Where does Anterior Knee Pain arise from?
Anterior knee pain arises when too much stress is applied to the patella (kneecap) where it contacts the groove of the femur (thigh bone). The pain also can be produced from the surrounding soft tissues including the knee joint capsule, tendons and ligaments. Knee Anatomy The patellofemoral joint is one of three compartments of the knee joint. As the knee straightens and bends, the patella moves in a groove on the femur called the trochlear groove. The patella is designed to glide into this groove as the cartilage covering the reciprocal surfaces of the femur and patella come into contact. The bones are formed so that the patella stays in the groove of the trochlea without moving out of place. The quadriceps muscle at the front of the knee, especially the inner portion called the vastus medialis obliquis (VMO) help guide the patella into the trochlear groove as the knee bends. This muscle plays a critical role in helping the patella stay in its position and not slip out of place. The V
