Chondromalacia Patella (Runner's Knee) - Medtick
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Chondromalacia Patella (Runner’s Knee)

What is it?

Condition where the cartilage on the undersurface of the patella (kneecap) deteriorates and softens.

  • This condition is common among young, athletic individuals, but may also occur in older adults who have arthritis of the knee.
  • Your kneecap normally presides over the front of your knee joint.
  • When you bend your knee, the backside of your kneecap glides over the cartilage of your femur or thigh bone at the knee.
  • Tendons and ligaments attach your kneecap to your shinbone and your thigh muscle to the kneecap.
  • When any of these components fails to move properly, it can cause your kneecap to rub up against your thigh bone.
  • This abnormal rubbing can lead to deterioration in the patella, resulting in chondromalacia patella or runner’s knee.

Healthline

Diagnosis test

Consider:

The knee is a complex structure consisting of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, ligament, synovial fluid and nerves.

  • Knee pain could be the result of a problem with any one of these components, or a combination of several.
  • The knee can take time to heal due to generally there is poor blood supply in that area, X-rays will show some obvious conditions, tendons and ligament damage is difficult to diagnose on x rays, further investigation i.e. a MRI scan maybe required.
  • Each condition have different healing times, a specialist in that healthcare field will monitor your healing time and should guide you to obtain optimum healing time as this can can from individual to individual.
  • One may require 4-6 weeks of Physical Therapy treatment, and then several more months of a home stretching and strengthening program to treat your chondromalacia patella.

Sports Rehabu

Cause

  • Arthritis of knee
  • Overuse injury in sports
  • Improper knee alignment
  • Weak hamstrings and quadriceps (the muscles in the back and front of your thighs)
  • Muscle imbalance between the adductors and abductors (the muscles on the outside and inside of your thighs)
  • Repeated stress to your knee joints, such as from running, skiing, or jumping
  • Direct blow or trauma to your kneecap
  • Flat feet
  • Previous injury

Healthline

Symptoms

  • Pain at front and side of knees especially when getting up from chairs and walking up the stairs and exercising?
  • Dull ache behind your kneecap?
  • Grinding sensations?
  • Joint stiffness and pain?
  • Trouble moving your knee past a certain point?
  • Weakness or buckling of the knee?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Treatment

  • Consider R.I.C.E method:
    • Rest the knee until it heals.
    • Hold ice on it for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
    • Wear a compression bandage to support the knee, but make sure it’s not too tight.
    • Elevate the injured knee on a pillow or several pillows.
  • Use crutches or a cane to take weight off the knee.
  • Talk to your pharmacist regarding medication to take.
  • If this does not relieve the condition then surgery will need to be considered if the cartilage is severely/irreversibly damaged.

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Chondromalacia Patella (Runner’s Knee) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

Diet, Exercise and Body Manipulations

Braceability

Sportmed

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