Patellar Subluxation and Foam Rollers

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   Our user asked: "Hello, A brief history of my issue: I have patellar subluxation and a "grinding" sensation in the side of my knee, which my physical therapist concluded was my IT band, so she recommended stretches and exercises for me to do and it has been extremely helpful. However, I have been using a foam roller on my IT band for the bast several weeks and notice that it feels good, but when I do one leg I feel a strain in my knee, only when the foam roller goes about half way down my IT band then when I stop it subsides. So my questions are: 1) is the strain in my knee normal, or should I stop using the foam roller on that leg and 2) are foam rollers good to use especially for muscle inflexability? Thanks for your time!!!"

Ask a PT Response: "If you have a tight ITB and you are applying stress to it with a foam roller you may experience a strain on the lateral aspect (outside) of the knee because the distal insertion of the ITB is located at the lateral aspect of the knee (inserts at Gerdy's tubercle of tibia, patella, patellar ligament, supracondylar tubercle). Given your previous history of patella subluxation this may not be the best exercise to perform as you may be stressing the portion of the patella ligament (keeps patella in place) where the ITB inserts at. There are many other stretches you can perform if your objective is to stretch the ITB. As far as utilizing a foam roller for stretching and gaining flexibility, it is a good tool that is utilized in the physical therapy clinic."

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Ask a PT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Jul 07 2008 Status: Offline Points: 954	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ask a PT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Patellar Subluxation and Foam Rollers Posted: Jan 27 2011 at 5:35am
	Our user asked: "Hello, A brief history of my issue: I have patellar subluxation and a "grinding" sensation in the side of my knee, which my physical therapist concluded was my IT band, so she recommended stretches and exercises for me to do and it has been extremely helpful. However, I have been using a foam roller on my IT band for the bast several weeks and notice that it feels good, but when I do one leg I feel a strain in my knee, only when the foam roller goes about half way down my IT band then when I stop it subsides. So my questions are: 1) is the strain in my knee normal, or should I stop using the foam roller on that leg and 2) are foam rollers good to use especially for muscle inflexability? Thanks for your time!!!" Ask a PT Response: "If you have a tight ITB and you are applying stress to it with a foam roller you may experience a strain on the lateral aspect (outside) of the knee because the distal insertion of the ITB is located at the lateral aspect of the knee (inserts at Gerdy's tubercle of tibia, patella, patellar ligament, supracondylar tubercle). Given your previous history of patella subluxation this may not be the best exercise to perform as you may be stressing the portion of the patella ligament (keeps patella in place) where the ITB inserts at. There are many other stretches you can perform if your objective is to stretch the ITB. As far as utilizing a foam roller for stretching and gaining flexibility, it is a good tool that is utilized in the physical therapy clinic."

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