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FEATURED BOOKS ON KNEE PAIN FROM BARNES & NOBLE.COM?
WHAT IS PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRALGIA?
Patellofemoral arthralgia is pain in the front of the knee. However, the pain can also be felt behind and around the kneecap. The pain is usually a dull ache which becomes sharp during activities that increase pressure over the kneecap. Examples of such activities include squatting, running, going up and down stairs, and sitting for extended periods.
IF THE KNEES MAKE A CLICKING SOUND OR FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GIVING WAY, DOES THIS INDICATE PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRALGIA?
A clicking sound when flexing and extending the knee is actually quite common in young individuals and in and of itself, does not mean that one has patellofemoral arthralgia. It is uncommon in patellofemoral arthralgia for one to have a sensation that the knee is giving way. Such a sensation usually indicates more severe misalignment.
WHAT CAUSES PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRALGIA?
Patellofemoral arthralgia is caused by irritation of surrounding structures such as the fat pad, ligaments, or the retinaculum (a type of tendon). A ligament is a tough band of tissue that attaches to joint bones. Tendons are groups of fibers that attach muscles to bones.
The height of the femoral condyles and the depth of the sulcus (groove) between them is important in keeping the kneecap in place so that it tracks properly. The femoral condyles are a large pair of prominences at the farthest end of each femur. The femur is the long bone of the leg that runs from the hip to the knee. The femoral condyles are pictured below as B and E. The kneecap is D:
The irritation in patellofemoral arthralgia can have two possible causes. The first is an abnormality in the structure of the knee or supporting structures that causes abnormal tracking of the kneecap during movement. Two examples of structural abnormalities include weakness of the vastus medialis oblique muscle or tightness of the medial (middle) or lateral (side) retinaculum (see above). The vastus medialis is one of 4 parts of the quadriceps muscle. The quadriceps muscle is a muscle with four distinct parts that is responsible for straightening the knee.
If the groove between the condyles is not deep enough or the facets of the kneecap are deformed, patellofemoral arthralgia can result. Specifically, all of the structural abnormalities mentioned above can cause too much pressure between the kneecap and femoral condyles during flexing and extending movements.
The second possible cause of patellofemoral arthralgia is gradual wear and tear caused by tiny daily repetitive stresses (overuse). A common activity leading to such overuse is running. When the pain occurs at the area where the femur and patella join together (see above) the source is likely irritation of the many nerves located in the subchondral bone (bone below the cartilage) of the patellae. This is because cartilage does not have pain fibers. Cartilage is a type of soft, flexible tissue that helps form many important body structures.
In some patients, soft tissue around the kneecap may be the source of the pain, especially in young active patients where there is mild misalignment of the kneecap (also known as the patella). In these cases, strain on tendons can produce inflammation and pain.
WHAT ARE COMMON CLINICAL FINDINGS IN PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRALGIA?
When the physician squeezes the middle or side facets on the back surface of the kneecap, this may cause pain. The physician may squeeze these facets while mildly displacing the kneecap to the middle or the side. Squeezing the kneecap onto the femoral condyles may cause characteristic discomfort. When both sides of the kneecap are grasped while the patient contracts the quadriceps muscle, the added pressure of the kneecap against the femoral condyles may cause discomfort.
WHO GETS PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRALGIA?
Patellofemoral arthralgia is common in people who regularly engage in competitive or recreational activities. It is most common in adolescents and young adults. Females appear to be affected more than males. This may be because females have a wider pelvis, which leads to an exaggerated Q angle. The Q angle is the angle by which the quadriceps muscles pull at the knee. The Q angle is typically about 15 degrees in adults. Some have questioned the relevance of the Q angle in patellofemoral arthralgia.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRALGIA AND CHONDROMALCIA PATELLAE?
Chondromalacia patellae is a painful disorder of the knee in which the cartilage directly behind the kneecap becomes soft and damaged. The type of cartilage affected in chondromalacia patellae is called articular cartilage. The word "articular" means "referring to a joint." A joint is a place where two bones contact each other. In most cases of patellofemoral arthralgia, the articular cartilage is not injured. There is little evidence that untreated patellofemoral arthralgia leads to chondromalacia patellae.
HOW IS PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRALGIA TREATED?
Patellofemoral arthralgia may spontaneously resolve by itself although many patients have tried a wait and see approach before pursuing treatment. One form of treatment is relative rest. The term relative rest is used because it means that the person can still be active but should be doing non-impact aerobic activities that do not risk injuring the knee.
In addition to relative rest, physical therapy is commonly recommended, with special emphasis placed upon strengthening the quadriceps muscle. Stretching exercises are also used. The decision of which exercises to perform depends on an accurate physical examination. Twenty minutes of physical therapy a day is considered reasonable by many. Symptom improvement with exercise may take up to 6 weeks.
Yet another form of treatment includes using a different quality of shoe, with the major factor being that the shoe is not worn out. For example, some runners change their shoes every 300-500 miles. Arch supports or custom made foot inserts may be helpful and are fairly inexpensive. Custom made shoe inserts, however, would be more expensive.
Ice is sometimes used to reduce inflammation, especially after activity. This is usually accomplished by placing an icepack over the knee and holding it in place with an elastic band. Other options include a frozen gel pack, crushed ice in a plastic bag, or a bag of frozen vegetables. Some people try non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (known as NSAIDs), but there is no proven benefit from this and there is always the concern of side effects.
Some people use knee sleeves or knee braces to stabilize the kneecap. However, the use of such devices is controversial since it has not been proven to work and is not considered a substitute for physical therapies. Some people tape the kneecap to keep it stable. This may offer short term pain relief. Most physical therapists are trained in taping methods and can teach patients how to do this themselves.
Most patients do well with non-surgical forms of treatment, especially if they are disciplined. Surgery for patellofemoral arthralgia is only used as a last resort. Surgery involves cutting the lateral (side) retinaculum to decrease the amount that the kneecap is pulled to the side. This type of surgery is known as lateral release.
WHAT ELSE IS PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRALGIA KNOWN AS?
Patellofemoral arthralgia is also known as retropatellar pain syndrome, patellofemoral pain syndrome, extensor mechanism disorder, lateral patellar compression syndrome, patellalgia, and patellofemoral dysfunction.
WHY IS IT CALLED PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRALGIA?
Patellofemoral arthralgia comes from the Latin word "patella" meaning "kneecap," the Latin word “femur” meaning “thigh,” the Greek word “arthron” meaning “joint,” and the Greek word "algos" meaning "pain." Put the two words together and you have "kneecap thigh joint pain."
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