Chondromalacia Patella: Find Relief at FootSmart
Do you feel pain behind your knee? If so, you could have a condition called Chondromalacia Patella.
Chondromalacia Patella is characterized by chronic knee pain behind or around the kneecap. The term Chondromalacia Patella describes the abnormal softening of your knee cartilage – the reason why your knee hurts to move. Runners, skiers, cyclists and soccer players most often come down with Chondromalacia Patella.
Chondromalacia Patella, also known as Patella Femoral Syndrome or Runner’s Knee, occurs when the kneecap rubs against the lower end of the femur – the thighbone – instead of gliding smoothly over it. This repetition roughens the cartilage underneath the kneecap. The damage of Chondromalacia Patella can range from a slight abnormality of the cartilage surface, to a surface that has been completely worn away to the bone.
Traumatic cases of Chondromalacia Patella occur when a blow to the kneecap actually tears off a piece of articular cartilage or bone.
Chondromalacia Patella: Contributing Factors
Many factors can contribute to the development of Chondromalacia Patella, including trauma, overuse, muscle weakness, tight hamstrings, tight heel cords, tight quadriceps or mal-alignment.
Age can also be a consideration when determining if someone has Chondromalacia Patella. Young people who develop Chondromalacia Patella can usually blame trauma or overuse. But if Chondromalacia Patella appears in someone older, this person may also have osteoarthritis in addition to Chondromalacia Patella.
Chondromalacia Patella: When Does the Pain Get Worse?
Chondromalacia Patella usually presents itself as a dull pain around or under the kneecap. But this pain due to Chondromalacia Patella can worsen when…
- Taking part in sports like running can increase knee pain due to Chondromalacia Patella.
- Walking up or down stairs can increase the pain from Chondromalacia Patella.
- Taking part in any activity that forces the knee to bear weight as it’s straightened can worsen pain from Chondromalacia Patella.
- Walking on a hill can contribute to the pain of Chondromalacia Patella.
Chondromalacia Patella: Don’t Suffer
Treat Chondromalacia Patella with rest and ice to reduce swelling.
In addition, doctors recommend the following to help ease pain from Chondromalacia Patella:
- Engaging in low impact exercises that strengthen muscles, particularly within the quadriceps, can relieve pain from Chondromalacia Patella.
- Swimming, riding a stationary bike or engaging in other low-impact exercises can help lessen pain from Chondromalacia Patella.
- Stretching and strengthening the hamstrings and quadriceps can help decrease Chondromalacia Patella pain.
- Using a knee brace provides relief from Chondromalacia Patella.
- Wearing shoes with added arch supports, especially during exercise or walking, is crucial to treating Chondromalacia Patella.
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs can help relieve pain from Chondromalacia Patella.
If you discover you have Chondromalacia Patella, and the knee pain and swelling don’t diminish within a reasonable amount of time, consult your physician. You may need to start using special orthotics, or even have surgery, to fully stop the pain Chondromalacia Patella can cause.
Information on foot, leg and lower body health conditions like Chondromalacia Patella provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health.