McConnell’s Rehabilitation Program

Abstract

Pain in anterior area of knee is frequently acused by both teenagers and lot of athletes. One of the causes producing this kind of pain is hiperlaxity of patella, with different grades of instability and modiffied subtallar stability and mobility. The pain is associated with progresive disffunction in cinematic chain on inferior limb. These conditions affect unipodal stability, especialy the stability and mobility in postures of intensive physical strech. The knee must keeps controll of the biomecanical feedback both in hip and in ankle- talus complex. McConnell suggests a rehabilitation program applied with great succes in case of patients acusing patellofemural pain due to increased subtalar pronation and squinting patella. It requires a precise appreciation of muscular tightness, including rectus femoris, iliotibial band, gastrocnemius and hamstrings. In addition, it is recommended the taping of the patella to reduce pain during the exercises. By modifying the personal lifestyle and activity and by performing rigurously the exercises at home, there is a positive outcome of the program in over 60% of the investigated cases.

Key words:

athletes, patellofemoral pain, patellar chronic subluxation, rehabilitation program.