Patella Knee Pain
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome - An MSK Therapy perspective
Patellofemoral Syndrome tends to affect people who perform activities which involve a lot of repetitive knee bending. Motions such as squatting, running, jumping, and even stair climbing can typically aggravate symptoms and also cause them in the first place. Hence, it is no surprise that Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is more common sports injury affecting certain types of sporting activities such as running (runners knee), rowing (rowers knee) and basketball (jumpers knee, though frequently this is more a case of Patella Tendinopathy). Patellofemoral pain tends to manifest as anterior knee pain, specifically behind the lower portion of the patella or kneecap. Symptoms typically feel worse after prolonged sitting with the knee fully flexed (as at the cinema) and during activities that involve bending the knee (running, stair climbing, rowing, jumping). One may also notice crepitus (creaking or clicking type sounds) within the knee joint complex when moving from sitting to standing and vice versa. Patellofemoral pain is thought to occur due to an irritation of soft tissue structures around the patella due to changed mechanics and or muscle imbalances within the (see the "Kinetic Chain" Biotensegrity and how everything is connected article for a better explanation). Such changes then affect how the patella moves, and many knee-bending activities involve repetitive patella movements, either under standard load or additional weight-bearing load. More recent research shown the presence of myofascial trigger points in cases of Patellofemoral pain.
The Knee Joint Complex and knee pain
The knee joint complex is notably one of the most complicated joint structures within the body, with the shoulder joint complex arguably being the most complex. Knee joints consist of multiple components including, bone, ligaments, tendons, bursae, articular cartilage, menisci, synovial fluid and fascia. Furthermore, many muscles with attachments via tendons pass over the knee joint complex and are an integral part of overall structure and function. Each of these structures of the knee provides different and, in some cases, multiple functions. Some typical examples of differing roles include shock absorption (menisci, cartilage), friction reduction (bursae, cartilage), structural stability (ligaments, tendons, muscles, fascia), physical movement (muscles) etc. Furthermore, many of the functions of specific structures are affected by other structures. For example, muscle function can alter due to changes in fascia and the fascial network, leading to myofascial pain.
Kinetic Chain and Knee Joint
The knee joint is a load-bearing structure within the “Kinetic Chain”. The “Kinetic Chain” includes Ankle joints, knee joints, hip joints, lumbar spine, thoracic spine and cervical spine. In essence, if the structure changes in one area of the kinetic chain due to injury, etc., then this alters the function of said structure at that given level. Each part of the kinetic chain can impact other areas further up or lower down the chain, which can have a cumulative effect. The knee joint itself has a relatively limited range of motion, flexion (bending the knee), extension (straightening the leg/knee) and limited internal and external rotation (similar to when one turns the foot inwards or outwards).
The Knee Joint Complex (Femur and Patella)
To understand Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome in more detail, it is useful to see the anatomy of the Patella and how the Patella interacts (tracks) with the Femur. The inferior aspect or lower portion of the Patella (apex) is attached to the superior or upper portion of the lower leg (Tibia) via the Patella Tendon. The upper part of the Patella (base) is attached to multiple muscles (quads) via tendons. The following diagram shows the posterior (back) of the Patella and a “V” type-shaped ridge in the middle. The posterior portion of the Patella also has a covering of hyaline cartilage. Hyaline cartilage is a hard material that covers areas of bone that have contact with other areas of bone. Joints with healthy hyaline cartilage slide easily across each other with little friction.
Image of the posterior portion of the Patella (Kneecap)
Images produced with kind permission of 3d4medical.com from Essential Anatomy 5
(Copyright © 2018 - 2024 3D4Medical. All rights reserved.)
The inferior portion or lower part of the Femur has a small “V” shaped notch (intercondylar notch, patellofemoral groove), as can be seen from the diagram below. The end of the Femur also has a covering of hyaline cartilage, which comes into contact with the back of the Patella and lower leg (tibia). The “V” shaped protrusion on the posterior side of the Patella fits neatly and slides over the “V” shaped notch on the Femur during knee flexion (bending) and extension (leg straightening) motions (patella tracking).
Image of the Femur and the notch for the patella to slide
Images produced with kind permission of 3d4medical.com from Essential Anatomy 5
(Copyright © 2018 - 2024 3D4Medical. All rights reserved.)
