Has anybody ever treated a patella tracking problem successfully?

[bbb]

My knee is getting worse. I kind of gave up on it a number of years ago, and just decided I can't go running anymore..............Now long walks are causing the issue.

 

I've been to PT a few times for it, and the one gave me the encouraging words of "I'd rather have a blown out knee to work with every single time. You can't fix these patella tracking problems."

 

I know whatever I did way back then helped to the point where walking wasn't a problem, although running caused it to get bad again..........But, I can't remember what the exercises were now and don't feel like going back to PT unless I think it's got a good chance of working if I work hard enough.

[Acantha]

The best you can do with patella problems is work around them. You have to work on flexibility and muscle of the entire leg. The flexibility will loosen things up so there's not so much pull on your knee through every move, and the more muscle you have throughout your leg, the less pressure on your patella.

 

Both of my knees have patella tendinitis; a different condition but from what I understand the treatment is the same. The most annoying part about it is that it just doesn't heal. The pain can be managed with the above PT, but if you stop, it comes right back.

 

As always, you should probably contact a doctor before doing anything, but you can look up leg flexibility exercises and lower body, body weight exercises for strength. Start slow and build consistently.

[RkFast]

There are lots of different knee braces on the market that are supposed to help keep your kneecap in line. As mentioned above, its often an issue of stretching out the surrounding muscles and doing exercises to take care of muscle imbalances around the knee. I feel for you.,..these hokey knee issues like a bad tracking kneecap or IT band issues can be a PITA to figure out.

[John from Riverside]

BBB

 

Just FYI my son in the beginning stages of his football had a patella tracking problem. I took him to see a sports specialist physical therapist and it was a combonation of a patella support, a particular type of rehab, and strengthing certain muscules because there was some kind of imbalance where some areas were stronger then others in his knee.

[bbb]

Thanks to all three of you for your answers. They all helped. I'm going to look for a brace that is particularly for this, and wear that more. I just have some old generic ones in the drawer that I wore when playing hoops (my knee used to dislocate, which I'm sure is totally tied into this).

 

Just doing some stretching of the hamstrings, etc. has helped the last few days.

 

John - you're saying the PT actually did help your son, then?............When this first cropped up, I went to Dr. Marzo (the Bills ortho that you see on the field during injuries). Great guy. Told me stay away from people like him (meaning don't even think about surgery). PT will fix this thing...........But, then I go to PT and the guy was like man, these suck - you can't fix these!

[Corp000085]

I've had so,e issues like the one you describe. Exercise and strengthening, along with RICE and the pain should subside.

[RkFast]

Thanks to all three of you for your answers. They all helped. I'm going to look for a brace that is particularly for this, and wear that more. I just have some old generic ones in the drawer that I wore when playing hoops (my knee used to dislocate, which I'm sure is totally tied into this).

 

Just doing some stretching of the hamstrings, etc. has helped the last few days.

 

John - you're saying the PT actually did help your son, then?............When this first cropped up, I went to Dr. Marzo (the Bills ortho that you see on the field during injuries). Great guy. Told me stay away from people like him (meaning don't even think about surgery). PT will fix this thing...........But, then I go to PT and the guy was like man, these suck - you can't fix these!

Your therapist is correct...they are hard to figure out. But a good PT is supposed to encourage healing and tell you youre gonna be OK, NOT tell you its hopeless! Id find a new PT!!!!!

[Nanker]

First, I recommend you seek the advice of a Physiatrist. They are rehabilitation physicians that specialize in pain management.

Mine has done wonders for my back and shoulder pain.

 

Then, I recommend you ask your Physiatrist to recommend a Physical Therapy group that practices soft tissue massage. You don't need to go someplace that applies a heat pad then straps you to a TENS unit for ten minutes, then has you doing rote exercises. The TENS unit can help some, but the difference between that and a thorough massage is night and day. Try to get a therapist that has their PHD. Though that's much more common these days so it might not be too hard to find one.

 

Good luck!

[DC Tom]

First, I recommend you seek the advice of a Physiatrist. They are rehabilitation physicians that specialize in pain management.

Mine has done wonders for my back and shoulder pain.

 

Then, I recommend you ask your Physiatrist to recommend a Physical Therapy group that practices soft tissue massage. You don't need to go someplace that applies a heat pad then straps you to a TENS unit for ten minutes, then has you doing rote exercises. The TENS unit can help some, but the difference between that and a thorough massage is night and day. Try to get a therapist that has their PHD. Though that's much more common these days so it might not be too hard to find one.

 

Good luck!

 

I was in therapy for patellar tracking (just like you said, exercise, then TENS, then ice, three times a week). Then my therapist said one day "I just attended this seminar this weekend on soft tissue massage, I'd like to try it with you." I figured...sounds like holistic oogie-boogie crap, but probably won't hurt, so why not?

 

Turns out, in conjunction with exercise, it worked rather well.

[bbb]

Your therapist is correct...they are hard to figure out. But a good PT is supposed to encourage healing and tell you youre gonna be OK, NOT tell you its hopeless! Id find a new PT!!!!!

 

I know, right! It definitely took my heart out of it!

 

First, I recommend you seek the advice of a Physiatrist. They are rehabilitation physicians that specialize in pain management.

Mine has done wonders for my back and shoulder pain.

 

Then, I recommend you ask your Physiatrist to recommend a Physical Therapy group that practices soft tissue massage. You don't need to go someplace that applies a heat pad then straps you to a TENS unit for ten minutes, then has you doing rote exercises. The TENS unit can help some, but the difference between that and a thorough massage is night and day. Try to get a therapist that has their PHD. Though that's much more common these days so it might not be too hard to find one.

 

Good luck!

 

Thanks - I knew of physiatrists through my job, and have wondered if they can help. Now I have to look them up.

 

I was in therapy for patellar tracking (just like you said, exercise, then TENS, then ice, three times a week). Then my therapist said one day "I just attended this seminar this weekend on soft tissue massage, I'd like to try it with you." I figured...sounds like holistic oogie-boogie crap, but probably won't hurt, so why not?

 

Turns out, in conjunction with exercise, it worked rather well.

 

This is encouraging, because it wasn't even mentioned back when I originally went to PT.