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exercise health lifestyle
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What are the causes of chondromalacia patellae 1 What is chondromalacia patellae Chondromalacia means "softening of the cartilage", and Patellae means "the knee-cap". So Chondromalacia patellae means "softening of the articular cartilage of the knee-cap." The articular cartilage is the cartilage lining under the knee-cap that articulates with the knee joint. Under normal circumstances, it is smooth and shiny, so that it glides smoothly along the articular groove of the femur as the knee bends. When it "softens", it may break down, causing irregularities along the undersurface of the patella. What causes Chondromalacia patellae Chondromalacia patellae occurs in two distinct age-groups: It can happen in the older age-group (in the 40’s and beyond) when the articular cartilage breaks down as part of the wear-and-tear process that occurs with the rest of the body. It can occur frequently in teenagers (especially girls) when the articular cartilage "softens" in response to excessive and uneven pressure on the cartilage, due to structural changes in the legs with rapid growth, and muscle imbalance around the knee. Any flexion of the knee increases the tendency of the patella to dislocate. Undue pressure is placed on the lateral (outer) facet of the patella. Moreover, in many of these teenagers, the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis components of the Quadriceps muscle are not well-balanced. The vastus lateralis tends to be more powerful than the vastus medialis, thus increasing the tendency for the patella to track or dislocate laterally. This again puts undue pressure on the lateral facet. This uneven and excessive pressure on the lateral facet of the patella leads to cartilage "softening" and breakdown. What is it bursitis Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa. Every person has hundreds of bursae scattered throughout the body. The function of a bursa is to decrease friction between two surfaces that move in different directions. Therefore, you tend to find bursae at points where muscles, ligaments, and tendons glide over bones. What is the cause of it Bursitis can either result from a repetitive movement or due to prolonged or excessive pressure. An example of prolonged movement is the condition called “Miner’s Elbow” in which a bursa over the elbow joint is inflamed from repetitive motions such as swinging a miner’s pick. This same syndrome is see more commonly today in professions such as custodians who repetitively push and pull a vacuum.
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