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Serving Eastern Sussex County, Delaware & Surrounding Areas.

Medical Library Knee

Aging in Place Specialists logo featuring a house outline and an illustration of a person, emphasizing support for aging individuals in their homes.

Choose the body area

Massage therapy session focusing on neck and shoulder relief for improved mobility and quality of life in aging individuals.

Neck

Physical therapist assisting elderly patient with mobility exercises in a bright rehabilitation space.

Shoulder

Physical therapist assisting patient with mobility exercises, promoting physical therapy benefits for aging individuals, in a clinical setting.

Back

Hand using a laser therapy device on a patient's arm, demonstrating physical therapy treatment for mobility improvement.

Elbow

Elderly woman engaging in physical therapy with a healthcare professional, using a pink dumbbell to improve strength and mobility.

Wrist

Physical therapist assisting a woman during manual therapy session, focusing on mobility and rehabilitation for aging individuals.

Hip

Physical therapist using a laser therapy device on a patient's knee, demonstrating physical therapy treatment for improved mobility and pain relief.

Knee

Physical therapist assisting elderly man with leg stretching exercise in a bright therapy room, emphasizing mobility improvement for aging in place.

Leg

Person undergoing physical therapy exercise, using a stability ball for rehabilitation, with a knee brace visible, emphasizing mobility improvement for aging individuals.

Ankle

OVERVIEW

Patello-femoral Pain (Commonly Called Chondromalacia Patella)

Illustration of knee anatomy highlighting the patella, femur, tibia, and trochlear groove, relevant to patello-femoral pain and chondromalacia treatment options.

Chondromalacia, which refers to softening the patellar cartilage is a common misdiagnosis. Only surgery can detect softening of the cartilage. Patello-femoral Pain is the correct diagnosis for pain or swelling that originates under the kneecap.

The treatment options include rest, ice and compression. It is important to control swelling. Bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy can all be helpful. It is important to strengthen the quadriceps gradually. Sometimes, orthoses for the feet may be necessary. Rarely is surgery required to realign the kneecap. This involves releasing the tight structures around the outside and reefing the inner structures.

 

GOALS

Possible Treatment Goals

  • Improve Balance
  • Decrease Risk of Reoccurrence
  • Improve Fitness
  • Improve Function
  • Optimize Joint Alignment
  • Improve Muscle Strength and Power
  • Increase Oxygen to Tissues
  • Improve Proprioception
  • Improve Range of Motion
  • Self-care of Symptoms
  • Improve Tolerance for Prolonged Activities