Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)/ Runner’s knee

Have you been struggling with general knee pain? There is a chance it’s Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), or more commonly knows as runner’s knee. Patients with PFPFS typically present with pain on the front of the knee around the kneecap, most commonly right below the kneecap. Pain worsens with activities like squatting, stairs, jumping, or prolonged sitting with the knee bent. It is most common in young female athletes but can affect anyone.

In many instances, PFPS is caused by overuse/overtraining without proper preparation or proximal strength. Proximal strength is considered strength of the core and hips which are vital to having healthy, pain-free knees. Other causes of PFPS could be bony alignment issues, footwear, and improper training techniques.

Conservative treatment is the first approach to treating PFPS. Once the cause(s) of the PFPS is determined by your PT, specific exercises, manual therapy, and modalities will be utilized to eliminate the pain and decrease the chance of flare up of your symptoms. Some treatments may include quadricep and gluteal strengthening, SASTM (scraping), taping, along with many other options.

If you have general knee pain in the front of your knee, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

- Aaron Franke, PT, DPT, COMT