Patella Tracking Dysfunction - Discovering the Truth

by

Michael Young, NCTMB

Many people, from athletes to gymnasts to housewives to construction workers, suffer from a patella-tracking problem. Runners are especially prone to this disorder. Some runners are diagnosed with runner's knee. This problem presents itself as a localized pain around and under the kneecap. Many times it is accompanied by popping, clicking or grinding noises as the patient runs or walks.

What are the symptoms of Patella Tracking Dysfunction?

1. Pain in front of the knee.

2. Crunching in the knee and under the knee.

3. Swelling in the knee.

Symptoms will increase with many daily activities such as stair climbing, cycling, walking, aerobic activities and sitting for prolonged periods of time.

What is Patella Tracking Dysfunction?

The patella glides in the groove of the femur and "tracks" with the bone as a person flexes or extends the knee joint. The patella is a small bone in the front of the knee that is embedded in the patella tendon of the quadricep muscles. Since the patella floats and should track down the middle of the femoral groove, proper tracking is essential to remain pain free. If some force pulls the patella out of this track, the patient will experience pain. When this force continues to pull the patella out of its track for a long period of time, the patient will develop Chondromalacia Patella. This condition is caused by a break down of the cartilage under the patella and is very common in athletes who do a lot of running and jumping. If left untreated little fragments of the cartilage will begin to break off. Chondromalacia will eventually result in a complete loss of the cartilage lining beneath the patella. In severe cases surgery is necessary to remove the fragments of cartilage.

What is this force that pulls the patella out if its track? One must look at and understand the anatomy of the leg and knee to discover the proper treatment of this dysfunction. There are four quadricep muscles. They are:

1. Rectus Femoris

2. Vastus Lateralis

3. Vastus Intermedias

4. Vastus Medialis

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