Anterior Knee Pain

Anterior knee pain affects a large amount of the population at any given point. It is especially prevalent in females due to the mechanics of the pelvic structure and its effect on the lower extremity. The formal diagnosis of anterior knee pain can range from meniscal tear, chondromalacia, patellofemoral syndrome to patellar tendonitis. Commonly, however, the term anterior knee pain is used to describe a cluster of symptoms that describes a patient’s subjective complaints as well as objective findings. A patient’s complaints may range from knee stiffness with sitting, a “locking” or “catching” sensation, pain while managing stairs (especially down), pain with running or exercise, and/or generalized aching that seems to localize under the kneecap. Objectively, a patient may present with any of the following findings: weakness of the lower extremity, weakness of core musculature, decreased flexibility of lower extremity musculature, and/or biomechanical faults of the pelvis, leg or foot. Often, it is a combination of these factors that may be contributing to stress and resulting pain at the knee joint.

Anterior knee pain is primarily managed conservatively with the use of anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, and activity modification. At the physician visit, the doctor may order routine x-rays and prescribe medication to decrease pain and inflammation of the knee. The doctor may also feel that the patient may benefit from a referral to a physical therapist to evaluate and address the factors contributing to or causing the pain. The physical therapy evaluation may include a biomechanical evaluation of the entire lower quarter, a strength and flexibility assessment, a footwear assessment and a discussion of your current activities. The MD or PT may recommend temporary activity modification if it is felt that specific activities are delaying recovery. It is important to note, that while knee pain may be affected by exercise, it may not be the most significant cause of knee pain. “Active rest” is often a method in combination with specific therapy exercise in order to return you to your activities.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms or any type of knee pain, please follow up with a health care provider for a detailed evaluation.

Krissy Temporiti, MPT, ATC, CMT and Daphne R. Scott, MSPT, OCS, ATC, Cert. MDT are on staff at Athletico/Bucktown. For more information go to athletico.com