Patellofemoral syndrome, also known as runner’s knee

How Does Physiotherapy Help?

Physiotherapy is helpful for restricted joint mobility and decreased muscle strength in the same areas, both before and during recovery from surgeries. A physiotherapist helps find solutions for discomfort caused by sedentary work and other musculoskeletal issues.

If possible, bring your test results with you. Exercises are easier to perform when wearing comfortable sportswear.

Overview

Patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runner’s knee, is a cartilage-related condition that often occurs as a result of overuse. It can affect both non-athletes and athletes, especially those involved in activities that require running or jumping. Repetitive stress on the knee irritates the inner surface of the kneecap, causing pain. Symptoms often appear at a relatively young age, and the workload may not always be very high. It is important to note that tissue tolerance to load can be reduced by factors such as lack of sleep, mental strain, and stress.

Symptoms

The person complains of a diffuse burning pain in the front of the knee, localized at the upper edge or behind the kneecap. It is often difficult to keep the knee bent or to sit for a long time with bent legs. The pain worsens with physical activity such as running and jumping, going down stairs, squatting or kneeling, and prolonged sitting with bent knees. Knee crepitus may occur, especially after resting when starting to move, walking downstairs, squatting, or standing up.

Causes

Overload. Repeated stress on the knee irritates the inner surface of the kneecap, causing pain.
Muscle imbalance or weakness. The muscles around the knee and hip must ensure knee stability during movement and keep the kneecap aligned in its groove. Disturbance of the kneecap’s movement trajectory can lead to softening of the cartilage under the kneecap. For example, inward movement of the knee during a squat can cause patellofemoral pain syndrome. In athletes, patellofemoral pressure may be increased due to muscle hypertrophy and relative stiffness.
Often, the cause of patellofemoral pain syndrome is trauma to the knee or kneecap, which results in malposition and increased pressure on the kneecap.
Surgical interventions, such as anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the patient’s own patellar tendon, can also increase the risk of patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Risk factors

Age – Patellofemoral pain syndrome occurs more frequently in young and middle-aged individuals. Knee problems in older adults are more often related to arthritic changes.
Gender – Women are twice as likely to develop patellofemoral pain syndrome compared to men. This may be related to the anatomical structure of the pelvis. A wider pelvis in women affects the angle of the bones crossing above the knee.
Sport type – Sports that require running and jumping can cause additional stress on the knees, especially when training loads increase suddenly.

Treatment and Prevention

Reducing load and using cold therapy (if it provides pain relief) help alleviate initial symptoms. If complaints persist, timely diagnosis and physiotherapeutic intervention are important. Conservative treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome focuses on correcting identified biomechanical deviations, restoring muscle balance, mobilizing the patella, and improving range of motion.

Muscle strengthening – Strong quadriceps and hip abductors help maintain knee stability during physical activity. The therapeutic exercise program should also include quadriceps stretches and exercises that increase pain-free knee joint mobility.
Correction of training and competition technique, especially in sports requiring running, jumping, and quick changes of direction. It is important to strengthen the gluteal muscles and hip external rotators to prevent the knee from collapsing inward during physical activity. This helps keep the patella in its proper track and maintain correct movement patterns. Special attention should be given to proper training and competition technique, muscle strengthening, and moderate load management in young, growing athletes.
Maintaining or reducing body weight if necessary – Overweight increases the load on the knee joints.
Dynamic warm-up exercises before every training session.
Stretching exercises to maintain muscle balance and increase flexibility.
Gradual increase of training load.

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350792

Sakari Orava. Spordivigastused. Tallinna Ülikooli Kirjastus, 2014.

Clients

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Olen käinud seal alates aastast 2021 ja vastuvõtt on alati meeldiv olnud. Kohtasin seal enda lemmikut füsioterapeuti Anastassia Šipilovat, kelle käed teevad (ja aju) imesid. Olgu mure tingitud ülekoormusest, vigastusest või lihtsalt ennetamine, she knows the magic.✨✨ Peale õlaoperatsiooni pani ta mu käe jälle liikuma ja olen tagasi ratta seljas. 🙂 Soovitan Füsioteraapia Kliinikut väga!

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Kõik väga meeldis alustades sisse tulemisest personaal oli väga lahke ja vastutulev. Mina isiklikult käisin Anastassia Šipilova juures millega jäin väga rahule, on näha, et Anastassia läheneb väga individuaalselt ja on enda ala proff.

Käisin visiidil nädala kestnud põlvevaluga. Katre tegi kohe põhjaliku ülevaatuse (testis mobiilsust ja potentsiaalseid vigastusi) ning diagnoosis potentsiaalse probleemi. Edasi tegime erinevaid harjutusi ja määrasime paika raviplaani. Harjutused filmis ta ka üles, et oleks hiljem hea järele vaadata ning saatis mulle koheselt ka videod. Lõpetuseks kinesioteipis ta põlve (lisaks juhendas, kuidas saan seda tulevikus ise teha) ja andis kaasa ka treeningupaela harjutuste tegemiseks. Väga põhjalik, professionaalne ja meeldiv kogemus!

Põlve meniskioperatsioonist taastumine füsioterapeudi Anastassia juures oli väga efektiivne, süstemaatiline, stressivaba ja viis stabiilse eduni. Anastassia optimism, teadmised ja isiksuseomadused ei anna edasi mitte ainult usku, et taastumine on täielik ja ilma jääkpiiranguteta, vaid ka tunnet, et see nii ongi. Soovitan Anastassia juurde kindlasti pöörduda, kui teil on vaja taastuda operatsioonist, vigastusest või lihtsalt nõu saamiseks, püüdes vältida negatiivseid muutusi igapäevaelus või sportides.

About Us

Füsioteraapia Kliinik OÜ is a company established in 2011, whose specialists are recognised Estonian sports physiotherapists.

The clinic’s specialists help find solutions to various musculoskeletal system problems, whether it’s pain limiting daily activities or sports, decreased muscle performance, restricted joint mobility, or other issues.

In practice, the most common reasons for consulting a physiotherapist are muscle tension, pain in the lower back and neck area, as well as painful shoulder and knee joints.