Patellofemoral pain is a term for a variety of conditions that cause pain along the front of the knee. Patellofemoral pain refers to pain coming from the kneecap or front of the femur. There are a number of underlying causes for patellofemoral pain, including instability of the patella, malalignment of the lower extremities, weakness of the hip muscles, tightness of the lateral retinaculum (tissue on the outside of the kneecap), and overuse of the knee with certain sports and activities. Rehabilitation, including working with a physical therapist, taping or bracing, is almost always a good first option. In rare instances, various surgical treatments are necessary to relieve pain. Often doing some exercises for patellofemoral pain can relieve your pain and allow you to get back to what you love to do.
In this video, physical therapist Yves Gege and I show a few exercises you can do to try to recover from patellofemoral pain.
Remember, these exercise posts, like other information on this site, are not intended to represent specific medical advice. If you have any questions about this injury or of its treatment, make sure to see your doctor or a physical therapist.
Also read:
Patellofemoral pain: Understanding this common cause of knee pain in active people