How Does It Work?

In a knee with Petella Femoral Syndrome the patella does not fit properly in the femoral groove and cannot track over it and onto the tibial plateau. The femoral condyles rotate over the edge of the meniscus instead of in the well, this damages the wall of the meniscus.
In the MRI scan (right) and the bottom right illustration you can see that the upper leg, femur, and lower leg, tibia, are not lined up correctly.

Even when the patella is partially out of the groove, the underside of the patella scrapes or grinds over the cartilage covering the femoral condyles damaging both the underside of the patella and the cartilage. The body responds to this irritation with inflammation, swelling to cushion the tissues and minimize scraping, commonly referred to as “water on the knee”. If prolonged, chondromalacia forms on the underside of the patella, an early form of arthritis. When this damage is severe enough and over a long time, the bones themselves are destroyed and the patient may need a knee replacement.

When the femur and the tibia are not aligned, the patella, suspended in the patellar tendon, snaps in and out of the groove when the knee is flexed and extended. Patellofemoral sufferers often hear a snapping or popping noise. This noise may or may not be associated with pain.

When alignment is improved, the muscles of the knee joint are trained to work to maintain better alignment with each and every step, pain is reduced, mobility is increased, further damage is reduced, and quality of life is increased.

 

 

In the diagram below you can see that the upper leg, the femur, and the lower leg, the tibia, are not lined up correctly. The patella does not fit properly in the femoral groove and cannot track over the groove in the tibial plateau.

To learn more about Patellofemoral Syndrome, click here

 

Why is it better?

Other knee braces do not work like the In the Groove™ knee brace. Most other knee braces try to shift or trap the patella in the femoral groove, by putting pressure on the side of the patella or all around the patella, causing loss or restriction of patellar motion.
The In the Groove™ Knee Brace helps to align the upper and lower portions of the lower extremity and helps to align the knee. With better alignment, the patella can track in the femoral groove.
In the groove, the patella has less contact with the tissues of the knee joint. With less pathologic contact, there is less injury to the tissues of the knee joint. Once this damage to the joint is significantly reduced, the body quits trying to cushion the tissues by increasing fluid and sustaining inflammation in the knee joint. The white blood cells stop attacking the underside of the patella, which is scraping the cartilage covering the bones, and halts or delays arthritic progression.
When the patella is allowed to move normally as the knee flexes and extends, the muscles that move the knee and the leg are allowed to function normally and are strengthened to help maintain this better patellar tracking and more proper knee function - simply by wearing the In the Groove™ Knee Brace.
With improved natural knee motion, there is better function, less damage to underlying tissues, less pain, increased mobility,and improved quality of life.

CONTACT US:

Write us:
In The Groove LLc
P.O. Box 6056
Saginaw, MI
48608-6056

Phone:1 (517) 781-6030
Fax: 1 (517) 781-6051
Email: abrown@inthegroovebrace.com

 

 

 

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Disclaimer! This site and the information here and is provided for informational purposes only. Neither it nor the products discussed here in our design to diagnose, treat, or cure any problem. You should contact your physician for further information, diagnosis testing, or advice and how to use the information/products listed in the site. For more information, see our disclaimer page. ©2006 In The Groove, LLC. All RighsReserved.