Definition: Anterior knee pain that is worse with running downhill or going downstairs.
Diagnosis
H&P:
Risk factors:
DDx & Etiology:
Diagnostic studies:
Common presentation: The most common symptom is pain beneath the patella.
Treatment
-Modify running program,
-Start an exercise program to strengthen the quadriceps and hips,
-Use a knee sleeve with a doughnut-type cushion that the patella fits into.
—//—
Note: Patellofemoral pain syndrome doesn’t just occur in the pediatric population. It occurs in adults as well.
The examination is often positive for an apprehension test over the patella.
- “A torn meniscus can cause medial joint line tenderness as well as a positive McMurray’s test, defined as a click and/or pain when moving the knee from flexion to extension with valgus stress.
- Prepatellar bursitis causes anterior knee pain, usually associated with tenderness, swelling, and redness over the prepatellar bursa.
- Osgood-Schlatter syndrome causes anterior knee pain over the tibial tuberosity.
- Pes anserine bursitis causes medial knee pain just distal and slightly posterior to the joint space”
Further Reading
Nontraumatic knee pain: A diagnostic & treatment guide. J Fam Pract 2014;63(12):720-728.
Patellofemoral pain. BMJ 2015;351:h3939.