The meniscus tear is meaningless to your training unless it is a displaced flap that locks the knee mechanically. I have never heard of patella alta.
Member
MRI diagnoses patella alta and a meniscus tear
Hello Rip,
For several months I have struggled squatting due to knee pain. It first started to occur in an intense way when I reached a squat of 120kg last October, but I have had aches in my knees for some time previously. I have had form checks on the board several times and aside from a few minor adjustments my form was good.
Following GP referal I had my MRI scan on both knees 10 days ago and got the results today. I have a meniscus tear in my left knee, and I have also been diagnosed with patella alta. I'm now waiting to be referred to a specialist.
At this point I am very very reluctant to undergo any surgery and if at all possible I want to find a way around this without it.
From what I have read on patella alta it is a birth/growth condition which can increase wear and tear on the knee cartiliges. I am strongly hoping that I do not start to see worsening deterioration of my knees at the age of 36.
I don't know what this means for my lifting.
If you have any views on the matter it would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Dan
TMPHBITEU
The meniscus tear is meaningless to your training unless it is a displaced flap that locks the knee mechanically. I have never heard of patella alta.
Starting Strength Coach
Patella alta describes a condition in which the patella sits higher in the femoral trochlea than it should. The severity can vary significantly from person to person and may be an incidental finding of your MRI. Regardless, other than trying to keep the surrounding musculature strong, there is not much you can do to alter it other than a tibial tuberosity osteotomy, which is reserved for severe cases and not something you want to put yourself through. As Rip said, meniscal tears can vary greatly as well depending on the location, severity, and the type of tear. If I were you, I would continue to train as best you can while making some minimal alterations to your squat volume a frequency to help manage your symptoms. Good luck with your training.
Member
Guess I'll have to wait for the referral to get more information, however my kneecap does sit very high on my knee and has always done so. I think it can also develop during childhood, so probably not from birth. My worry is the deterioration this extra wear will be causing to my knees.Originally Posted by mgilchrest
Wiki:
[quote]
Attenuated patella alta is an extremely rare condition affecting mobility and leg strength. It is characterized by an unusually small knee cap (patella) that develops out of and above the joint. Normally, as the knee cap sits in the joint, it is stimulated to growth by abrasion from the opposing bones. When not situated properly in the joint, the knee cap does not experience such stimulation and remains small and undeveloped. Note that the cartilage under and around the kneecap is eight times smoother than ice, so "abrasion" may not be the best term.
A similar condition, patella alta, can occur as the result of a sports injury, though the large majority of the time it is a congenital/developmental condition that is unrelated to trauma. A kneecap in an "alta" position sits above the "trochlear groove" and therefore is less stable. The "patellar tendon" that connects the kneecap to the tibia (shinbone)is elongated (longer than normal). This cannot happen by way of trauma, unless there has been a rupture of the tendon and a less-than-optimal surgical repair.'
So it looks like attenuated patella alta is the birth condition, but patella alta is also a thing and is not developed from birth (presumably during childhood growth).
I should have also said that the doctors haven't said whether its the meniscus tear that is causing my pain and inflammation. The point of the pain is at the base of the patella where the patella tendon connects, and at this site there is locallised pain and swelling which hasn't gone away even though I've hardly squatted for months. If it wasn't for this specific pain I could squat - but reading around patella alta it is a condition which puts extra stress on the tendon and makes it more likely to rupture. The pain would indicate all is not well at this specific location.
TMPHBITEU
What are your lifts?
Member
I am not a strong lifter and it has taken me longer to reach the level I'm at than your program would normally produce.
My best lifts in October 2015 were:
Squat 122.5kg x5
Deadlift 130kg x5
Bench 68kg x5
press 47kg x5
My bodyweight when I started training back in 2009 was only 120lb, massively underweight. In October 2015 I was really pushing things hard at a bodyweight of 185lb, but due to lack of training I am now 178lb. I am 5'10".
I have since regressed from the above numbers because of lack of training due to the knee issue. Without being able to squat regularly I have struggled with motivation on the other lifts as well. So everything has suffered.
I can currently squat 60kg without pain but if I go higher I can feel pain in my patella tendon connection with my left kneecap.
TMPHBITEU
Maybe you should just train for a while, gain some weight back, and see how the knee responds. And get your test levels checked too.
Member
Knee sleeves combined with militant attention to form. Works wonders.
Member
I've been using sbd knee sleeves since the problem first started to appear. I had considered it was helping until the point at which it suddenly didn't any more. What I won't know is whether the sleeves are giving my knee a nudge in the wrong direction or the right direction, given the misalignment I have.
I think you are right on the militant form though, which is probably why I can squat light without issue. At 120kg my form was probably breaking down a tiny bit because I was on my limit at that point, pushing very hard over a series of workouts and very tired.
I've just squatted 65kg at the gym without issue. The pain is still there but its no worse than everyday life.
TMPHBITEU
But Dan, you've never really done the program. At 5'10" and 185, you were still underweight.
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