aboutPatella Femoral
The Patella femoral Joint refers to the knee cap. The knee cap is attached to the thigh muscles and therefore is part of the structures that generate movement.
Climbing up and down stairs or rising from a chair requires strong leg muscle contraction and this force acts on the knee cap to control movement of the leg.
Problems with the joint surface or changes to the position of the knee cap can all cause irritation and inflammation.
Facet joints are small 'thumb sized' joints which link the different vertebral bones of your spine together.
They provide stability and restrict excessive movement; thereby helping to keep the spine stable.
If however the supporting muscles loose strength, the prolonged mechanical strain on the facet joints can lead to irritation, inflammation and degenerative changes. Any of these changes are likely to initiate a pain response.
A combination of healthy support muscles and mobile facets is ideal. A shift away from this arrangement can leads to dysfunction and pain.