:

• The patella is not properly moved to the area of ​​connection to the femur;
• There is a muscle imbalance of the quadriceps (femoris), that govern the kneecap.

The reason for this may be:

• Congenital diseases – Man is born with the displacement of the patella;
• Weak quadriceps – quadriceps muscles help correct the movement of the knee joint. Weak quadriceps may hinder normal movement of the patella;
• Muscle Imbalance – usually meets, when the muscles on the outer thigh stronger, muscles than on its inner side;
• Direct injury of the knee – a fall or a blow to the patella, resulting in damaged articular cartilage on the patella or the femur;
• Repeated trauma – the result of the run, jump, skiing or other activities, who have repeated pressure on the kneecap.

Risk Factors chondromalacia patella

Factors, which can increase the risk of chondromalacia patella include:

• Age: adolescence and youth;
• Activities, where there is repeated pressure on the kneecap and hip joint:
  • Job;
  • Skiing;
  • Bicycling;
  • Football;
• Gonycampsis due to abnormality legs.

Symptoms of chondromalacia patella

The main symptom of chondromalacia patella is pain. Pain occurs at the bottom and on both sides of the kneecap, and:

• Pain can be acute or chronic;
• When bending or straightening the knee often heard crackling and clicks;
• Symptoms are usually worse rather slowly, for a year or more;
• Symptoms, usually, most marked in the following cases:
  • Climbing stairs;
  • Run;
  • Squats;
  • Lowering to his knees;
  • Activities, which puts pressure on the kneecap;
• Pain and stiffness in the knee often occur, when the patient is sitting for a long period of time (eg, in a car or plane).

Chondromalacia patella Diagnostics

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, the causes of pain, and perform a physical examination. Necessary tests may include:

• X-ray of the knee;
• MRI knee;
• In rare cases, – arthroscopic knee.

Chondromalacia patella Treatment

Treatment chondromalacia patella include:

Recreation, ice, drugs and fixation

Primary treatment of chondromalacia patella is as follows:

• It is necessary to decrease physical activity, to reduce the mechanical irritation and inflammation;
• By region of the patella after exercise is necessary to apply an ice pack (during 15 minutes twice a day), and take anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, Ibuprofen), to reduce inflammation and pain;
• It is necessary to apply an elastic bandage, to fix the patella in the correct position.

Exercises

Once pain and inflammation begin to decline, you need to do exercises to strengthen the quadriceps (controls movement knee). Exercise does not have to create a high load on the knee and be smooth. Recommended:

• Swimming;
• Riding Bicycle;
• Using the machine simulate cross-country skiing;
• Isometric strengthening exercises for the quadriceps.

Exercises should be performed under the supervision of a physical therapist or sports trainer.

Surgery for chondromalacia patella

In most cases the operation is not necessary. But for younger patients, who observed prolonged pain, operation can facilitate disease. Surgical procedures include the following::

• The weakening of the lateral thigh muscles and tightening the medial muscles;
• Smoothing the inner surface of the patella (patella);
• Implantation of cartilage (It uses its own cartilage patient).

Chondromalacia patella Prevention

To prevent chondromalacia patella, run the following:

• Follow strengthen, and stretching exercises for:
  • Quadriceps (femoris);
  • Calf muscle (the muscles on the back of the lower leg);
  • Hamstring (muscle on Femur);
• Wear shoes, equipped with orthopedic inserts. These inserts help to correct abnormalities:
  • Mechanics of the feet (especially severe foot pronation);
  • Musculoskeletal legs and knees.