Patellofemoral Glide

Indications:

• Superior & inferior glide is to improve knee ext & flex, respectively
• Medial & lateral glide is to improve knee IR & ER, respectively
• Tilt is to improve all physiologic knee motions

Accessory Motion Technique

• Patient Position:
  • Supine with knee in open-packed position.
• Clinician position & Hand Placement:
  • Stands to side of pt
  • Stabilization: Provided by the weight of the leg
  • Mobilizing hand: Patella is contacted with web space of hand
  • Superior or inferior glide: hand placed at inferior or superior poles of patella, respectively
  • Medial or lateral glide: hand placed at lateral or medial aspects of patella, respectively
  • Tilt: thumbs placed over superior, inferior, medial, or lateral aspect of patella
• Force Application:
  • For glides, your forearm is in line with the direction in which force is applied as your other hand provides reinforcement.
  • For tilts, apply force in a posterior direction through the patellar contact with the objective of moving the opposing pole of the patella anteriorly.