Knee Pain
Knee pain can be a complex issue that needs the right care to remove it from your life. Poor lower limb and foot alignment can lead to knee pain.
What Is Knee Pain?
Knee pain is generally known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS).
PFPS is a term used to describe the progressive degeneration of the joint cartilage surface of the patella (the kneecap), accompanied by pain and inflammation of the surrounding tissues. The patellofemoral joint is the articulation between the patella and the thigh bone (femur) at the front of your knee. The patella acts to mechanically increase the pull of the thigh muscles to produce knee straightening and resists knee bending when you move.
What Causes Knee Pain?
There are several factors that can contribute to knee pain.
- Poor lower limb and foot alignment
- Weak hip muscles, especially the gluteal muscles (your butt muscles), will allow the femur to rotate inwards and move toward the midline of your body. This will change the angle of pull on the patella and drag it out of its joint groove on the femur causing stress.
- A large hip to thigh angle (Q-angle) will also change the angle of pull of the thigh muscles on the patella, often resulting in stress on the articular tissues.
- Rearfoot pronation that occurs too long or at the wrong stage of the gait cycle will produce internal rotation of the lower leg. This with have the effect of once again changing the alignment of the patella in its joint and increase joint stress.
How Do We Treat Knee Pain?
- Dry needling
- Manage pain – pain changes your gait and stops you moving normally.
- Strengthen the hips and lower legs muscles – squats, lunges, bridge etc.
- Improve foot mechanics – footwear changes, exercises to increase muscle strength, orthoses.
For help with knee pain, call us on 08 7120 6063 or book online with our experienced team at Leading Edge Podiatry.