What is it?
Pain around the front of the knee - diagnosed after all other possible knee issues have been ruled out.
The knee pain comes during running, jumping, squatting, sitting with bent knees, lunges or climbing stairs.
Who can get it?
Roughly 25% of people with knee injuries presenting to physio clinics have PFP.
Females are more likely to have PFP and teens to adults are most susceptible.
Risk factors include...
· Change to shoes, surfaces, workload
· Repetitive knee flexion activities at work/school/sport
· Increased BMI
· Knee cap alignment
· Muscle imbalance
· Reduced flexibility
· Knock knees when squatting
· Flat feet
How does it happen?
PFP is often caused by a combination of things.
Often the cause of pain is not at the knee itself. It may be coming from issues at the hip or the foot - creating abnormal loading through the knee itself.
What does treatment involve?
Management of PFP is dependent on the cause.
Your physiotherapist will conduct an assessment and provide a tailored plan.
Management of PFP includes:
· Hip strengthening exercises
· Mobility/stretching exercises
· Patellar taping
· Orthotics/supportive shoes
· Education
· Change to training loads
· Technique correction
How long does it take to heal?
The sooner you begin treatment, the quicker we can get you back to enjoying your activity. If left for a long time (months), it can take a lot longer to see improvements in your symptoms.
We recommend seeking advice from a physio as soon as you start having knee pain to have a speedy recovery.
This condition can take 3 weeks to several months to improve.
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