Sitting or sidelying or standing
Ask the patient to wear shorts.
Anterior or lateral to the patient.
Please sit. May I touch the front of your knee? (or point to the demonstrated area).
Please straighten your knee (or demonstrate). (If needed, hold this position while I try to bend your knee.)
The patellar retinaculum is the collective connective tissue attached to, surrounding, and supporting the patella. Contributions to the patellar retinaculum include the quadriceps muscles, the iliotibial band, and knee ligaments.
Guide the patient to sit. With the patient relaxed and with permission, place your fingers on the patellar retinaculum surrounding the patella. Guide the patient to extend the knee, which tenses some of the patellar retinaculum. With unclear muscle activity, increase the contraction of the quadriceps femoris and therefore the patellar retinaculum by asking the patient to straighten the knee while you provide a push on the leg (i.e. between the knee and the foot) in the direction of knee flexion.
Guide the patient to sit. With the patient relaxed and with permission, place your fingers on the patellar retinaculum surrounding the patella. Guide the patient to extend the knee, which tenses some of the patellar retinaculum. With unclear muscle activity, increase the contraction of the quadriceps femoris and therefore the patellar retinaculum by asking the patient to straighten the knee while you provide a push on the leg (i.e. between the knee and the foot) in the direction of knee flexion.
VH - Patellar retinaculum - on one side add the quadriceps muscles