The Patellar Tracker just reached 100 subscribers! Thank you for being part of this community. If you joined recently, you may have missed our first edition, so this week I’m bringing it back and sharing why I started The Patellar Tracker.

After years of dealing with kneecap subluxations and dislocations, I realized how frustrating it can be to find answers. There’s plenty of information online, but I struggled to understand what was causing my symptoms or how to manage them long-term.

What I needed was a community of people facing the same challenges. When I couldn’t find that, I created The Patellar Tracker.

Whether you’ve been here since day one or just signed up, the goal remains the same: to help you better understand your knees, find strategies that work, and connect with people who get it.

Patellar Tracking Disorder is a broad term that can refer to a range of conditions, but it all stems from the kneecap (patella) not moving smoothly within the groove at the end of the thigh bone (the trochlea) as the knee bends and straightens.

The kneecap may shift, tilt, or move slightly out of its ideal position. For some people, this can lead to pain, clicking, grinding, swelling, feelings of instability, or even repeated subluxations and dislocations.

Patellar tracking is influenced by more than just the kneecap itself. Factors that can play a role include:

Tracking describes how your kneecap moves as your knee bends and straightens. If your question is “Why does mine keep slipping out?”, start with three factors that can contribute to kneecap instability. I write from years of dealing with this myself. Join The Patellar Tracker for plain-language guides and questions to take to your next appointment.

Dealing with knee pain or instability? Here are five exercises that can help improve strength, stability, and control for people with patellar tracking issues.

After years of kneecap instability and relying on bulky, hot braces during football, wrestling, and MMA, I decided to build the knee sleeve I always wished existed.

That’s why I’m developing ALIGN: a J-pad knee sleeve designed with support, mobility, comfort, and style in mind. I’m currently working through prototype development and will share updates as the design takes shape.

Want to help shape our new J-pad knee sleeve? Sign up below to share your experience and help me build ALIGN.

Thanks for joining the journey!

Whether you’re dealing with patellar instability yourself or just want to better understand your knees, I’m glad you’re here.

The goal of The Patellar Tracker is to educate, build community, and enable people to stay active while creating a lasting impact for those with patellar tracking disorder.

I’m excited to have you along for the journey.