What is the patellofemoral joint in the knee?

What is the patellofemoral joint in the knee?

The patellofemoral joint is a diarthrodial plane joint that consists of the posterior surface of the patella and the trochlear surface of the distal anterior femur. The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the body.

Where is the patellofemoral compartment of the knee?

Patellofemoral compartment—the front of the knee between the patella (kneecap) and femur (thighbone)

What loads the patellofemoral joint?

The patellofemoral joint is exposed to high compression forces. The compression forces of the patellofemoral joint are influenced by the quadriceps muscle force and the knee flexion angle.

What part of the body does patellofemoral syndrome affect?

Patellofemoral syndrome or patellofemoral pain syndrome is a term used to describe pain around the patella or kneecap and in the front of the knee. Also known as runner’s knee or jumper’s knee, it often affects athletes and those who engage in running, basketball, and other sports.

Does patellofemoral pain syndrome cause arthritis?

Patellar (kneecap) fractures often damage the articular cartilage that covers and protects the underside of the bone. Even though the broken bone heals, the joint surface may no longer be smooth. There is friction when the patella moves against the joint surface of the femur. Over time, this can lead to arthritis.

Is patellofemoral arthritis the same as osteoarthritis?

Approximately 5% of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee have symptomatic patellofemoral arthritis in the absence of tibiofemoral arthritis. The etiology of the arthritis is divided equally among patellar dislocation, fracture, and primary OA.

Is walking good for patellofemoral arthritis?

A flexible muscle will minimize the contact pressures in the patellofemoral joint. 2. Patellofemoral arthritis usually causes pain when climbing stairs, walking uphill or downhill. Avoiding these activities can reduce your pain.

What does patellofemoral arthritis feel like?

Patients experiencing patellofemoral knee arthritis will have kneecap pain and stiffness and often swelling in the front part of the knee that typically worsens when walking on inclined terrain, going up and down stairs, squatting or rising from a seated position.

What are good exercises for patellofemoral syndrome?

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee)Rehabilitation Exercises

• Standing hamstring stretch: Place the heel of your injured leg on a stool about 15 inches high.
• Quadriceps stretch:
• Side-lying leg lift:
• Quad sets:
• Straight leg raise:
• Step-up:
• Wall squat with a ball:
• Knee stabilization:

What are the symptoms of patellofemoral syndrome?

What are the symptoms of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)?

• Pain during activities that bend the knee, including squatting or climbing stairs.
• Pain after sitting for extended periods of time with your knees bent.
• Crackling or popping sounds in your knee when standing up or climbing stairs.

Will patellofemoral syndrome go away?

Since there is no proven or reliable treatment, there is also none to neglect. If untreated — which is effectively all most people do — patellofemoral pain may get better, stay the same, or get worse.

What works for patellofemoral pain?

EXERCISES AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. Exercises for patellofemoral pain are based on the muscular causes listed in Table 1.

What is the patellofemoral compartment?

The third compartment of the knee is formed by the kneecap (patella) and the front part of the femur and is called the “patello-femoral joint.”. Figure 1: Diagram of knee anatomy, including the patello-femoral compartment, which is located behind the kneecap (patella).

What is patellofemoral osteoarthritis?

Patellofemoral Arthritis. Patellofemoral arthritis occurs when the cartilage along the trochlear groove and on the underside of the patella wears down and becomes inflamed. When cartilage wears away, it becomes frayed and, when the wear is severe, the underlying bone may become exposed. Moving the bones along this rough surface is often painful.