PT: Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition of the Quadriceps Muscle
My 10th grader was seriously injured in a snowboarding accident. He shattered the bone in his tibia tubercle and avulsed his patella tendon. The good news is that his shin and knee surgery is healing well. However, a side effect of the injury he is experiencing is a problem known as arthrogenic muscle inhibition of his quadriceps muscle (also called neurogenic inhibition), a process in which quadriceps activation failure is caused by neural inhibition and is common following knee injury or surgery. This inability to activate his quad muscle is leaving him unable to use crutches or a walker to walk. He is currently bedbound and unable to attend school.
Has anyone had experience with a physical therapist in the East Bay (I'm in Berkeley) who has significant experience with this particular problem? I would appreciate a recommendation. Also wondering if other healing modalities might be effective since it is a neurological problem, not an injury to the quadriceps muscle; maybe some kind of hypnosis or trauma therapy?
Thank you.
Parent Replies
I am so sorry. My heart goes out to him and to you as his parent helping him through. I don’t have a PT rec, but since you mentioned complementary alternative treatments, I wanted to recommend acupuncture with Carla Cassler. She has an office in Albany and is incredible. She has worked with a lot of athletes on a variety of injuries and is also an incredibly kind and wise person.