As an Athletic Therapist, I have been surprised by the amount cases of Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) and the negative 
effect it has on their quality of life. If the condition is left untreated, it can result in severe patella tracking problems; furthermore leading to conditions such as: Chondromalacia Patella (wearing of cartilage underneath the patella), patella tendonitis, and even degenerative osteoarthritis.
Common Symptoms:
- Pain in the front of the knee- feels like it is underneath the knee cap
- Increase pain with ascending and descending stairs (descending is usually worse)
- Little to no pain at rest
- Minor swelling around the knee cap
- Clicking and grinding when performing squats
Possible Causes:
- Improper footwear
- Fallen or dropped medial longitudinal arch in foot
- Weak Gluteal group (medius,minimus,maximus)
- Tight lateral and anterior structures in the leg: Vastus Lateralis,ITBand and Rectus Femoris
- Weak medial structures: Vastus Medialis Obliqus (VMO) and Adductors
- Drastic increase in exercise frequency or intensity
If you feel like you have symptoms of PFPS, or know of someone who might, stay tuned for Part 2 where I’ll be discussing the main culprit, and treatment options.
Sport and Wellness offers Athletic Therapy services for students, employees, members and the public.
