Patella tracking problems (knee)

Carl Stewart · February 28, 2013

I've been told by the physio I have problems with the tracking of my patella (knee) - gives me jip walking up/down stairs. Anyone else had it?? and has physio/exercise cured the problem or have you had to resort to surgery?

I'm still playing footy and running but I feel it the next day (and usually the day after!).

I'm not ready to hang the boots up just yet!

Blooy · February 28, 2013

Is that when your knee makes a clicking noise when you walk? If so then yeah it happens to me.

I ride a bike for exercise though, running is bad for the knees.

arch stanton · February 28, 2013

I had this after my first cruciate repair op. In them days they advocated a splint for 6 weeks post op so I lost ****loads of muscle mass; literally, one leg was like a tree trunk the other was wafer thin. When I started to rebuild the sparrow leg the muscles in my quad developed at different rates so pulled the patella to one side. As the reconstruction I had was a patella tendon graft there wasnt as much resistance to this pull. The cure was pretty unglamorous and laborious being one legged squats. Sorted the prob but yours maybe different so can only advise to see a physio.

Bigmaclad · February 28, 2013

Sawdust is the answer mate

Carl Stewart · February 28, 2013

They click yes - but basically the kneecap moves to the right or left when you bend it - instead of tracking straight (vertically) - it's down to a muscle imbalance in my hip as they pull the knee straigt apparently (so physio tells me) - I'd much rather have surgery and get them sorted!

The-Golden-Vision · March 1, 2013

Sit on the floor, put a football under the affected knee. Then get some ankle weights and perform repetitions of straightening the leg. This will strengthen the quadricep muscles (vastus medialis especially) and should help.

Carl Stewart · March 1, 2013

Cheers chaps - will be doing everything possible to get it right!

Degs62 · March 1, 2013

Carl Stewart said:
Cheers chaps - will be doing everything possible to get it right!

I've had this before and yes Physio is the answer, it's all about strengthening the muscles around the knee. You may find that there isn't enough 'float' in your knee cap (relax your leg with it straight and compare how much each knee cap moves about, they should wobble quite freely). If one of them is stiffer you can stretch out the muscles but it is difficult yo describe how to do it over the net. This is information from my surgeons web site on how to strengthen/protect your knees (I had cartiledge repair surgery in Sept last year and am going back to sport this month) http://www.knee-surgeon.net/Powerstep.html

Can't stree enough how you need to get physio advice though.

ps sawdust generally doesn't work with knee injuries.

Carl Stewart · March 1, 2013

Degs62 said:
I've had this before and yes Physio is the answer, it's all about strengthening the muscles around the knee. You may find that there isn't enough 'float' in your knee cap (relax your leg with it straight and compare how much each knee cap moves about, they should wobble quite freely). If one of them is stiffer you can stretch out the muscles but it is difficult yo describe how to do it over the net. This is information from my surgeons web site on how to strengthen/protect your knees (I had cartiledge repair surgery in Sept last year and am going back to sport this month) http://www.knee-surgeon.net/Powerstep.html

Can't stree enough how you need to get physio advice though.

ps sawdust generally doesn't work with knee injuries.

Cheers m8, Physio seems to thing its my hip thats weak which in turn is forcing the knee to move the wrong way - if I try and lunge forward the knees naturally moves inwards (towards middle of body).

He's given me exercises to do, but they hurt!!!

Degs62 · March 2, 2013

Carl Stewart said:
Cheers m8, Physio seems to thing its my hip thats weak which in turn is forcing the knee to move the wrong way - if I try and lunge forward the knees naturally moves inwards (towards middle of body).

He's given me exercises to do, but they hurt!!!

Go with the exercises, they get easier as your knee gets stronger.

Bluenose1995 · March 2, 2013

had to have surgery on mine as no joke was approached by Purple Aki years and years ago and since then had always wanted to be in the position to run as fast as I could if ever needed too but didnt feel comfortable with my knee at the time.