Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is a common injury affecting people of all ages. It describes pain that is felt behind the knee cap.

 

What Causes Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?

Patellofemoral pain syndrome results from increased pressure between the back of the knee cap and the thigh bone (femur) due to poor knee cap alignment in this joint. Malalignment of this joint can be caused by: muscle imbalance or biomechanical dysfunction. Repeated trauma causes irritation in the joint surfaces. You can also get patellofemoral pain syndrome from an acute traumatic episode such as falling onto the knee.

 

What are the symptoms of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?

Often pain is insidious and vague. It is located at the front of the knee. Clicking may be associated with pain. Most aggravating activities are usually squatting, lunging and going downstairs.

 

Patients often respond well to physiotherapy treatment

 

Treatment for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Physiotherapy aims to restore pain- free range of movement with capacity to return to normal activity through soft tissue releases, knee motor control and strengthening exercises, stretches and proprioceptive exercises. Correcting movement patterns and joint mechanics will also help to prevent future episodes of pain.

 

Your Physiotherapist will discuss your treatment goals and educate you about the condition, the rehabilitation process and preventative methods to reduce the risk of future injury.

 

To book an appointment with one of our skilled Physiotherapists please call (02) 8068 8832 or email us at [email protected].

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Injury Description 

The Patellofemoral joint is the joint between the knee cap and thigh bone.

 

During knee flexion, the quadriceps muscles pull on the knee cap and it moves within the groove of the femur (femoral trochlear).

 

Patellofemoral pain can be described as pain behind the knee cap. It often occurs overtime, where the pain gets worse or it may be first felt following an acute traumatic episode such as falling onto the knee.

 

Often it is a consequence of an imbalance in motor control of the outer Quads muscles (vastus lateralis) and inner Quads muscle (vastus medialis obliquus). Vatus lateralis is at a functionally better position to have a stronger pull on the knee cap compared to the vastus medialis obliquus causing the knee cap to not track in optimal alignment when the knee is bending.

 

Symptoms

Often pain is insidious and vague. Clicking may be associated with pain. Most aggravating activities are usually squatting, lunging and going downstairs.

 

Prognosis

Patients recover well with Physiotherapy treatment and should expect to be able to return to normal sports/ activities.

 

Treatment

  1. Physiotherapy aims to restore pain- free range of movement with capacity to return to normal activity through soft tissue releases, knee motor control and strengthening exercises, stretches and proprioceptive exercises.
  2. Taping can be used in conjunction to physiotherapy treatment. It aims to place the knee cap in an optimal position to facilitate training of crucial muscles. Taping alone is not sufficient as treatment for Patellofemoral pain.