Knee Cap Pain

Knee Cap also known patella. Knee cap (patella) is a small bone in the front of the knee. Patella is important functionally because it increases the leverage of the knee joint. Patella allows for an increase of about 30% in strength of extension (kicking) of the leg at the knee joint. Patella has a smooth coating (articular cartilage) on its underside which allows it to slide easily in this groove. The groove in the femur is called the femoral groove and it is also coated with articular cartilage. The patellar tendon is a thick, ropelike structure that connects the bottom of the patella to the top of the large shinbone (tibia).

The powerful muscles on the front of the thigh, the quadriceps muscles, straighten the knee by pulling at the patellar tendon via the patella. One of the quadriceps muscles, the vastus medialis, pulls the patella inward (medially). Another quadriceps muscle, the vastus lateralis, pulls the patella outward (laterally). There are also smaller rope like structures (ligaments) on the inner (medial) and outer (lateral) sides of the patella. Kneecap is abnormally pulled towards the outside of its groove. When the kneecap does not slide well within the groove, cartilage irritation and pain can result. There are several causes of patellar maltracking (the name given to the kneecap being pulled to the outside).

Common symptom of patellar irritation is pain associated with prolonged sitting and descending stairs. There are several common problems associated with the patella that can cause problems and pain in the knee. Patellofemoral pain describes the location of the pain but not its cause. Knee are common causes of patellofemoral pain. Biomechanical factors such as poor tracking of the patella in the femoral groove, flat (pronated) feet, weak inner thigh muscles and tight outer thigh muscles and/or ligaments can also cause patellofemoral pain Sometimes "wear and tear arthritis" (osteoarthritis) or damage to the articular cartilage (chondromalacia) on the back of the patella causes the pain but in most cases of patellofemoral pain the knee joint is normal. Patellofemoral pain can occur in one or both knees and it is one of the most common causes of knee pain. Basic explanation is that the force burdened by the patella is about two times body weight when climbing up stairs, and seven times body weight when descending. The treatment of patellofemoral pain depends on it's cause and may include stretching and strengthening exercises, relative rest, icing, medication, foot orthotics and bracing.

Treatment of Kneecap Pain

• Anti-Inflammatory Medications.
• Ice an Injury.
• Arthroscopy.

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