|| Patellofemoral Pain - not all in Vastus Lateralis and ITB tightness ||

At the Functional Movement Group we've always been big believers that the knee gets a bad wrap for a lot of the pathologies it may develop. After all it's really just a simple joint caught between the complex interactions of the hip and foot/ankle complex.

For a long time the go to's for Patellofemoral Joint Syndrome has been looking at the lateral structures of the lower limb. Constant soft tissue workto the Vastus Lateralis and ITB have been the norm, usually followed by some type of restrictive taping technique to limit the lateral excursion of the Patella.

What many fail to realise is that there's an alternate scenario in which it is not the Patella moving lateral on the Femur, but the Femur moving medially on the Patella. The control of this Femoral movement is usually primarily in the eccentric deceleration of internal rotation by the big posterior hip muscles under gravity and ground reaction force as the foot hits the ground in upright function.

Consider with your patients and clients with PFD whether they have the freedom of movement to control the medial rotation of their femur in their chosen tasks.

If you would like to learn more about how to assess your patients and clients ability to eccentrically control femoral internal rotation check out:
https://www.functionalmovementgroup.com/…/functional-assess…/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20436239

At the Functional Movement Group we've always been big believers that the knee gets a bad wrap for a lot of the pathologies it may develop. After all it's really just a simple joint caught between the complex interactions of the hip and foot/ankle complex.

For a long time the go to's for Patellofemoral Joint Syndrome has been looking at the lateral structures of the lower limb. Constant soft tissue workto the Vastus Lateralis and ITB have been the norm, usually followed by some type of restrictive taping technique to limit the lateral excursion of the Patella.

What many fail to realise is that there's an alternate scenario in which it is not the Patella moving lateral on the Femur, but the Femur moving medially on the Patella. The control of this Femoral movement is usually primarily in the eccentric deceleration of internal rotation by the big posterior hip muscles under gravity and ground reaction force as the foot hits the ground in upright function.

Consider with your patients and clients with PFD whether they have the freedom of movement to control the medial rotation of their femur in their chosen tasks.

If you would like to learn more about how to assess your patients and clients ability to eccentrically control femoral internal rotation check out:
https://www.functionalmovementgroup.com/…/functional-assess…/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20436239