Plica syndrome is knee pain due to injury or overuse. The diagnosis can sometimes be difficult, but if this is the source of your knee pain, it can be easily treated.

Plica is a term used to describe a fold in the lining of the knee joint. This lining is made up of synovial tissue that lines all joints. There are four synovial folds found in the knee, but only one seems to cause problems. This structure is called the medial plica. Medial plica is found on the inside of the knee that runs from the kneecap and runs sideways to the inner thigh bone. It can become irritated, enlarged or inflamed, which is called plica syndrome.

Plica causes problems when it’s irritated over a long period of time by repetitive motions. Kneeling, running, or biking can irritate the medial plica and cause plica syndrome.

Symptoms of plica syndrome:

1. Pain on the inside of the knee
2. Snapping sensation along the inside of the knee
3. Swelling in rare cases

Treatment:
Treatment is usually nonsurgical; you should be able to return to normal activity within four to six weeks. Treatments involve stretching, strengthening exercises, and passive modalities. If you are experiencing unresolved knee pain, we can help. Call the doctors at Elite Performance & Rehabilitation to help you move and feel better.

Learn more about how we can treat your knee pain on our How We Help page.