- Main symptoms
- How the treatment is done
- Physiotherapy for chondromalacia
- Is patellar chondromalacia curable?
Chondromalacia, also called patellar chondropathy, is a wear on the knee joint that usually heals and manifests itself through symptoms such as deep pain in the knee and around the kneecap when performing certain movements, whose treatment is done with taking anti-inflammatory drugs, exercise, physiotherapy and in some cases, surgery.
Patellar chondromalacia is caused especially by the weakening of the quadriceps muscle, located in the front of the thigh and by the shape of the individual's knee or by the positioning of his foot. These conditions when associated with excess weight and repetitive effort are the main causes of the disease.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of patellar chondromalacia are:
- Knee pain when going up and down stairs, running or getting up from the chair, for example; Pain around the knee cap, especially when bending the leg; Burning or knee pain when standing with the leg bent for some time; Feeling of crackling (having sand inside the knee) or cracking in the knee; knee slightly more swollen.
This alteration may be suspected when the person practices physical activity, especially running. However, this change can also occur in people who do not practice physical activity, in which case it is more common in women. Know the main causes of knee pain.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for patellar chondromalacia can be done with physiotherapy, with the objective of improving the positioning of the patella and the function of the knee, in addition to anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics to control inflammation and pain, which must be indicated by the doctor and used according to the orientation.
During treatment, it is important to avoid wearing shoes with high heels, not crossing your legs when sitting, maintaining good posture, avoiding climbing ramps or exercising in steep places, in addition to recommending weight loss, if this is one of the causes of chondromalacia, for decrease the weight on the knee. It is also important to wear shoes that support your feet well, avoiding unnecessary impact on your knees.
In the case of people diagnosed with grade 3 or 4 patellar chondromalacia, treatment is done through arthroscopy, which is a small surgical procedure performed to observe the structures within the joint. Understand what arthroscopy is and how recovery is after surgery.
Physiotherapy for chondromalacia
Physiotherapy for patellar chondromalacia may include the use of devices such as laser, ultrasound and microcurrents, especially stretching the muscles of the back of the thigh and strengthening the leg muscles, especially the muscles of the front of the thigh.
The physiotherapist must carry out an assessment of the individual's posture and the positioning of the hips, knees and feet, because when any of these structures are poorly positioned the risk of chronicity of this alteration is greater. Good physiotherapeutic treatments for chondromalacia are hydrotherapy and RPG: global postural reeducation. See the physiotherapy exercises performed in the treatment of chondromalacia.
Is patellar chondromalacia curable?
Patellar chondromalacia is curable when the person does the treatment correctly, and it is possible to achieve a cure in a few weeks. To achieve healing, it is important to deflate the region, recover the integrity of the joint, strengthen and stretch the leg muscles and adjust the position of the kneecap and feet.
