PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME


Aching pain under the knee cap that is made worse by climbing stairs, squatting, jumping, running and / or sitting for prolonged periods of time


WHAT IS IT?

Half of all running injuries are to the knee, and the most common is patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), or "Runner's Knee". PFPS is a condition where the patella (knee cap) does not sit properly within the groove of the femur (thigh bone), and repeated stress causes pain.


SYMPTOMS

PFPS is characterized by aching pain under the knee cap that is made worse by climbing stairs, squatting, jumping, running and /or sitting for prolonged periods of time. When running, the pain usually begins immediately after you stop running and worsens over the next 1-12 hours.


TREATMENT

Quad muscle strengthening has traditionally been done to help stabilize the knee cap within the femoral groove. While most PFPS patients have successful short-term outcomes following this type of rehabilitation, in follow-up studies ranging from 5 to 25 years after rehabilitation, 25-91% of PFPS patients report a return of symptoms. Recent research has clearly pointed to strengthening a key muscle in your hip, the gluteus medius, as a critical step to better control your femur and optimize your rehabilitation.
Check out the Gluteus Medius Strengthening video

SOLE footbeds offer custom-moldable support to aid your recovery.

Our orthotic insoles are recommended by podiatrists to promote neutral alignment and optimize natural biomechanics, distributing pressure and strain efficiently, in the feet and beyond.

Health content provided by Dr. Reed Ferber and the Running Injury Clinic