Patellofemoral pain (PFP) or ‘runner’s knee’ is a very common condition, often seen in runners. McConnel (1996) found 25% of people will have PFP at some point in their lives. Furthermore, 2.5 million runners experience PFP in any given year (Crossley, 2004).
PFP often presents as pain at the front of the knee and in close proximity to the patella or kneecap. This is often associated with an increase in running load and can also be felt when squatting or lunging, sitting with the knees bent, navigating hills or stairs, or in certain types of footwear.
PFP can also be influenced by a number of factors. Usually patients with PFP have 2 or more of these (Ferrari et al. 2017):
Modifiable
Intrinsic:
Muscle length
Muscle strength
Foot position
Extrinsic:
Occupation / home environment (i.e., stairs)
Footwear
Training load
Psychological:
Stress
Sleep deprivation
Nonmodifiable
Anatomy of the knee
Hypermobility
Physiotherapy can help people with PFP by selecting the right rehabilitation plan and provide guidance on how one can reduce these risk factors.
Common treatment for PFP includes:
Load modification (reducing the aggravating activity)
Activity modification (changing the setup or position of an activity)
Taping techniques (of the knee and the foot)
Knee and hip strength exercises
Speak to one of our physiotherapists about how you can best manage your PFP and get back to the activities you enjoy.
Sports Physiotherapy
Body Fit Physiotherapy
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