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The patellofemoral joint (PFJ), pictured above, is known as your knee joint. It’s formed by the joining of your thigh bone (femur) and knee cap (patella).

What’s Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) Syndrome? 

• Health care providers may use various terms such as chondromalacia patella, intrarticular chondropathy, patellar arthralgia, runner’s knee, etc…but essentially it is described as  ‘pain around/ in front of the knee’. 
• Knee joint mechanics: There is a groove the patella must glide through as you straighten and bend your knee. When there is a dysfunction in the mechanical forces between your knee cap and thigh bone this can result in pain. 

Common complaints one may have: dull, achy pain along front of knee that may be aggravated when:

• Sitting for an extended period of time
• Repetitive activity that requires the knee to bend such as: 
  
  • Walking 
  • Jogging 
  • Squatting
  • Going up or down stairs  
  • Rising from chair 
  •  

How is Patellofemoral Pain Diagnosed: After your physical therapist (PT) has ruled out other potential causes of your knee pain, below are some findings that may indicate you may be experiencing PFP: 

• Reproduction of pain with quadriceps muscle contraction, pain during squatting or palpation
• Other assessments: patella mobility, tightness of structures around the knee, lower leg strength, functional tests (e.g. step down), walking/running mechanics, foot alignment, etc. 

The cause of your knee pain can vary but below are some common issues (not all inclusive) that may contribute to your knee pain. 

1) Lower leg weakness: quadriceps, gluteus (hip abductor/ external rotator) weakness 

2) Tight structures: Quadriceps, Iliotibial, Hamstrings

3) Structural limb alignment at the hip or feet

4) Incorrect landing techniques

5) Overuse

**Part 2: For solutions regarding your knee pain, stay tuned for next blog post. I’ll go into detail about simple exercises you can do.***