Trigger points in Plantaris are often associated with "unexplained" pain at the back of the knee    Trigger Points and Knee Pain - Overview          Any therapist experienced in treating trigger points will tell you that it's amazing how often a little bit of trigger point knowledge can help identify the cause of "unexplained" pain. A good example is clients who come to us with pain in the back of the knee, sometimes radiating to the back of the calf, and in a few cases radiating all the way down to the big toe....

    Runner's Knee Considerations - Stuart Hinds    Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner's Knee) is often associated with trigger points in the quadriceps muscles Pain in the patella (kneecap), especially after sitting for a long time or running downhill, may result from incorrect movement of the patella over the femur or tight tendons. The articular cartilage under the patella may become inflamed as well, leading to another condition called chondromalacia patellae which is found more commonly in women. The angle formed between the two lines of pull of the quadriceps muscle and the patellar (tendon) ligament is known as the...

The Hamstring Muscles   The Biceps Femoris in More Detail  During running, the hamstrings slow down the leg at the end of its forward swing and prevents the trunk from flexing at the hip joint  Treating Trigger Points in Short Head Biceps Femoris - Stuart Hinds     The hamstrings consist of three muscles. From medial to lateral they are the semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris.  Origin Ischial tuberosity (sitting bone). Biceps femoris also originates from back of femur. Insertion Semimembranosus: back of medial condyle of tibia (upper side part of tibia). Semitendinosus: upper medial surface of shaft of tibia. Biceps femoris:...

  What is Runner’s Knee? Runner’s Knee can refer to a number of injuries resulting from overuse,causing pain around the knee cap (patella). Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is the most common type of Runner’s Knee. It’s name comes from it’s high prevalence in runners, where the repeated stress on the knee causes irritation where the patella rests on the thigh bone. The pain can be sudden and piercing or chronic and dull. Runner’s Knee is most likely to occur when the hamstrings and quadriceps are too tight and inflexible. This leaves the patella unsupported creating pressure and causing it to...

  Dr. Jonathan Kuttner - recipient of the NAMTPT Lifetime Award for Contribution to Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy       Notes for the above video:   The quadriceps muscles have a significant impact on pelvic rotation (anterior), kneecap tracking, and knee positioning. Shortness of the quadriceps can ultimately influence head and neck positioning, cause knee pain, and affect foot and ankle movement. Eccentric contraction decelerates knee flexion, adduction, and internal rotation during heel-strike of the gait cycle. The rectus femoris eccentrically decelerates hip extension and knee flexion during gait. The inter-relationship of all the quadriceps muscles provides dynamic stability...