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Why Does My Knee Cap Dislocate?

Last updated on March 1, 2021 By Christina Eidi DPT Leave a Comment

experiencing knee cap pain

jogger with knee cap painThe most common type of knee dislocation is sideways toward the outside of the leg. This is usually due to weakness in the quads, more specifically the Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO). The VMO is the innermost quad muscle that provides stability and allows the knee cap to move properly. When this muscle is weak, there is not enough stability on the inside of the knee, and the kneecap can move towards the outside leg more than it should.

Another cause of dislocations is if the ligaments that surround the knee are lax or looser than normal. Everyone’s anatomy is different, and some people simply have ligaments that are more lax than others. When the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is loose, there is less stability on the outside of the knee, which can result in a lateral dislocation.

A third common reason is the position of the knee cap relative to the thigh bone or femur. The kneecap sits in a groove at the end of the femur, and when that groove is irregular or too shallow, it is less stable and more prone to dislocations.

patellar dislocation

Normal position of kneecap (left) versus displaced Patella (right).

Exercises that target the VMO and rest of the quadriceps are essential for treating knee dislocations. Electrical stimulation can be used to recruit more muscle fibers during certain quad exercises. It is also important to look at the ankle and hip muscles. Often times weakness in the inner ankle and outer hips are also seen which can result in knock knees, giving less stability to the knee joint.

Filed Under: Orthopedic Injury, Physical Therapy Tagged With: Knee



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About Christina Eidi DPT

Christina Eidi received her Bachelors in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland in 2014 and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Touro College, New York in 2019. Christina has experience treating a variety of orthopedic and sports related conditions. She has a special interest in orthopedics, manual therapy and treating various spinal dysfunctions. Her treatment focuses on manual therapy techniques and corrective strengthening exercises to address pain and recover from injury.

FTC Compliance Disclaimer: PhysioDC.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com; proceeds from product sales help cover the operational & maintenance costs for the site.

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DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for Educational Purposes Only and is not designed to diagnose, treat, mitigate, prevent or cure any health conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated statements about these health topics or any suggested product compositions. Answers to questions submitted are merely the opinion of the physical therapist and should not be taken as a prescribed course of action. Any advice given by the therapist must be cleared with the treating physician involved in direct patient care. The person posing the question absolves the responder of any liability in regards to opinions given. PhysioDC insists that all patients receive approval from a prescribing physician prior to starting a structured exercise program involving any of the exercises included on this site. PhysioDC.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com; proceeds from product sales help cover the operational & maintenance costs for the site.