Wassup! Whenever i sit for extended periods of time, my knees always ache. Does anyone know why this is? If im not warmed up really well, they also hurt right above my patella. Is there anything i can do to keep them from hurting?
What you’re describing is what is called the “positive theater test” for chondromalacia patella in running circles. You might want to try a cycle of anti-inflamatories and working on strength balance between the vastus medialis and the other quad muscles.
Briders diagnosis sounds spot on. I agree with every thing he posted and add one thing. Stretch your quads religiously. Hamstrings and calves too.
Quick favor, can you elaborate on the difference between chondromalacia and patellofemoral syndrome? Thanks in advance.
I’m no medical type, but I’ve suffered from chodromalacia a few times in my running days. As I remember, chodromalacia refers to the roughening of the cartilage on the back side of the knee cap (patella), while patella-femoral syndrome is the mistracking of the patella in the femoral groove. Now don’t get me wrong, my chondromalacia was caused by a mistracking, but it was mechanically caused (running on uneven surfaces for a long period, or broken down shoes, cold knees). It’s possible to have patella-femoral syndrome while not suffering from chondromalacia. How the foot rolls during the stride, foot splay, Q-angle, and a bunch of other things play into how prone one is to patella-femoral syndrome and chondromalacia. Maybe there’s some one out there with more medical experience in this subject that can comment?
I think I have the same thing. I have had it for over a year. I went to the doctor and he diagnosed me with patella-femoral syndrome gave me a two week supply of Vioxx. The thing is, I think thats HALF the problem. Sure, my knees feel untracked and when I run, every fifth step or so feels funny, like my left knee is quickly popping in and out.
But, the other half of the problem is that the very top of my patella feels painful. I get it from sitting at long periods of time, but standing still does the same thing.
I had a history of doing long distance running and stuff, but I never suffered this until I started doing explosive type work. A whole lot of sprints, weighted squat jumps, and squats (using poor form at the time).
Hopefully we can get a decent thread going and talk about this. It sucks to not be able to run and jump, etc.
I’m not a medical type either, but from what I’ve read, chondromalacia is an outdated term. It literally means “softening of the cartilage.” Now, the term patellofemoral syndrome is a catch all term that includes patellar cartilage damage, mistracking, infrapatellar fat pad impingement, plica inflammation–basically all pain associated with the patellofemoral joint. Now, from the sound of it, Goldberg, if your pain is above the patella, then it sounds like tendinitis of the quad muscles. It could also possibly be suprapatellar plica syndrome. Check with the doctor if it is bad enough.
I’ve had patella-femoral problems too, that ranged from annoying to excruciating. Vioxx, three A.R.T. sessions (thanks to T-mag), and physical therapy to rebalance my quads solved the problem. Also, lots of stretching to maintain the fix. (Mind you, this was after one year of it being diagnosed as osteoarthritis. Finally got the MRI done which proved totally negative for OA.)
Brider,
Thanks for the reply. It sounds like chondromalacia is a type of patellofemoral syndrome. Maybe the two are interchangeable. Never the less, things are a little clearer.
Thanks, Peace.