Chondromalacia???

Question
I'm trying to diagnose my knee pain but find that my symptoms fall into a number of categories.  I hyper extended my knee over the summer and was in pain whenever I sprinted, bent my knee past 90 degrees, or straightened my leg after having it bet for any extended period of time.  I can walk without pain, and even jog slowly, but when I sprint the pain seems to really hamper me.  I did squats, and leg curls, and road a stationary bike any they pain seem to subside after about 2 months.  I recently banged my knee hard on a turf field playing football and am having the same symptoms again.  I guess I'm just trying to figure out if I can continue to get rid of the pain by working out, or if this may be something more serious, such as ligament damage that I need surgery on.  I'd really appreciate any help with the diagnosis or advice on how to recover.  

Answer
Hi Dan
I would based on your description take the rehap route with out question.The most important thing is being consistent,with lots of patience.I would also avoid any activity other that the rehap work till your solid gold again.Your playing with fire if you do otherwise.I was out 8 months with rehaping my chondro myself before i felt it ok to get back to running.This is just the price us athletes pay for over doing and training on the edge which is required at a high level.Your body will tell you when to get back at it.You will know in time.I've copied a case history and a follow up testimonial for you which closely resembles your situation with cause and a prescription to take care of it.Let me know if you have any questions Dan.

All the best to ya

John
Question:  Hi,
I am 30 years old and have never really had any knee problems.  I am
very annoyed because I feel I have brought this on myself.  I run about 3
times a week, usually on a treadmill.  2 weeks ago I was doing some
lunges with hand weights at the gym.  Admittingly I strained a little and
had probaly used weights too heavy.  3 days later I had a run at the
gym and after 20 mins my knee was really painful.  I iced it up that
night and the following day and then it felt fine.  I have no soreness
walking and none on a very hard workout on the stepper.  2 weeks later I
had a light 5 min run and suffered no pain, then did a 30 min step with
no pain and no sorenes the next day.  2 days later I did a fitness test,
running 3.2km in 12 mins, then 2x100 meter sprints after it.  During
this I felt no pain, but an hourr later I could feel the pain and its
pretty sore again.  2 days since that, my k nee is feeling fine again.  
Does it sound serious?  Have I just pushed it too quickly?  I'm seeing a
physio in 3 days to be cautious.  The pain feels around my knee cap
really - never suffered this before?

Answer:  Hi scott
Great discription of your situation.Thanks for that.Sure makes my job
easier.You  have a slight case of chondro malacia.It isa disintegration
of the patella and femoral cartilage surfaces,resulting in uneven rough
gliding motion between these structures.Any disruption of the normal
smooth gliding motion of this structure will result in cartilage
damage.This is why your feeling where you do.Bottom line not serious but could
be if you don't adress it now.Your knee tracks like a train on the
railrod tracks,and it got out of the groves,jumped track do to some of
those exercises you just did.
To fix this there are 2 things you need to do.First start riding an
exercise bike for 30 to 40 min.3 to 4 times a week.Not a regular bike
except for rec purposes.You want a med to high spin with med to hard
tension.This will retrack the knee and also sand down the back of the knee
cap and smooth it out and also strengthen quads.Second start doing leg
extensions,curls,adductor,abdductor work.Thats it scott,cancel your
physio save $$$.Your situation does sound miner since it goes away quickly
so you should respond rapidly.I would continue with this routine as a
way to stay ahead of the curve as they say.To stay active you have to
incorporate prevention consistently or things will catch up with you,and
that is a promise.Hope this gives you a plan to work with.Let me know
how it is progressing and if you have any other questions.

To your success

John

Subject: Knee recovery

Question:
Hi John,
Its Scott Lovell here again.  Thought I would give you an update on the
knee.  I am into the full swing of refereeing and now doing up to 4x90
min games per week.  Great newsw is I have absolutely no problems at
all.  Am back to normal - jogging, running and sprinting.  Thanks again
for all your advice.  I feel well and truly back on track and actually
feel fitter than ever.  Absolutely no soreness at all now, so you can
imagine I am really happy about it.  I obviously keep up the bike riding
during the week, to ensure no reoccurance

Cheers,
Scott