Mystery Diagnosis: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

By Nicole Stevenson
[Health & Your Life]
What simple steps can you take to send knee pain packing?  Nicole Stevenson walks you through PFPS recovery.
Are you one of the throngs of people suffering from persistently sore knees?  After running, do you feel sore and achy?  Does the thought of sitting in a movie theatre make your knees throb?  If so, you may be suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome.  Knee injuries account for a quarter of all injuries reported, but sometimes symptoms occur even without a known injury or specific reason.  Such is the case in this mysterious, yet very present, condition.

Patello-What?!

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is an extremely common and irritating condition that causes chronic knee pain in many individuals.  The pain mostly occurs at the front or sides of the patella (the kneecap) and is usually associated with repetitive, strenuous activity involving the knees.  Swelling does not usually occur in PFPS, but it is not impossible.  The patella, which not only moves up and down, but also rotates and tilts, sits in a small groove in the femur, where it glides to allow for knee movement.  The soft tissues — cartilage, ligaments, muscles and tendons — all play a supporting role in the knee’s function and as it is a weight-bearing joint, are all subject to a lot of strain.

Often referred to as “runner’s knee,” PFPS is commonly a complaint of runners and sprinters whose knees endure a lot of impact during exercise.  Squatting, repetitive knee bending and even sitting for prolonged periods of time (which is so common, it has its own name:  “movie goer’s knee”) can cause throbbing in the knees, which may last for days or weeks.  The knee may also be prone to popping, cracking or grinding sensations as well as random buckling under body weight.  One or both knees may be affected and though a variety of causes are at play, it mostly affects adolescents and young adults, most often young females.  

Causes Of PFPS

Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut cause of PFPS.  Many factors can lead to the development of this painful condition or contribute to making it worse.  One of the most commonly suspected causes is a misalignment of the patella in the femur socket.  Because the patella glides along the femur, as a train runs along its tracks, the alignment of the two is crucial.  Weak or inflexible muscles around the knee, specifically the quadriceps as well as biomechanical functions involving the feet and ankles may also be the problem.  Flat feet and high arches are known to affect the movement of the patella due to the lack of appropriate arch support.  Of course, a combination of more than one of these problems can lead to a greater risk of developing PFPS.  Overuse or overloading (causing the knees to bear too much weight), such as in the repeated weight-bearing of runners or in the overweight and obese, can lead to the wearing down of the soft tissues surrounding the joint.  Twisting the knee, especially in a bent position, when done over a long enough period of time, is also one of PFPS’s culprits.  That means you, leg-crossers!
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