Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome causes localized pain around the knee cap (patella) in runners. It is due to abnormal tracking of the knee cap over the thigh bone (femur).

Contributing factors

• Knee alignment (knock knees, bowed legs)
• Reduced ankle flexibilty
• Over pronation
• Under pronation
• Excessive supination
• Quadriceps weakness (vastus medialis endurance)
• Iliotibial band tightness
• Training errors

Symptoms

Pain is normally felt in the front of the knee along the outer borders of the knee cap. Prolonged sitting (knees bent), walking up or down stairs, and running down hill will aggravate this condition by putting more pressure behind the knee cap.

Treatment

• Ice
• Rest
• Stretch (ITB, quadriceps, hamstrings)
• Correct muscle imbalance (vastus lateralis)
• Evaluate footwear
• Orthotics (correct foot mechanics)
• Identify and address training errors (cambered roads)