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Westwood
Physical
Therapy
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11500 West Olympic Blvd. Suite 636 Los Angeles, CA 90064 310.996.0085 |
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Did you know that forty–two percent of all overuse injuries affect the knee joint and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), also known as “runner’s knee”, is the most common overuse injury among runners.
PFPS can affect both knees, though more commonly it is more painful in one knee. PFPS affects mainly young and active people, and is twice as common in women vs. men. The symptoms of PFPS may be caused by the irregular tracking of the patella (kneecap) in the femoral groove, or muscle imbalances among the hip, knee and ankle muscles.
Common Symptoms:
 · Tenderness behind the patella
· Sense of cracking in the knee or joint noises
· Instability of the knee
· Increased pain with sitting for a long time
· Increased pain with running or walking on steps, hills, or uneven surfaces
Causes of PFPS:
· Biomechanical issues
· Worn cartilage
· Patella is misaligned
· High arches or flat feet
· Inward or outward turning of the knee
· Tight hamstring and calf muscles
· Weak quadriceps or hip muscles
· Best determined by our physical therapists
How we can help at Westwood Physical Therapy?
Our physical therapists can perform a thorough assessment and determine what factors are contributing to your knee pain. Also, your running stride may be evaluated on a treadmill to determine if there are any problems with your running technique or gait which may be the reason for your pain.
Treatment will likely consist of exercises to focus on correcting existing muscle imbalances and improving strength in weak muscles.
You will also perform a flexibility program for the hamstrings, calves and hip flexors, and receive education on proper footwear and foot orthoses to correct your foot positioning, if necessary.
Our physical therapists can help alleviate pain caused by PFPS, and we can develop a personal training program for injury prevention. Contact Westwood PT today!
Custom Orthosis Fitting We are proud to announce that we are now fitting patients for custom foot orthoses. Foot orthoses are a great solution to common and persistent foot dysfunction and pain problems: flat feet, bunions, plantarfasciitis, metatarsalgia - just to name a few. Correcting biomechanical problems of the foot can also have a big impact on your knee, hip and spine pain.
Our 25th Anniversary! In October, Westwood Physical Therapy is celebrating its 25th year in business! Our treatment philosophy remains unchanged: “Our patients are NOT buying a product or a service. They are BUYING a RESULT, a BENEFIT or a FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME that is self serving.” Through our one-on-one patient treatments using evidence-based research techniques, we have been successfully rehabilitating the Westside community since 1981.
What's New at Westwood Physical Therapy Running pains? Try our new S.E.R.F. Knee Brace
The S.E.R.F. (Stability through External Rotation of the Femur) Strap can be used to control abnormal hip motion during leisure/sport activities and can be used as a training tool in our clinic. Chris Powers PT, PhD is the founder of the S.E.R.F knee strap. Dr. Powers is associate professor in the Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy and co-director of the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab at USC.This innovative knee brace is supported by evidence based research from USC, and recommended in many cases to reduce pain and promote correct biomechanics. Call our office today, 310.996.0085 to learn more about our new product line.
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© 2008. Westwood Physical Therapy. All rights reserved. 11500 West Olympic Blvd. Suite 636 Los Angeles, CA 90064