Patella injury?? Bill...

[physiquedocteur]

I have a friend who came to me with a knee injury following a skiing accident. He fell and his patella landed directly on an ice patch. For several weeks he had pain when bending and running but now several months later the only pain that persists is when he kneels down and puts pressure directly on the patella. Does this sound like some sort of injury to the prepatellar or suprapatellar bursa cause this?? Is time the only treatment for this??

Thanks!!
Emily

[Bill Hartman]

Patellar contusions will hang around for quite a while. However, if I were your friend, I'd go see an orthopod to rule out a chondral injury based on the mechanism of injury. Otherwise, as long as his flexibility is normal (check quads and gastroc especially) and strength is normal (dont' forget to check the hip abductors), he's probably going to be okay since it sounds like it's resolving. Get it checked non the less.

Bill

[laurawd]

Hi there, I have the same symptoms, and after several visits to the PT, and finally, an MRI scan, I was diagnosed with Chrondomalacia Patellae. I stayed off running for a while, but continued weight training, and the pain seemed to lessen. I was able to run a couple times a week without much problem. But for some reason, the pain is back (after about 1 month), with full force.

If I stay off it, do my special exercises, will this ever go away??? I'm loath to give up my squats and lunges, as I've been making good progress on those.
But I really miss running.

Should I be doing any additional strength work?

Thanks for the help!