Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is commonly found as pain in front of the knee seen in athletes, manual laborers, excessive weight , mal-aligned knee, after knee joint injury. It is caused due to overuse of the joint, over weight bearing, leading to wearing down, roughening and/or softening of the cartilage under the kneecap and the part of the thigh bone in contact with it.

Symptoms

It starts with dull aching type of pain under and around the knee joint and the pain progresses gradually with time and use. The pain is more when sitting with bent knees, kneeling down, squatting, jumping, running, and using the stairs more while coming down for a long time. Sometimes unexpected buckling occurs as the gives away the support of the body. A sensation of grinding, catching, popping in the knee joint while walking is very common.

How to diagnose

Diagnosis is made mainly by

• Medical History of the patient
• Physical Examination

To find out the previous injury or mal-alignment

• X-Ray
• Magnetic Resonance imaging(MRI)
• Ct scan
• Blood tests  

Treatment

• Rest to the joints
• Ice application for short periods relives pain
• Compression around the knee using an elastic bandage to correct the mal-alignment
• Exercise – stretch and elevation exercise to

After the pain subsides an exercise programme –mainly stretching exercise to restore the strength, power, flexibility, coordination of the joint and muscles around it.

Surgery

If not treated by other methods and when surgical procedure is required then the options are

• Arthroscopic surgery
• Realignment surgery