Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
Basics
Description
- Pain in or around the patella that is aggravated with increased patellar loading (e.g., prolonged sitting, squatting, kneeling, or ascending/descending stairs); not attributable to other causes
- Synonyms: anterior knee or retropatellar pain syndrome, chondromalacia patellae, runner’s knee
- System(s) affected: musculoskeletal
Epidemiology
Prevalence
Etiology and Pathophysiology
Increased patellofemoral joint loading, which is often multifactorial (3):
- Patellar malalignment or maltracking (3)
- Abnormal anatomy (e.g., patella alta, trochlear dysplasia) (3)
- Quadriceps asymmetry, weakness and/or tightness (3)
- Hamstring tightness (3)
- Laxity of the patellofemoral joint or a tight lateral retinaculum (3)
- Increased hip joint internal rotation (3)
- Altered tibiofemoral joint mechanics (3)
Risk Factors
- Activities such as running, squatting, and climbing up and down stairs
- Sudden increase in activities
- Female gender
- Dynamic valgus
- Patellar instability
- Quadriceps weakness
- Foot abnormalities (e.g., pes pronatus, rearfoot eversion) (1)
- In adolescents: increased hip adduction strength, although this may represent increased activity level
- Factors of uncertain significance: age, height, weight, body mass index, body fat, Q angle, and hip weakness
General Prevention
Strengthening and stretching exercises, particularly hip abductors and terminal extension of the quadriceps
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Overuse injury
- Knee ligament injury/surgery
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Prolonged synovitis
- Iliotibial band friction syndrome
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688808/all/Patellofemoral_Pain_Syndrome__PFPS_.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688808/all/Patellofemoral_Pain_Syndrome__PFPS_. Accessed December 12, 2024.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688808/all/Patellofemoral_Pain_Syndrome__PFPS_
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 December 12]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688808/all/Patellofemoral_Pain_Syndrome__PFPS_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
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BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688808/all/Patellofemoral_Pain_Syndrome__PFPS_
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