(08) 7008 7566
(08) 7118 5399
physio@upplus.com.au
177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton SA 5023Patellofemoral Pain
Patellofemoral pain is aching around or behind the kneecap, and it is the most common knee problem in people under forty. There is usually nothing damaged — it is a loading and control problem, where the kneecap is being asked to handle more than the muscles around it are currently managing. It responds well to strengthening, though it takes months rather than weeks.
What causes it
- A rapid increase in running, squatting or stair volume
- Weakness through the quadriceps and hip muscles
- Hip control that lets the knee fall inwards under load
- Prolonged sitting with the knee bent
- Footwear or surface changes, particularly a shift to hills
What you might notice
- Aching around or behind the kneecap, hard to point to precisely
- Pain going down stairs more than up
- Discomfort after sitting for long periods, eased by straightening the leg
- Pain squatting, kneeling or getting out of a low chair
- Grinding or creaking, which is usually harmless
How we treat it
- Progressive quadriceps and hip strengthening — the core of the treatment
- Load management, reducing the aggravating volume rather than stopping
- Running or squat technique review where relevant
- Taping for short-term relief while the strengthening takes effect
- Manual therapy and soft tissue work alongside the exercise
- Realistic timeframes, since this improves over months
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment. If your pain followed a significant injury, is getting worse, or comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss, please see your GP.
Nothing is damaged, but it does need work
Front-of-knee pain is frustrating precisely because scans show nothing. Strength and load are what change it, and we can set out exactly what to build and how fast.
Or call us on (08) 7008 7566 — we see patients across Seaton, Modbury and Stepney.