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What are the symptoms of Chondromalacia?

The common symptoms of Chondromalacia are:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Grinding noise
• Knee giving way

The above symptoms of Chondromalacia vary depending on the severity of the condition, and occur in and around the knee.

The symptoms of Chondromalacia can also increase when walking up an incline and during sporting activities.

What are the causes of Chondromalacia?

Chondromalacia is damage to the cartilage at the back of the kneecap (patella). The ususal cause of Chondromalacia is when your kneecap rubs against the lower end of the thighbone as opposed to gliding over it.

The rubbing wears away at the cartilage underneath the kneecap (and its degeneration) causes the pain of Chondromalacia.

The damage to the knee cartilage that causes Chondromalacia can happen through overuse of the knee or an accident involving the knee.

Tight leg muscles, such as hamstrings or quadriceps, can also contribute to Chondromalacia

Chondromalacia can also be caused by bending your feet inwards causing an imbalance around the knee.

Who does Chondromalacia affect?

Chondromalacia is most common in older people, who develop Chondromalacia in association with arthritis.

People who play sports or exercise regularly can also suffer from Chondromalacia because of overuse or a knee injury.

Chondromalacia is also understood to affect women more than men, which is believed to be because of the anatomical differences between men and women, with women experiencing increased lateral forces on the patella.

What are the treatments for Chondromalacia?

Treatment for Chondromalacia is fairly simply for most people and consists of resting the knee and maintaining a suitable rehabilitation routine.

The use of a cold pack or wrap, such as the Vulkan Instant Ice Pack, can also be used to reduce the swelling and relieve any pain.

Preventing Chondromalacia can be done through stretching the hamstrings and quadriceps to help strengthen them, while the surrounding muscles can be strengthened by doing low impact exercise like swimming or using an exercise bike.

Other steps to take to treat and prevent Chondromalacia include wearing comfortable, well fitting and support footwear.

Wearing an insole will also provide additional support and cushioning, and help realign the foot to its normal position. We recommend Sorbothane insoles, Vulkan insoles and Vasyli insoles.

In more severe cases of Chondromalacia or if you experience Chondromalacia regularly, you may need to seek professional advice. Surgery may be an option if other methods don’t work.