Massage is great for many soft-tissue pathologies. However, sometimes various conditions exist that seem like a common pathology, but then don’t respond to the treatment. In some cases an undiscovered problem may exist. In this post we’ll take a look at the synovial plica, a cause of knee pain that can easily mimic other common […]
Tag Archives | knee massage
Valgus, Varus, Vargus… What is It?
When describing postural alignment issues there are two terms that many people get mixed up and consequently miss their biomechanical significance. The terms of valgus and varus refer to alignment of bony segments. Some mistakenly state they are defined by angulations at the knee. However valgus and varus angulations can occur in numerous locations. Let’s […]
Miserable Malalignment Syndrome
The November/December issue of Massage and Bodywork magazine concludes the two-part series I wrote on miserable malalignment syndrome (MMS) (click here to view the article). To recap, MMS involves a series of interrelated biomechanical dysfunctions throughout the lower extremity kinetic chain including: a broad pelvis, a large Q angle, femoral anteversion along with a squinting […]
Working the patellar retinaculum
The quadriceps group contains some of the largest muscles in the body. They are highly active during lower extremity locomotion, such as running, jumping, and even in simple activities like walking. Problems in the quadriceps group can often lead to numerous disorder such as patellar tendinosis, chondromalacia, or the elusive anterior knee pain of patellofemoral […]