Training & Nutrition - Chondromalacia Patella: Anyone Else have this?

I went to the doctor today for a knee problem and he said that I had all the symptoms of Chondromalacia. It's been acting up alot lately while I train. Within 10 miles of a ride my kneecap begins to hurt. I was just wondering if anyone else has this condition and what you do about it. I bought a brace today at wal-mart that said it was for chondromalacia patella. I rode around on my mountain bike for a little and my knee didn't bother me while wearing it. Not sure if it will fix the problem though. Guess i'll find out tomorrow morning on the road. Any suggestions please?

Wes

Yup, I have it. I find that a knee strap works best for me, it keeps my knee cap running in the right plane? I don't know if thats the correct wording. But here is a picture.. http://www.painreliever.com/xmodels/painreliever/ChoPKneStrph.jpg

That brace looks very similar to mine. Did you ever raise your saddle anymore? I've read where that can also help...I had my bike professional fitted quite awhile ago. I'm gonna try rasing it a tad bit tomorrow during my morning ride and wear my brace. I hope that will work.

Wes

I've had this problem and pain behind the knee. Cyclingnews.com has some good info. I fixed mine by adjusting saddle forward and back and height.

Yup, I have it. I find that a knee strap works best for me, it keeps my knee cap running in the right plane? I don't know if thats the correct wording. But here is a picture.. http://www.painreliever.com/xmodels/painreliever/ChoPKneStrph.jpg
I had the same problem when I was running alot in college. I used the Chopat knee strap for a couple of months, and the problem was corrected. I helped to relieve the pain while healing and I also believe that it is the reason the problem was corrected. I would swear by this for patellar pain. Between that and a good bike fit I hope you get rid of your problem.

After no results from rest, ice and stretching for a month, I got rid of my chondromalacia in about 3 days by doing straight-legged kicking exercises with very light weights.

Weights aren't even necessary: I often taped a 2.5lb weight plate to an old, heavy boot, and used this.

A too low saddle position obviously is a contributing factor.


I'm no Dr Butt......http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb.gif

.......my physio explained to me that the pain is caused by the grinding on the knee cap on the end of the femur due to fatigue and a "slackening" of the firing order of the quads. Normally, during knee extension, the rectus femoris (or is it the vastus intermedius? one of the top quads) quickly pulls the knee cap up and out of the way of the femur, but when the quads are over worked, occasionally, the pulling up of the knee cap doesn't occur quickly enough.

In a way you're lucky that you were diagnosed with this. Apparently many people are incorrectly diagnosed as simply having patella tendonitis

What do you mean by "straight leg kicking" excersises?

just standing, with some sort of weight on your foot, then raising the leg forward and upward to approx just past parallel to the ground.

http://vmartin.bigpondhosting.com/photos/chondro.jpg

I think I captured my dog pretty well in that drawing

http://vmartin.bigpondhosting.com/photos/jordy_speaks.jpg

http://vmartin.bigpondhosting.com/photos/chondro.jpg

I think I captured my dog pretty well in that drawing

http://vmartin.bigpondhosting.com/photos/jordy_speaks.jpg

Nice work

:roflmao:

Try this and Rest Ice Compression Elevation

http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

Who has the loudest crunchy kneecaps? I'll sure be in the running.

Straight-legged weight lifting, proper saddle height and position, low gears with high cadence and NO mashing, maybe custom orthotics (depends what is causing the femur to grind on the patella). Build a good base before going gonzo in the hills. I also use Ibuprofen before a ride where I think my knees might be at risk. Stopping the inflammation before it starts seems to be a big factor. Of course, RICE after any ride where you have pain.

Make sure you do any lifting or stair climbing, etc., with your legs properly positioned - with your knee behind the ball of your foot or you'll have problems. Easier to see it in runners - the heel strike needs to be out in front.

You really do need to know what caused the chondromalacia to treat it properly.