Plica Syndrome isn’t as common as other knee conditions since it is one that develops during the initial stages of fetal existence. Synovial Plicae, which is “tissue pouches” that are only found in the early stages of infant development is the starting point for Plica Syndrome. Usually these pouches come together naturally to create one large cavity of synovial tissue. Sometimes this process isn’t completely finished, when that happens and the synovial plicae is left behind it will remain in and around the knee in strips or folding bands of tissue.
If someone has this condition it can be overlooked or go unnoticed until an injury takes place, or reacts to chronic overuse, or takes part in compulsive exercise forcing the underdeveloped synovial tissue to become inflamed which in turn becomes Plica Syndrome.
The first need for those who suffer from this syndrome is a sound plan of attack to reduce the inflammation. First, strength exercises needed to be introduced through a form of rehabilitation. Pilates’ rehabilitation is a gentle way to dive into strengthening weakened or imbalanced muscles in the upper and lower leg without putting further pressure on the injured area. The muscle groups that need the most attention when it comes to increasing strength and taking the pressure off of the knee are the quadriceps, the hamstring, and the calf.
The backbone of Pilates’ rehabilitation is to understand the modality by which our bodies were made to design properly, and how to introduce those methods into a daily exercise regime in order to reestablish homeostasis in the body and all of it’s connecting parts. Pilates is rooted in progressive resistance exercise, which allows for injury assimilation gradually, while increasing the overall health of the mind and body.