LIFESTYLE NEWS - Exercise is one of the ways to improve your physical well-being and it aids in great measure to get rid of ailments, aches and pains.
Follow the exercise programme provided by the biokineticists at Anine van der Westhuizen Biokineticist in George and feel the difference. Biokineticist Lize Coetzee continues the series on knee injuries.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is the medical term for pain felt behind your kneecap, where your patella (kneecap) articulates with your thigh bone (femur). This joint is known as your patellofemoral joint.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is sometimes called "runner's knee," as it's more common in people who participate in sports that involve running and jumping. Patellofemoral pain syndrome usually causes a dull, aching pain in the front of your knee.
This pain can be aggravated when you:
- Walk up or down stairs
- Kneel or squat
- Sit with a bent knee for long periods.
Factors that can increase your risk include:
- Age. Patellofemoral pain syndrome typically affects adolescents and young adults. Knee problems in older populations are more commonly caused by arthritis.
- Certain sports. Participation in running and jumping sports can put extra stress on your knees, especially when you increase your training level.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is mainly due to excessive patellofemoral joint pressure which, in time, affects the joint surface behind the kneecap (retropatellar joint). This joint pressure can be caused by overuse, muscle imbalances or weaknesses, injury or surgery.
Overuse can cause patellofemoral pain syndrome by putting repetitive stress on your knee joint, which can cause irritation under the kneecap.
Muscle imbalances or weaknesses around your hip and knee can lead to patellar malt racking and thus irritation within the knee joint.
Trauma as a result of an injury to the kneecap, such as a dislocation or fracture, has also been linked to patellofemoral pain syndrome and lastly, a knee surgery, particularly repair to the anterior cruciate ligament using your own patellar tendon as a graft, increases the risk of patellofemoral pain.
Thus, there are many factors that have an influence on your knee structure and consequently knee pain. It is advisable to seek professional help to reduce the knee pain and not to carry on doing activities that aggravate the condition.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'
