Knee-cap/Patellar Tracking Issues - Any Advice?

[Skylark]

I have a niggling issue with Knee-cap/Patellar Tracking, for those that don't know what it is basically the knee cap doesn't run nice and straight in its track/groove, pulls to one side and starts irritating/inflaming the surrounding area.

Here's some more info with nice pics:

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/tc/patellar-tracking-disorder-topic-overview

 

I've been to the Bio got exercises and they have helped to a degree but its still not going away.

The original problem started from using a small car for a few years, I am quite tall and my left leg/clutch leg had to be bent at a weird angle the whole time to fit in, also had a bad slam to the knee at the beginning of last year that hasn't helped things.

 

Anyone have some tips or advice beating this or working with it?

[King_Crispy]

LamboMan will cut it off for you.

Heard he's a good specialist.

 

If you're nice to him he might even make you a cup of coffee before the procedure

[Skylark]

Fully agree, sometimes its better to just be done with a problem, no knees, no problem.

[Vetseun]

Ah hell man. Bummer. Me and knee injuries go hand in hand. Feel for you.

[King_Crispy]

Seriously, V12man, where you?

Help a hubber out

[Jakkals.]

Rest some. my advice. might not like it. 

 

get a massage more often, and get those VMO's sorted.

 

EDIT: spin more

[Vetseun]

Seriously, V12man, where you?

Help a hubber out

Isnt V12 a Trauma Surgeon.?

[GBguy]

I had it - nothing helped. Took a year off cycling, and then came back very slowly - and that did it. I'm sure there are better ways, but I don't know them. Good luck

[openmind]

I have a niggling issue with Knee-cap/Patellar Tracking, for those that don't know what it is basically the knee cap doesn't run nice and straight in its track/groove, pulls to one side and starts irritating/inflaming the surrounding area.

Here's some more info with nice pics:

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/tc/patellar-tracking-disorder-topic-overview

 

I've been to the Bio got exercises and they have helped to a degree but its still not going away.

The original problem started from using a small car for a few years, I am quite tall and my left leg/clutch leg had to be bent at a weird angle the whole time to fit in, also had a bad slam to the knee at the beginning of last year that hasn't helped things.

 

Anyone have some tips or advice beating this or working with it?

I had this too. A few months ago after the 100 Miler my knee started clicking loudly going up stairs and when I stood and pedalled on the bike. Phyiso said patella mis-alignment due possibly to unbalanced muscle development and/or stiffness (which pulls the patella off track) and prescribed some strengthening and stretching exercises & massage, but I think it may also have been shoe/pedal related. I have been religiously doing the exercises but also switched to pedals with better float and more support (Time Atac) and the last few weeks have been click-free. 

[Skylark]

Ja the dreaded click, that's the knee cap jumping back into its track. I've reduced the amount of riding I do but doing none will drive me crazy.

[V12man]

Seriously, V12man, where you?

Help a hubber out

Working.... busy day and night yesterday.

 

Isnt V12 a Trauma Surgeon.?

This is true, but I did spend a year under TDN... my class photo says '86...

 

Clicking in the knee is usually a semi lunate tear in the cartilage - personally I doubt that you would ever hear clicking from the patellae moving off line in it's track - it's pretty smooth underneath (unless it has been damaged at some point)..... The tears do heal sometimes if left alone for an extended period, sometimes not - depending on the exact location and size of the tear, and how you manage it.

 

Skylark - make an appointment with a decent diagnostician.... (someone at SSI should be ok - Martin Schwelnus for instance) please - Bio's and physios diagnostics are out of their scope of practice (although some are pretty good at it, most are not)

[rattlesnake]

Iv'e dealt with this numerous times.... most likely scenario is that outside muscles of quads are stronger and tighter compared to the inside muscles (add ductors).

 

Here's what I do to keep this under control:

- Fascia lines (hard pressure) up the inside muscles of your legs from knee towards groin area (you will most probably notice some pretty intense pressure points - work them out)

- Stretch outside muscles (piriformis stretch - google pics)

- stretch quads

- do plank type exercise to strengthen inner line (http://www.lynosport.co.za/the-bunkie-test/ - see third picture - supporting weight using inside line on both legs - one at a time).

- sit with leg straight with cushion under affected knee and gently push the knee cap multiple times towards the other leg.

 

You will notice a huge improvement once you get the trigger points out on the inside muscles of the affected leg.

[Tomik]

Sorry to hear. I had similar issues and no amount of physio or bio worked. Just cost a small fortune. The bio did show clearly (with his special machines) that the leg muscles were hugely imbalanced but couldn't fix it.

 

After getting gatvol, my osteopath suggested I go for an MRI scan (at SSI) which revealed some degradation in the cartilage causing the inflammation and pain. According to the orthopaedic surgeon (Okkie van Zyl), the VMO muscle had atrophied and the quad pulled the knee cap off line (or something like that). This caused further irritation and pain - so much that I could not sleep properly or drive for more than 10 minutes (a big problem).

 

I eventually resorted to a minor operation (menisectomy and debridement, or some such). I was back on the training bike 6 weeks later and have been able to ride properly again. Regular massage (self or assisted) and stretching is an absolute must though - otherwise the muscles get too tight and eventually get inflamed again.

 

Good luck with the diagnostics and treatment!

[Wez-O]

As mentioned by several posters already, cross training/strength training at the gym and stretching are a good bet. Perhaps even get a Biokinetecist to assist you with a few gym sessions.

[Prince]

Had the same problem when I used to run. Used " McConnell diamond taping" to straighten the tracking and worked well. Maybe try that until you can sort out the stretching, muscle imbalance, increasing saddle height and all the other tweaks

[eddy]

Iv'e dealt with this numerous times.... most likely scenario is that outside muscles of quads are stronger and tighter compared to the inside muscles (add ductors).

 

You will notice a huge improvement once you get the trigger points out on the inside muscles of the affected leg.

As mentioned by several posters already, cross training/strength training at the gym and stretching are a good bet. Perhaps even get a Biokinetecist to assist you with a few gym sessions.

Had the same problem when I used to run. Used " McConnell diamond taping" to straighten the tracking and worked well. Maybe try that until you can sort out the stretching, muscle imbalance, increasing saddle height and all the other tweaks

Or, take the doctor's advice given In post #11 above............