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The goose foot, contrary to the name, does not apply to the foot, but the knee. A goose foot is the place on the shin bone where three muscles connect with fascia tissue in a way that looks like a goose foot. Pain below the knee and swelling – these are the most common symptoms. What is a goose foot? What does it mean for our body and what are its most common injuries?
Goose feet – characteristics
The term “goose foot” is used to describe the attachment of the three muscles in the area of the shin. Damage to these muscles causes unpleasant ailments. They are often caused by training and excessive limb overload. The risk of goose foot muscles injuries increases in people who are obese or with knee joint diseases. Symptoms include pain below the knee, swelling, and an unpleasant feeling when stretching the muscles. The treatment of goose feet includes: on the implementation of physiotherapy and exercise.
Gęsia stopa – anatomy
The goose foot is located on the inside of the knee joint. The goose foot, the goose foot (pes anserinus) is defined as the joint attachment of three muscles and fascia membranes to the tibia. Muscles: tailor’s, slender and semi-tendon form a triangle, and the spaces between them are complemented by fascia tissue. The structure resembles the membrane between the fingers of a goose. This trailer plays a very important role in the functioning of the skeleton and the locomotor system.
Goose feet – functions
The goose foot is responsible for:
- knee bending,
- inward thigh rotation,
- knee stabilization (prevents knee valgus).
Goose foot – ailments
The goose foot is a structure that is easily injured. Most often as a result of practicing sports. Particularly harmful are: running, cycling, basketball, football, classic swimming and rocket sports. Goose foot injuries are the most common condition of long-distance runners. They are associated with overtraining, inappropriate footwear, and excessive load during training. Problems with goose feet also result from the presence of systemic diseases.
Overloading a goose foot is caused by:
- systemic diseases – obesity, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,
- turning the foot inwards,
- valgus of the knee joints (pointing the joints inwards),
- knee malfunction (instability, limited range of motion, reduced muscle strength).
- previous injuries,
- diseases of the knee joint (ligament problems, inflammation of the patellofemoral joint, medial meniscus),
- Osgood-Schlatter disease (inflammation of the tibial tuberosity).
Inflammation of the goose foot – symptoms
Injury of a goose foot is associated with the formation of inflammation.
The main symptoms of goose feet inflammation are:
- pain under the knee (medial part),
- increased muscle tension in the goose foot,
- local swelling,
- pain occurs during physical activity,
- stiffness in the knee joint in the morning,
- pain occurs at night
- making the simplest movements (getting up from a sitting position, going down or up stairs) causes pain and discomfort.
Goose foot diagnostics
Goose foot problems are often attributed to other injuries and injuries of the knee joint. The orthopedic surgeon will correctly recognize the goose foot.
The orthopedic doctor performs a general examination, medical history, and assesses swelling and pain tenderness. An important element is the ultrasound examination as well as functional tests of the muscles of the knee joint. Additional examination is diagnostic arthroscopy.
Goose foot – methods of treatment
The treatment of goose foot inflammation is based on pharmacology and physiotherapy. Analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are given to relieve pain and inflammation. The method of injecting the knee structures with a glucocorticosteroid is also used.
When the inflammation of the soft tissues is eliminated, the mode of physical activity and physiotherapeutic procedures are established.
Goose foot – physiotherapy
The main task of the treatments is to relieve the diseased structure (through bandages, knee wraps, orthopedic insoles) and to conserve the knee joint.
Goose foot physiotherapy treatments:
- laser therapy, magnetic field and ultrasounds,
- exercises conducted with a physiotherapist,
- soft tissue massage (reduces increased tension, improves blood supply and nutrition),
- kinesiotaping (sticking tapes to the overloaded area of the knee joint),
- sports massage.
In some cases, surgical intervention is required. In preventing goose foot injuries, it is important to adjust the intensity of exercise to your fitness level. We should also pay attention to movement habits and correct posture. If something worries us, it is worth consulting an orthopedic doctor and physiotherapist.
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