One of the most commonly injured areas of the body is the knee. Whether it is the result of acute trauma, chronic stress or natural degeneration over decades of use, rehabbing the knee area is a common task at OrthoRehab Specialists. One knee condition that we see quite frequently at our clinic is patellofemoral pain syndrome, or PFPS. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at patellofemoral pain syndrome and how a physical therapist can help you treat the condition.
Understanding Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a condition that oftentimes affects athletes and amateur runners, but it can impact people in all walks of life. The condition describes pain or weakness emanating from the knee joint, and is most commonly felt in the anterior or front area of the knee, although discomfort can be felt in other parts of the joint as well. Most patients with PFPS note that their discomfort increases when performing certain actions that increase the amount of strain on the knee joint, like running, jumping, squatting, sitting or traversing stairs. Pain is oftentimes described as dull or achy, with the occasional sharp twinge based on the activities being pursued.
PFPS can develop for a number of different reasons, but repeated stress is a common underlying theme. Because of this, patellofemoral pain syndrome is more likely to develop in amateur runners or athletes who increase their activity level too quickly. Other factors that can lead to PFPS include:
- Anatomical or biomechanical abnormalities in the knee area
- Muscular/Soft tissue weakness in and around the knee area
- Muscular/Soft tissue imbalance
- Previous injury causing abnormal tracking of the patella within the femoral groove
While PFPS symptoms tend to be dull and mild at most times, symptoms can worsen without effective treatment, and effective treatment isn’t always easy to find. You need to ensure that the specific underlying cause is identified and correct treatments are pursued, otherwise symptoms may persist. This is why many patients struggle to treat PFPS on their own, but they do find success when connecting with a physical therapist.
Treating Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
As we alluded to above, you’re more likely to find the right type of treatment plan by connecting with a medical professional like a physical therapist. Since PFPS can be caused by a few different problems in and around the key, the first step involves identifying the contributing factors. We’ll do this by talking with you about your symptoms, having you perform some movement exercises and by assessing your walking or running with gait assessment technology.
What we learn during this assessment will guide us during our approach to rehab. Odds are we’ll recommend a few different courses of treatment, so expect a combination of the following potential treatments:
- Exercises and range of motion movements to improve the strength and flexibility of the knee joint and the surrounding soft tissues.
- Braces or knee devices to help support and align the knee joint.
- Taping techniques to further support and align the knee joint.
- Adjustments to your walking or running form to adjust how stress is dispersed on the knee.
- Symptom management in the form of rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications.
We’ll also talk about some long term strategies to keep PFPS from returning in the future once symptoms are under control. Improving your diet and exercise regimen can help you work towards an ideal weight, which will take pressure off your knee joints, and teaching athletes how to slowly increase their exercise duration or intensity can help them take on greater challenges without overloading their knees with stress. With slow and deliberate tweaks to your lifestyle, we’re confident that we can help you overcome the dull ache of patellofemoral pain syndrome and keep it from coming back down the road.
For more information on how we can help you treat a new or lingering knee issue, or for help with a different physical ailment, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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