What is the Saphenous Nerve?
The saphenous nerve is the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve. The femoral nerve originates from lumbar nerve roots 2-4. It’s sensory terminal branch is the saphenous nerve. The saphenous nerve lies beneath the sartorius muscle until it pierces the fascia lata in between 2 tendons, the Sartorius and Gracilis, at the medial knee. There is a small branch that moves medially and innervates the infra-patellar tendon. From here, it travels inferior superficially alongside the tibia, a common misrepresentation of shin splints, and then moves to the medial side of the foot.
Saphenous Nerve Entrapment and Knee Pain
The saphenous nerve branch at the medial knee is often underlooked. Therefore, the symptoms may be mistaken for other conditions in this region, such as patellofemoral pain syndrome, medial meniscus tears, knee osteoarthritis, pes anserine bursitis, and MCL injuries. Without trying to exclude or include saphenous nerve entrapment, the patient may undergo unnecessary treatments or investigations.
Saphenous Nerve Entrapment Symptoms (you may only have 1 or many of these)
- Groin Pain
- Hamstring tightness and/or pain
- Adductor tightness and/or pain
- Knee pain
- Medial shin/foot pain
- Pain in the arch of the foot
- Sensitive patches of skin in the leg with skin rolling
Saphenous Nerve Treatment
The Solutions Sports and Spine team will start with a very thorough history and extensive examination to be able to locate whether your knee pain is from the saphenous nerve, in combination with another condition, or something else entirely. We have extensive experience in managing this condition. Some of the techniques we may utilize include Neurodynamics, Mckenzie Method, Stecco Fascial Manipulation, Dermal Traction Method, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, Neurocentric Approach, and/or Chiropractic Adjustments.
