Patellar subluxation refers to a partially dislocated kneecap, or patella, and is also called patellar or kneecap instability. When certain muscles and ligaments become injured, your patella may move abnormally, causing discomfort and limited mobility when flexing your knee.
You chiropractor will determine whether you have a patellar dislocation or a patellar subluxation based upon the extent of your knee dislocation. Here are some things you need to know about patellar subluxation.
Symptoms and Causes
Symptoms associated with patellar subluxation may include:
- Locking of the knee, a catching sensation, or buckling
- Kneecap slipping out of position to the outer side of your knee
- Pain after sitting for a long time
- Anterior knee pain that gets worse after activity
- Cracking or popping in the knee
- Inflammation or stiffness of the knee
If you develop any of these symptoms, do not attempt to diagnose your condition yourself. Make an appointment with your doctor, who will examine your knee so that an effective treatment plan can be implemented after the appropriate diagnosis is made.
Contact sports or other extreme activities can cause patellar subluxation, and this condition typically affects young people between 10 to 20 years of age. A first-time patellar subluxation often occurs while playing sports, and after a first-time injury, the risk for a second dislocation is high.
Diagnosing Patellar Subluxation
Your doctor will manipulate your leg by bending and straightening your knee, while palpating the area surrounding your kneecap to help confirm the diagnosis of patellar subluxation. To help support the diagnosis, x-rays may be taken to evaluate the placement of your kneecap and to identify other possible causes for your symptoms such as a bone injury.
In addition to x-rays, a magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI) may be useful in evaluating the soft tissues surrounding your patella and in examining your ligaments. An MRI can help confirm the diagnosis a patellar dislocation in children who may be asymptomatic or who are not aware that a patellar dislocation has occurred.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
There are a number of non-surgical treatment options your chiropractor may recommend to correct your patellar subluxation. The type of treatment your doctor recommends is based on the severity and cause of the subluxation.
Physical therapy may be recommended to help strengthen the muscles that surround your patella and the rest of your lower extremity. Pelvic stabilization exercises, which help strengthen your hip flexors and hip abductors, help treat subluxation by stabilizing the function of the extremity.
Another treatment option is bracing and taping your kneecap because it can provide relief from your symptoms; however, it is not a long-term solution. If you experience relief from bracing in taping, your doctor may advise you to continue on with this conservative treatment option. Special shoes can also help improve your gait while running to help minimize pressure on your patella.
Your chiropractor may also recommend that you elevate your knee to help minimize inflammation. To further decrease swelling and pain, ice your knee. Apply the ice pack
every hour
for the first day of your injury for 10 to 15 minutes.
On the second day, ice your knee every 3 to 4 hours for a couple days or until you feel better. Avoid placing the ice directly on your skin when icing your knee.
Taking over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen helps relieve pain and inflammation, however, talk to your doctor before taking them, especially in you have hypertension, liver or kidney disease, stomach problems, or heart disease.
To learn more about patellar subluxation, or to make an appointment with the chiropractor,
contact Davison Chiropractic today.
Patellar subluxation refers to a partially dislocated kneecap, or patella, and is also called patellar or kneecap instability. When certain muscles and ligaments become injured, your patella may move abnormally, causing discomfort and limited mobility when flexing your knee.
You chiropractor will determine whether you have a patellar dislocation or a patellar subluxation based upon the extent of your knee dislocation. Here are some things you need to know about patellar subluxation.
Symptoms and Causes
Symptoms associated with patellar subluxation may include:
- Locking of the knee, a catching sensation, or buckling
- Kneecap slipping out of position to the outer side of your knee
- Pain after sitting for a long time
- Anterior knee pain that gets worse after activity
- Cracking or popping in the knee
- Inflammation or stiffness of the knee
If you develop any of these symptoms, do not attempt to diagnose your condition yourself. Make an appointment with your doctor, who will examine your knee so that an effective treatment plan can be implemented after the appropriate diagnosis is made.
Contact sports or other extreme activities can cause patellar subluxation, and this condition typically affects young people between 10 to 20 years of age. A first-time patellar subluxation often occurs while playing sports, and after a first-time injury, the risk for a second dislocation is high.
Diagnosing Patellar Subluxation
Your doctor will manipulate your leg by bending and straightening your knee, while palpating the area surrounding your kneecap to help confirm the diagnosis of patellar subluxation. To help support the diagnosis, x-rays may be taken to evaluate the placement of your kneecap and to identify other possible causes for your symptoms such as a bone injury.
In addition to x-rays, a magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI) may be useful in evaluating the soft tissues surrounding your patella and in examining your ligaments. An MRI can help confirm the diagnosis a patellar dislocation in children who may be asymptomatic or who are not aware that a patellar dislocation has occurred.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
There are a number of non-surgical treatment options your chiropractor may recommend to correct your patellar subluxation. The type of treatment your doctor recommends is based on the severity and cause of the subluxation.
Physical therapy may be recommended to help strengthen the muscles that surround your patella and the rest of your lower extremity. Pelvic stabilization exercises, which help strengthen your hip flexors and hip abductors, help treat subluxation by stabilizing the function of the extremity.
Another treatment option is bracing and taping your kneecap because it can provide relief from your symptoms; however, it is not a long-term solution. If you experience relief from bracing in taping, your doctor may advise you to continue on with this conservative treatment option. Special shoes can also help improve your gait while running to help minimize pressure on your patella.
Your chiropractor may also recommend that you elevate your knee to help minimize inflammation. To further decrease swelling and pain, ice your knee. Apply the ice pack
every hour
for the first day of your injury for 10 to 15 minutes.
On the second day, ice your knee every 3 to 4 hours for a couple days or until you feel better. Avoid placing the ice directly on your skin when icing your knee.
Taking over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen helps relieve pain and inflammation, however, talk to your doctor before taking them, especially in you have hypertension, liver or kidney disease, stomach problems, or heart disease.
To learn more about patellar subluxation, or to make an appointment with the chiropractor,
contact Davison Chiropractic today.
