Do you have knee pain? Is it located in the front of your knee? Do you have difficulty with squatting, prolonged sitting, or using stairs? Are you looking for a solution that doesn’t involve medication and rest?
Hi, my name is Dr. Kurtis Pcolka Physical Therapist with Premier Physical Therapy Jacksonville (hyperlink to our website when posting on social media). There is new, strong evidence that supports physical therapy and exercise therapy for anterior knee pain. Anterior knee pain can include anything around or behind the knee cap. Exercises are recommended to target both the hip and the knee (especially the posterior/lateral hip structures and quad strengthening) along with foot orthotics for those who have the tendency to overpronate.
A good place to start is to set up an appointment with a local physical therapist where they can assess your body and determine what treatments are necessary with a thorough examination
- These tests and positions load the knee cap in a flexed position.
- Challenge the lower extremity to prevent excessive knee valgus in a dynamic task.
- Determine if the patella is getting pulled off the track of the trochlear groove of the femur.
- Test your quad, hamstring, and calf flexibility as additional contributing factors.
Willy, Richard W., et al. “Patellofemoral pain.” Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (2019).