Patella glide and Patella Braces
Changes in the normal Patella sliding motion mechanics can irritate soft tissue structures in and around the Patella. Irritation to the structures around the knee joint complex results in the initiation of the body's healing processes (see article on Soft tissue repair, healing and scar tissue). The author is well aware of how these changes in mechanics can affect the knee joint as a runner and musculoskeletal and soft-tissue therapist. In some cases, the articular cartilage surface on the posterior portion of the Patella can become damaged, too. Furthermore, Patella and knee joint function changes can affect other areas in the "Kinetic Chain". Equally, other areas within the "Kinetic Chain" can be the reason for symptoms of the Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome symptoms. Muscle tension within the quadriceps affects the pressure level applied to the Patella during knee movements, though these forces may be the symptom and not the reason for symptoms. The pain associated with patellofemoral syndrome results in the body adapting strategies to avoid discomfort (see the Soft Tissue Adaptation to activity and injury article for more details) and these can further affect Biotensegrity. However, rather than seeing a professional, there can be a tendency to look for other solutions to knee pain, and patella braces are all too common. In effect, such braces reduce the load on the Patella by restricting movement at the knee joint, which does not address the actual cause. Reducing loads in one area will impact biotensegrity elsewhere, and the body will adapt accordingly. Hence, the knee may feel fine while running with a patella brace, but what other structures are now dealing with those subtle changes in the long term, and how long will it take to notice the effects? The following two diagrams show the connective tissue of the knee joint and the knee joint with all structures visible.
Image (left) knee joint complex and connective tissues
Images produced with kind permission of 3d4medical.com from Essential Anatomy 5
(Copyright © 2018 - 2024 3D4Medical. All rights reserved.)
Furthermore, there are many possible knee injuries with similar, yet often subtle, differences. Self-diagnosis with "Dr Internet" tends not to end well, so please be warned. It is better to seek advice from a suitably qualified professional sooner rather than later. Just masking symptoms with painkillers and letting symptoms get worse tends to lead to longer recovery times and chronic or persistent pain (see the article on Persistent Pain for further details on aspects of such conditions and treatment).
Knee Pain Treatment Options
As with many conditions with an inflammatory component, it is often wise to take action sooner rather than later and follow simple (R.I.C.E.) guidelines to start: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. However, R.I.C.E. alone is not likely to identify the actual cause of the problem, and equally topical or oral anti-inflammatories will not address the reason for symptoms either. Self-massage foam rollers and self trigger point therapy (T.P.T.) can both prove useful, though one needs to identify the source of the pain. The following link has more details on what myofascial trigger points (TrPs) are and their relevance. Seeking advice and treatment from a suitably qualified professional is the best way to identify and treat the reason for the symptoms of the problem. Based on personal treatment experience, a combination of advanced musculoskeletal and soft tissue therapy techniques has proved very useful. Some musculoskeletal methods are very good at addressing "structural" aspects affecting the kinetic chain and patella tracking. Other soft-tissue techniques treat the affected dysfunctional muscles and thus the "function" of the joint structures within the "kinetic chain". There have been occasions where Dry Needling and even I.A.S.T.M. type techniques were needed to address acute and or chronic soft tissue changes.
The article was written by Terry Davis MChiro, GradCertMentHlth, BSc. (Hons), Adv. Dip. Rem. Massag., Cert. WHS.
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About the Author
As of December 31st 2020, the author chose to leave the Chiropractic profession due to a planned move back to Australia, where his training and education are not recognised. Terry no longer works as a Chiropractor and works as a Myotherapist in Morningside, Brisbane. He developed an early interest in soft tissue therapy and Myofascial Release Techniques methods in 2006 for treating various conditions. Terry's interests in human performance and trauma have naturally led to him developing a specialism in treating work and sports-related musculoskeletal injuries and Chronic Pain symptoms.
The author possesses an unusual background for somebody who trained in the McTimoney Chiropractic technique. His education, training, and practical experience span over two decades and relate to health's physical and mental aspects. He also needed to push his body and mind to the limits of physical and psychological endurance as part of his time serving in Britain's elite military forces. His education includes a bachelor of science degree in Business Management, with a specialisation in psychology and mental health in the workplace, an Integrated Masters in Chiropractic, MChiro and a multitude of soft-tissue therapy qualifications (see the about section for more details). His soft tissue qualifications range from certificate level right through to a BTEC Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Clinical Sports and Remedial Massage Therapy. He has also taught as a senior course coach at the Advanced Diploma level (Myotherapy / Musculoskeletal Therapy) in Australia, both theoretical and practical aspects, including advanced Myofascial Release Techniques and has certification in training and assessment. Terry will have taught many of the first students to train as Myotherapists in Brisbane. Terry's combination of knowledge through education, training, elite military service, and personal injury history has paid dividends for the patients he sees and has treated over the last 16 years. Terry is still extremely active and enjoys distance running, kayaking, mountain biking and endurance-type activities.