Medical conditions

The patella or kneecap is a bone located at the front of the knee, whose main function is to act as a type of pulley, enhancing the force of the muscles at the front of the thigh to extend the knee. When the knee moves, the patella should glide along a groove in the thigh bone (femur), where it should remain perfectly aligned. In some cases, due to ligament laxity, muscle weakness, or lack of flexibility, this alignment may not occur properly, causing problems such as pain, clicking sensations, and lack of muscle strength in the thigh, potentially leading to wear of the joint between the patella and the femur (patellofemoral joint).