A lateral release is a surgical procedure on the knee used to realign the kneecap (patella). The lateral release is performed as an arthroscopic knee surgery and can be performed as an outpatient. The usual reason to perform a lateral release is to correct a partially dislocated (subluxated) kneecap that is causing pain.
Manipulation under Anesthesia is a technique for treating stiffness and poor range of motion following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or knee revision surgery. Stiffness and decreased range of motion after TKA affects approximately 6 to 7% of patients. MUA is a non-surgical procedure performed in a hospital with the patient under general or spinal anesthesia. (courtesy…
Inhibition is marked weakness of the quadriceps muscles, and that is typically observed following an injury, surgery or pathology effecting the knee joint. This is partly due to ongoing neural inhibition that prevents the central nervous system from fully activating the quadriceps muscle, a process known as arthrogenic muscle inhibition, or AMI. Essentially this is…
Motor unit recruitment refers to the activation of additional motor units to accomplish an increase in contractile strength in a muscle. Contractile (meaning contraction), the ability for the muscle to contract. A single motor unit consists of one motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it stimulates, so we’re really getting into the muscle to…
A neurologic disorder is caused by a dysfunction in the brain or nervous system (i.e. spinal cord and nerves). This dysfunction can result in physical and psychological symptoms.
Osteomyelitis is an infection in a bone. Infections can reach a bone by traveling through the bloodstream or spreading from nearby tissue. Infections can also begin in the bone itself if an injury exposes the bone to germs. Smokers and people with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or kidney failure, are more at risk of…
The patella, also known as the kneecap, is a thick, circular-triangular bone which articulates with the femur (thigh bone) and covers and protects the anterior articular surface of the knee joint.
Presynaptic inhibition is a phenomenon in which an inhibitory neuron provides synaptic input to the axon of another neuron (axo-axonal synapse) to make it less likely to fire an action potential.
PROM – Passive range of motion involves someone else moving a joint for you. An example of passive ROM is if a doctor is testing a joint, such as the shoulder, and is moving it for you without your assistance.
Proprioception is the medical term that describes the ability to sense the orientation of your body in your environment. It allows you to move quickly and freely without having to consciously think about where you are in space or in your environment. Proprioception is a constant feedback loop within your nervous system, telling your brain…