Week 4 Flashcards
Which activities often elicit pain for PFP
activities that load the patella
- squatting
- activities with knee flexion
- sitting down for long periods of time
Orthotics and PFP
Good for short term benefit but not long term
Running re-education for PFP
Remove poor biomechanics
Push patients to forefoot strike instead of heavy heel strike in front of body
Potentially beneficial treatments for PFP
Exercise
Patellar taping
braces
orthoses
gait retraining
Ineffective treatments for PFP
Manual therapy (standalone treatment)
Biofeedback
Dry needling
Electrotherapies/biophysical agents
Demographic risk factors of PFP
Sex - more likely in females
Local Risk factors of PFP
Reduced quad strength or hypermobility of patella, different sized patella, patella alter
Proximal risk factors of PFP
hip strength not a risk factor, reduced ABD/ADD
Distal risk factors of PFP
inconclusive evidence on role of foot mechanics
Flexible flat foot more likely to respond to orthotics
Common impairments of PFP
Hip strength: reduced ABD/ADD/ER/IR/Ext
Knee strength: reduced quadriceps strength
Foot mechanics
Patella hypomobility; maltracking
Decreased flexibility: hamstrings, ITB, quads, gastroc, soleus
Calves: reduced DF (can’t absorb impact)
Want to treat individual impairments
Education for PFP
- Too much load through knee cap than it was ready to handle
- Load vs capacity. Want to use a gradually overloading progressive program
- Important tool to help patient understand what movements aggravate knee and to discuss the amount of load their body can handle (envelope of function)
Key biomechanical factors to address in PFP
Poor function and weakness of hip and thigh muscles
Too much foot roll (pronation)
Key treatment options for PFP
Exercises to improve strength and function of hip and thigh muscles
Taping knee to reduce pain in short term
Foot orthotics if you have too much foot roll (pronation)
Crepitus in PFP
Doesn’t matter too much (not related with function, physical activity or pain) but is common in PFP
Psychological features in PFP
increased levels of anxiety, depression, pain catastrophising and pain related fear in people with PFP
Open kinetic chain vs closed kinetic chain exercise for PFP
similar clinical effects
Biomechanical differences, each one with advantages and disadvantages
What does a deeper squat do to the patella
puts more load on it
Forward trunk, forward shank position on PFP joint load
best for trail limb