Lateral Knee Pain

Popliteofibular ligament

 

I have not yet managed to establish the condition of this ligament.

 

Tibial rotation

 

http://www.wheelessonline.com/ortho/chondromalacia_of_the_patella

 

Chondromalacia of the Patella

 

- Clinical Features and Exam:
     - pts may report anterior knee pain, esp. while climbing stairs;
     - compression of patella may cause pain along medial & lateral retinacula & patellar ligament;
     - compression of the patella during flexion & extension of knee may elicits crepitation and discomfort;
     - patellar tracking
            - best seen when examiner is seated in front of pt & takes knee through full passive and active ROM.
     - crepitus:
            - may be a normal finding in young people;
     - misc signs:
            - excessive tibial rotation
            - foot pronation

 

Excessive tibial rotation... this should be restrained by PFL and/or PT.

 

Foot pronation... ????????????

 

Ummmmm... Excessive tibial rotation should be restrained by the popliteofibular ligament and/or the popliteus tendon....... 

 

So what options are available here...???

1. The popliteus tendon is not functioning,

2. The popliteofibular ligament is not functioning,

3. Neither the popliteus tendon nor the popliteofibular ligament are functioning.

 

So why might each one be disfunctional...???

1. Each one, or both, might be damaged,

2. Each one, or both, might be intact but restricted,

3. Each one, or both, might be intact but loose.

 

 

Twisting injury

 

http://www.orthop.washington.edu/?q=patient-care/articles/sports/torn-meniscus.html

 

Degenerative meniscal tears are thought to occur as part of the aging process when the collagen fibers within the meniscus start to break down and lend less support to the structure of the menicus. Degenerative tears are usually horizontal in the meniscus producing both an upper and lower segment of meniscus. These segments usually don't move out of place and therefore are less likely to produce mechanical symptoms of catching or locking. Traumatic meniscal tears are usually radial or vertical in the meniscus and are more likely to produce a moveable fragment that can catch in the knee and therefore require surgical treatment...

 

Most traumatic meniscal tears occur as a result of a twisting injury when the knee rotates but the foot stays fixed in position. The meniscus can also tear from extreme bending of the knee. The combination of bend, rotation, and sudden kick that occurs in some forms of martial arts is associated with lateral meniscal tears.

 

"... a result of a twisting injury when the knee rotates but the foot stays fixed in position..."