Pain from plica syndrome usually occurs when the knee is straightened from a flexed or bent position to a straight position.ĭiagnosis begins with a history and physical exam. If the plica has become severely irritated, the knee may become swollen. There may also be a snapping sensation along the inside of the knee as the knee is bent, due to the rubbing of the thickened plica over the edge of the thighbone. The primary symptom of plica syndrome is pain. The thickened, scarred plica fold may be more likely to cause problems later. The initial injury may lead to scarring and thickening of the plica tissue later.
If the knee is injured, the plica and the synovial tissue around the plica can swell and become painful. Activities that repeatedly bend and straighten the knee, such as running, biking, or use of a stair-climbing machine, can irritate the medial plica and cause plica syndrome.
Over time the plica can be irritated by certain exercises, repetitive motions, or kneeling. The medial plica attaches to the lower end of the kneecap and runs sideways to attach to the lower end of the thighbone at the side of the knee joint closest to the other knee.Ī plica causes problems when it is irritated. This structure is called the medial plica. The synovial sleeve of tissue has folds of material that allow movement of the bones of the joint without restriction.įour plica synovial folds are found in the knee, but only one seems to cause trouble. This sleeve of tissue is made up of synovial tissue, a thin, slippery material that lines all joints. Imagine the inner lining of the knee joint as nothing more than a sleeve of tissue. Plica is a term used to describe a fold in the lining of the knee joint. Plica syndrome occurs when an otherwise normal structure in the knee becomes a source of knee pain due to injury or overuse.
0 kommentar(er)
