| How is your kneecap (patella) doing? Do you have | | | | etc.) in and around the knee. Consequently, the knee |
| problems with it being unstable? | | | | does not bend properly, feels stiff, achy or painful, |
| Chronic knee dislocation is a term often used to | | | | and may appear swollen. Your knee may also make a |
| describe a dislocation or displacement of the knee | | | | "popping" sound upon movement. This condition may |
| cap. It is different from a traumatic dislocation, which | | | | come and go as the cap slips in and out of the |
| is a very serious matter, usually caused by severe | | | | groove, and the pain from chronic knee dislocation |
| trauma to the knee. With a traumatic knee | | | | may vary in intensity. |
| dislocation, the upper and lower leg bones are | | | | Generally, if the condition becomes severe enough |
| separated at the knee, and significant damage is | | | | and if it significantly interferes with your activities, |
| usually sustained to the structures both in and around | | | | you may need to discuss your options, including |
| the knee joint (i.e. torn ligaments, vascular injury, | | | | possible surgery, with your physician. However, in the |
| etc.). A traumatic dislocation is extremely painful, | | | | interim, the use of a brace may help relieve the |
| generally requires immediate medical attention, and | | | | condition and allow you to function more normally |
| often requires surgery to repair the damage to the | | | | without experiencing frequent chronic knee |
| joint. If you have any reason to suspect that you | | | | dislocation. |
| have a traumatic dislocation, you should seek medical | | | | Knee braces come in a variety of styles and types. |
| attention as soon as possible. A chronic knee | | | | Generally, though, one of the main purposes of a |
| dislocation, on the other hand, is also quite painful, but | | | | knee brace in this instance, is to keep your knee cap |
| in many instances, can be treated more | | | | in its proper position within the femoral groove. A |
| conservatively. | | | | knee brace can also help lend support to the knee |
| With chronic knee dislocation, the knee cap | | | | joint so that the pressure and stress that might |
| (otherwise called the patella) slips out of place and | | | | contribute to chronic knee dislocation are somewhat |
| generally causes irritation, inflammation and a | | | | relieved, making it less likely that the knee cap will be |
| sensation that the knee is weak or "giving out." | | | | pulled out of alignment. Knee braces do allow for |
| Basically, the triangular bone we know as the knee | | | | movement, and you can likely perform most, if not |
| cap is designed to move smoothly over the top of | | | | all, of your usual activities while wearing one. They |
| the femur (upper leg bone), staying within a certain | | | | are adjustable to fit most knees, are easy to use, |
| groove which nature designed for that purpose. | | | | and are relatively affordable, especially when |
| When chronic knee cap dislocation occurs, the cap | | | | compared to other treatment options, such as |
| strays outside of that groove, adversely affecting | | | | surgery or extensive therapy. |
| the other structures (i.e. muscles, tendons, ligaments, | | | | |