Overview
What Is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFP syndrome) is pain in and around the kneecap (patella). PFP syndrome is also called “runner’s knee.”
Rest and exercises that stretch and strengthen the hips and legs can help PFP syndrome get better.
Signs & Symptoms
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of PFP Syndrome?
Patellofemoral (peh-tel-oh-FEM-er-ul) pain syndrome causes pain under and around the knee. The pain often gets worse with walking, kneeling, squatting, going up or down stairs, or running. It may also hurt after sitting with a bent knee for a long time, such as in a long car ride or in a movie theater.
Some people with PFP syndrome feel a “popping” or creaking after getting up from sitting or when going up or down stairs.
When Should I Call the Doctor?
If your child has knee pain that does not go away in a few days, call the doctor for an exam to see what is causing the pain. Delaying could make injuries worse.
Causes & Prevention
What Causes PFP Syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is an overuse disorder. These happen when someone does the same movements that stress the knee over and over again.
In PFP syndrome, repeated bending and straightening the knee stresses the kneecap. It’s most common in athletes.
Some people with PFP syndrome have a kneecap that is out of line with the thighbone (femur). The kneecap can get out of line, or wiggle as it moves along the thighbone, because of muscle weakness, trauma, or other problem. If this happens, the kneecap doesn’t glide smoothly over the thighbone when the knee bends and straightens. The kneecap gets injured and this causes the pain of PFP syndrome.
Who Gets PFP Syndrome?
Patellofemoral pain syndrome usually happens in people who play sports that involve a lot of knee bending and straightening, such as running, biking, and skiing
PFP syndrome is more common in women, and happens most often to teens and young adults.
Tight or weak leg muscles, or flat feet, can make someone more likely to get PFP syndrome.
How Is PFP Syndrome Diagnosed?
Your Doctor Can Make a Diagnosis
To diagnose patellofemoral pain syndrome, healthcare providers:
- ask about physical activities
- do an exam
Usually, no testing is needed. Sometimes the healthcare provider orders an X-ray or other imaging study to check for other knee problems.
Treatment & Care
How Is PFP Syndrome Treated?
A child or teen with patellofemoral pain syndrome needs to limit or completely avoid activities that cause pain. Sometimes a change in training is all that’s needed. For example, someone who usually runs hills to train can try running on a flat, soft surface instead.
Someone who has severe pain or pain that interferes with activity (for example, if it causes a limp) needs to rest the knee until the pain is better. For pain:
- Put ice or a cold pack on the knee every 1–2 hours for 15 minutes at a time. Put a thin towel between the ice and your child’s skin to protect it from the cold.
- If your healthcare provider says it’s OK, you can give ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, or a store brand) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, or a store brand). Follow the directions that come with the medicine for how much to give and how often. Do not give this medicine for longer than about 2–3 weeks.
Physical Therapy
An important part of the treatment for PFP syndrome is improving the strength and flexibility of the legs, hips, and core muscles. Healthcare providers usually recommend going to a physical therapist to make an exercise plan that will help. The plan may include stretching, squats, planks, lunges, and other exercises that improve strength and flexibility of the legs and hips.
The healthcare provider might also recommend:
- a knee brace
- taping of the knee
- special shoe inserts
It doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes surgery is needed for PFP syndrome.
When Can My Child Return to Sports?
Most people with PFP syndrome need to cut back or stop sports for some time. Follow the healthcare provider’s instructions on when it is safe for your child to go back to sports. This usually is when:
- Hip, leg, and core strength is near normal.
- Flexibility, especially in the hamstring muscle, has improved.
- There’s no pain with everyday activities, such as walking and going up/down stairs.
- Any pain with activity is very mild and goes away within a few minutes of starting the activity.
What Else Should I Know?
It can take months to years for the symptoms from PFP syndrome to get better. Following an exercise plan given by the healthcare provider or physical therapist can help the knee heal. To lower the stress on their knees after healing, young athletes should:
- Warm up and stretch before running or other sports.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Wear supportive running shoes and replace them often.
- Run on soft, flat surfaces (such as grass, dirt, or a synthetic track with a softer surface).
- Increase the intensity of workouts slowly.
- Use shoe inserts or a knee brace if the healthcare provider recommended it.
