Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPS), known as “runner’s knee,” in layman’s terms, is when the front of your knee and kneecap hurt. People who run every day or engage in sports or activities requiring jumps and impact experience it the most. Daily life motions, such as running, usage of stairs, or even sitting for an extended period of time, can all enhance the pain. Normally rest, ice, elevation, and compression can remedy the pain. Sometimes, physical therapy is needed to subdue the pain. While there is no certain answer for why patellofemoral pain happens, it is attributed with over usage, lack of muscle or muscle misalignment, previous kneecap injury, or simply knee surgery. More specifically, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair or reconstruction when your own kneecap tendon is used as the graft. Runner’s knee is most common in teenagers and young adults with women having a higher chance of developing it. As women tend to have a wider pelvis than men, the angle of the bones meeting in the knee joint is increased, increasing the likelihood of developing patellofemoral pain syndrome.