Anyone had Patella Tracking Disorder?

[Minor_Threat]

This is giving me some serious grief lately, so much so the physio has told me I need to have a break from the game to have the best chance of rehabilitation.

I have been given a range of exercises to improve flexibility of my Quad and Hip Flexor as well as strengthening exercises for my Quad and particularly my VMO muscle.

I have had plenty of injuries that have affected my golf and most I can continue playing with, but this one is a real prick to get rid of.

Anyway, just want to hear if anyone else has experienced this and eventually gotten over it.

[goughy]

I guess I had something similar when I started running. They got pretty bad, especially in my right leg. Physio showed me how they were out of position. Had to show me how to walk more correctly and not stand with my feet splayed out. Also some taping techniques so it would track properly, especially when running. All goodie now. Didn't take that long really. But the taping before golf or running really helped. Think I have some links still somewhere to show different patella taping techniques.

[Minor_Threat]

Cheers Goughy.. I had been taping for the past 6 weeks and it was helping a little, the knee just cant make it through 18 atm.

[goughy]

Mine wasn't as bad as that then. Bit sore after 18. And it didn't stop me running.

[razaar]

MT

I had this problem years ago and it disappeared when a backyard physio flipped my right adductor (groin) muscle. His name was Sid and acquired the nickname Sid Vicious because of the pain his patients went through during his treatments.
His technique was to get his fingers into the belly of a muscle in spasm and flip it. The result was the muscle would instantly relax, end of problem. People would scream in pain when he was doing the 'flip'. Scared the hell out of me on my one and only visit.

I have been told it can be a problem with people who have an under developed or weak tear drop muscle (vastus medialis) which is the muscle that helps to stablize the knee joint. Also the front shin and instep muscle group (tibialis anterior) can cause knee probs if they get tight. You should be able to sit back on your shins with the instep flat on the floor and the toes pointing behind you. Best to try this one with each leg separately sitting with the opposite cheek on two telephone books with the idle leg stretched out in front of you. This way you can notice the difference in either leg.

[Haystacks]

Hey MT, sounds painful! Which way is your patella tracking? Is it towards the outside of your knee?

[Minor_Threat]

Hey MT, sounds painful! Which way is your patella tracking? Is it towards the outside of your knee?Yeah mate, the physio says it is not getting pulled to the inside properly.

[Haystacks]

Yeah mate, the physio says it is not getting pulled to the inside properly.

When I had my ACL reconstruction (back when Jesus played fullback for Jerusalem), after my leg came out of the brace, my patella had drooped to the outside.
There's a small muscle shaped like a medallion on the inside of the lower thigh which, apparently, holds the patella inwards where it should be.
It's a bugger of a muscle to try and strengthen, cause it's very small and weakens quickly. But I'm not a physio and I could be way off the mark...and you did ask!

[Minor_Threat]

When I had my ACL reconstruction (back when Jesus played fullback for Jerusalem), after my leg came out of the brace, my patella had drooped to the outside.
There's a small muscle shaped like a medallion on the inside of the lower thigh which, apparently, holds the patella inwards where it should be.
It's a bugger of a muscle to try and strengthen, cause it's very small and weakens quickly. But I'm not a physio and I could be way off the mark...and you did ask!Cheers mate.. Yeah I think that is the one they call VMO (vastus medialis oblique)? I have some exercises to try and build that one up, but I have also heard that it is a difficult one to target.

[Haystacks]

If it's the same one (got no idea what it's called), yep, really hard to target!

I recall sitting on the edge of the bed, concentrating so bloody hard to get about 3 or 4 flexes out of it before it gave up the ghost!

As I said in previous post, it was a long time ago ('91 ish?) and things have changed a shitload since then as far as that sort of things go, and if there's one piece of advice I can give you, listen to your physio before listening to me:)

BTW, from your posts, I assume you are a Newcastle GC member?
I live in Port Stephens and know a few members at Newcastle.

[Andrew]

MT,

I know you are probably not down in Sydney that much, but if you get the chance try & book a physio appointment with Steven Naylor. He is one of the principals for Sports Focus & is a specialist in golf injury management and rehabilitation. He works out of the Castle Hill & Liverpool clinics.

http://www.sportsfocusphysio.com.au/index.html

[Rusty]

mine tracked to the outside. physio stretching helped, but orthotics made things a lot easier.

[Yossarian]

mine tracked to the outside. physio stretching helped, but orthotics made things a lot easier.


The very small amount I know about this stuff suggests that orthotics could help?

My degree in History and Security, Terrorism and Counter Terrorism gives me the authority to say that.

[Minor_Threat]

MT,

I know you are probably not down in Sydney that much, but if you get the chance try & book a physio appointment with Steven Naylor. He is one of the principals for Sports Focus & is a specialist in golf injury management and rehabilitation. He works out of the Castle Hill & Liverpool clinics.

http://www.sportsfocusphysio.com.au/index.htmlThanks for that Andrew, I will keep him in mind if I do not get any results from my current physio.


mine tracked to the outside. physio stretching helped, but orthotics made things a lot easier.Cheers Rusty, the physio said I have a very slight pronation of my foot and that orthotics may or may not help. I am leaving this as a bit of a last option.


The very small amount I know about this stuff suggests that orthotics could help?

My degree in History and Security, Terrorism and Counter Terrorism gives me the authority to say that.Your as about as qualified as me with my engineering degree Yoss.. ;)

Anyway WTF can you do with a degree like that? Work for ASIO or something..

[goughy]

Cheers Rusty, the physio said I have a very slight pronation of my foot and that orthotics may or may not help. I am leaving this as a bit of a last option.


Pronation was/is a big problem of mine; my physio said it was a contributing factor with my knees. She tried teaching me the way to stand and how the arch in my foot is spose to feel/look when standing properly. When I got a shoe fitting at In-Training for runners, the guy was on the round watching my footfall when I walked and commented on how flat my feet were. When I walked I was very much pushing off of the ball of my foot, rather than my big toe and had to work on walking with the correct push off.

[AndyP]

...... the physio has told me I need to have a break from the game to have the best chance of rehabilitation.Are you up for a twilight game this week?

[Minor_Threat]

Are you up for a twilight game this week?I would love to mate, but Im going to listen to the physio and give it a good break!

[AndyP]

Just checking on your commitment. Good move!

[Yossarian]

Your as about as qualified as me with my engineering degree Yoss.. ;)

Anyway WTF can you do with a degree like that? Work for ASIO or something..

Um would you like fries with that?

ASIO was the end goal, and still might be, but I am going to do a bit more study and see what happens. :mrgreen: