Knee Dysfunction Correcting a superior lateral patella Dr. John Minardi is a 2001 graduate of Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. A Thompson-certified practi-tioner and instructor, he is the cre-ator of the Thompson Technique Seminar Series and author of The Complete Thompson Textbook – Minardi Integrated Systems. In addi-tion to his busy lecture schedule, Dr. Minardi operates a successful pri-vate practice in Oakville, Ontario. E-mail [email protected], or visit www.ThompsonChiropractic Technique.com. Photo 1: Contacts for a superior lateral patella subluxation are displayed on a skeletal model. SAMPLE CASE Ê ÎäÞi>À`Ê >iÊ VÃÌÀÕVÌÊ ÜÀiÀÊ «ÀiÃiÌÃÊ ÌÊ Ì iÊ VVÊ ÜÌ Ê >Ê Ã} ÌÊ «Ê >`Ê discomfort in his right knee. He tells the doctor that the injury has been recurring for the past three years, but was aggravated recently after a strenuous workout at his fitness club. He informs the doctor that he was performing squat exercises when he felt pain in his right knee. He continued to exercise for the remaining hour, but felt that the dis-comfort progressively increased as the exercise regime continued. He especially noticed it when climbing the stairs to leave the fitness centre. The patient now describes a grind-ing sensation in his right knee when he walks or runs. Physical examination reveals a subluxation at the right ilium, and subluxation of the right patella present through both static and motion palpation. Right quadriceps hypertonicity was also present. Neuro-logical and radiological examinations were unremarkable. Have you encountered a case like this? Are you comfortable assessing and correcting subluxations in the knee? In this edition of Technique Toolbox, we will look at the knee, and assess and correct for a superior lateral patella subluxation. Before we begin, the doctor must initially ensure that all primary, secondary and ter-tiary subluxations of the spine have been assessed and corrected. In this particular case, an ilium subluxation was present on the right side. Therefore, the doctor must correct the subluxated ilium before moving on to the patellar problem. www.canadianchiropractor.ca John Minardi, BHK, DC s CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | JULY/AUGUST 2012
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