Patello-femoral syndrome
What is it?
Patello-femoral syndrome is pain in the joint between the kneecap (patella) and the thigh bone (femur). The patello-femoral is a groove at the top of your thigh bone that allows you knee joint to bend and straighten smoothly. Patello-femoral syndrome is one of the most common causes of pain at the front of the knee.
Symptoms
The main symptom is pain around and behind your kneecap. The pain starts gradually, getting worse if you do a lot of activity or sit down for a long time. You may get a clicking or grinding noise when you bend or straighten you knee. Your knee may also feel weak.
Causes
Patello-femoral syndrome is caused by overuse of the knee. When you run, your knee is put under repeated stress. This can cause the kneecap to rub over the thigh bone resulting in irritation and pain.
You're more likely to get patello-femoral syndrome if you have:
- a incorrect alignment of your kneecap
- poor lower leg movement (biomechanics)
- recently changed your training programme, especially if you have started downhill running
- recently fallen on your knee
Treatment
Patello-femoral syndrome doesn't usually get better on its own, so it's important to seek medical treatment. A sports medicine professional, such as a physiotherapist, will be able to diagnose the problem and give you a treatment plan. This may involve massage and stretching to relieve soft tissue tightness, strengthening exercises and strapping your kneecap.
A biomechanical assessment may be recommended, as well as treatment from a podiatrist to prevent the injury from coming back. A podiatrist is a healthcare professional who specialises in treating lower leg, ankle and foot conditions.
Do
- Use ice on the injured area to until the swelling goes down. Don't apply ice directly to your skin as it can give you an 'ice burn' - place a cloth between the ice and skin.
- Stretch your calf, thigh and hamstring of the affected leg.
Don't
- Ignore the problem. This may lead to more pain and a longer recovery time.
- Continue with high impact exercises that aggravate your knee.
Peer reviewed by David Toy, MCSP, Bupa Sports Medicine physiotherapist
Publication date: June 2009
