Treatment for Patellofemoral Knee Pain: Bio Skin QLok Patella Traction Knee Brace

Patellofemoral pain is present in as many as 25 percent of people in the world. Far fewer people have enough pain to see doctors and yet anterior knee pain is one of the most common problems sports medicine physicians see. Treatments range from getting better shoes to surgically transplanting the patellar tendon. The myriad of related tissues, the pressure involved with the pulley-like extensor mechanism, and the centrality of the patella in the biomechanics of the lower extremity, make patellofemoral treatment complex. Patellofemoral treatments fall into two categories: 1. Therapy (Strength, Stretching, and Conditioning) and 2. Surgery.




The Bio Skin® QLok™ Dynamic Patella Traction brace decreases pain more effectively that any other intervention. The QLok™ is an integral part of a total rehab system. Each QLok™ knee brace comes with a DVD that explains knee anatomy, causes of patellofemoral pain, and suggested stretching and exercises to aid in the treatment of patellofemoral pain. The brace may be worn alone or used in conjunction with physical therapy.

Any patient that has enough pain to go physical therapy for patellofemoral pain, should go there with a QLok™ Patella Traction Brace. Too many patients get inferior braces or no brace when they are sent to rehab. The majority of anterior knee pain patients need therapy, by using the QLok™ along with every therapy prescription, rehabilitation will be accelerated, pain throughout the day will be minimized, and endurance and compliance in rehab will be maximized. Using the QLok™ maximizes rehab effectiveness and minimizes pain both in therapy and out of therapy. Every patient that goes to therapy for the patellofemoral joint needs a QLok™. Patients should wear it in therapy for maximum endurance and wear it outside of therapy for pain relief and lateral tissue traction.

Most patellafemoral patients will be in therapy 3-4 weeks. In some cases they may return to the surgeon afterwards having found little relief. This may be due to the wrong therapy regimen, pain inhibition reluctance that makes therapy less effective, or a very degenerated patellofemoral joint. Many physical therapists use McConnell taping with their PFP patients. McConnell taping has been around for many years and is well known by virtually every physical therapist. Taping is effective for many and disliked by most for various reasons. Traditional problems with taping are threefold:

1. Taping causes skin break down
2. Taping is often not applied correctly if the patient applies it
3. Taping lasts only a few days at most before reapplication is needed.


After tape is applied strength exercises are used to condition the quads, more advanced physical therapists will use trunk and glut conditioning as well to deal with femoral rotation. During sessions therapists may manually stretch the patella by pushing the patella medially and by mobilizing the IT band and lateral retinaculum with their thumbs. This is to stretch and loosen the lateral tissues attached to the patella—mainly the lateral retinaculum and IT band. The Qlok™ is more effective than taping, and provides solutions to problems of traditional taping.

Learn How the Bio Skin® QLok Dynamic Patella Traction brace treats patellofemoral pain:
http://www.bioskin.com/QLok-Dynamic-Patella-Traction-Brace.html