Question - Knee Pain Sharp (going down inclines)

by Maggie
(Half Moon Bay, Ca)

I only get this sharp knee pain when returning down the steep portions of an incline that I have hiked up (around 1-2 miles) I never get it when doing a hike that goes up and down. The pain is only when I step down and put weight on the leg and goes immediately away on the flat or when going up again. There is no residual pain.

I do have an old hip injury that amounts to an occasional soreness when I hike--piriformis muscle injury. Applying an ace wrap does not help lessen the pain. Is this then the patella femoral syndrome?

Thanks Maggie

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Question - Knee Pain Sharp (going down inclines)

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Oct 06, 2008
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knee pain down inclines
by: Bart - SII

It sounds like it could be patella femoral syndrome, although it doesn't seem to be something that bothers you with anything other than the inclines.

When you walk down an incline, your muscles and knees are working, for the most part, in an eccentric fashion - they are contracting to control your movement. There could be an alignment issue with your patella femoral joint, or a weakness with your quads and hips that is only stressed with eccentric loads.

Where in your knee does the pain seem to be? above, below, to the sides?

Bart

Oct 06, 2008
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Pain location
by: Maggie

Pain is sharp, knife-like in mid knee slightly anterior to center. Maggie

Oct 08, 2008
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knee pain
by: Bart - SII

It does sound like it could be patella femoral syndrome. I would recommend seeing your doctor for an evaluation as you could have a small defect in the articular cartilage of the patella, or some alignment issues that need to be corrected.

Bart