Patellofemoral Instability: Part One

Knee pain and or knee problems are the last thing that we need to cause any set backs in your busy daily routine. Knee pain or knee problems can interfere with walking, running, or even sitting, standing or laying down.

Knee pain is where I started in 1999 when I was 17 years old. It wasn't much, but being an active teenager I never paid attention to it. Until a simple twist in walking dislocated my left knee. After several x-rays, my orthopedic surgeon fitted me with a knee brace to stabilize my knee cap and advised my parents that physical therapy is a must in order to prevent further injury. Also, young females are prone to weak knees and are urged to exercise to build up muscles and stability.

Unfortunately in my situation, I was never taken to physical therapy. The years began to go by, several dislocations occurred each year. Two times in 2000, five times in 2001, eight times in 2002, fifteen times in 2003, and by 2004 I had started to notice that my knee was moving off its track in order for it to bend.

Life tends to get in the way and like everyone we procrastinate. By 2007 my left knee had to dislocate over an inch to the left off track for my leg to bend. Standing for more than 30 minutes was so painful. Sitting, with knees bent for more than 2 hours caused unbelievable stiffness and throbbing pain. Lying down to sleep at night was so uncomfortable. You couldn't decide what sleeping position was the least painful.

So after finally consulting an orthopedic surgeon I was told that I suffered from Patellofemoral Instability. Medically speaking, Patellofemoral Instability is when the knee cap or patella, feels loose due to the over flexibility of the ligaments around the knee or the lax of the ligaments around the knee. Another cause is that the patella is located too high in the joint of the knee.

With my specific condition the ligaments were so loose and un-strengthened there was nothing keeping the kneecap on track.