Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome is a kind of knee pain.

 Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome is a kind of knee pain.

Knee pain can be caused by a variety of structures and in a variety of ways. The disorder known as Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is extremely painful. It is the most frequent overuse condition affecting athletes, with 25% of the general population experiencing it at some point. PFPS can be treated conservatively with suitable physiotherapy (physical therapy) methods and exercises, despite its debilitating nature.

The knee is a basic hinge joint with a few minor accessory motions. It primarily extends and flexes the knee, which is made up of the Femur (thigh bone) above and the Tibia (shin bone) below.

The knee joint has a tiny rotating component and some glides forward and backward between the Femoral Condyles and the Tibia-created platform.

The Patella (knee cap) is linked to the Tibial Tuberosity on the Tibia (shin) through the Patella's tendon.

The knee joint is one of the most complicated structures in the human body, even though it generates a simple movement when in use. This intricacy increases the risk of harm while also making diagnosis difficult for medical personnel.

What is PFPS, and what does it mean?

Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is a painful disorder that occurs when the patella (knee cap) scrapes on the femur (thigh bone), causing pain and swelling. The Patella is designed to glide over the Femur, and it has a firm, glossy surface on both sides of the bones to help it do so. The firm, glossy surface, known as Hyaline Cartilage, minimizes friction at the site of contact.

Things can, however, go awry.

What are the causes of PFPS?

The Patella bears a "V" shape on the underside that matches a reciprocal groove in the Femur.

The Patella glides across the Femur as the knee is extended and flexed, following the line of this groove that runs from the front of the Femur to under the distal Femur. The Patella sits at the top of the groove when standing, but when the knee is bent, such as when squatting, the angle of the Femur changes, and the Patella rests more on the underside of the Femur.

If this process works well and there is no stress to either bone surface, everything is OK. Several factors, however, may influence the outcome. These are some of them:

• biomechanical variables
• overuse considerations 
• muscular factors

1- Factors affecting biomechanics

Among the biomechanical aspects, the following are some of the more prevalent concerns in the literature:

• Patella tilted in a different way
• Mal-tracking of the patella Rotation of the patella
• Changed Q angle
• Flat feet or overpronated feet are referred to as Pes Planus.
• Pes Cavus - supinated foot with a high arch.
• Knee valgus or varus - bow legged or knock knees

The contact area between the Patella and the Femur is reduced when the Patella is tilted or rotated. This causes a "hot point" of pressure, which causes the hyaline cartilage to wear unnaturally over time.

Mal-tracking of the Patella happens when the Patella does not track precisely in the groove of the Femur for several causes. The Patella most typically tracks laterally (towards the outside of the knee), generating friction between the Patella's undersurface and the rough ridge of the Femoral Condyles.

A biomechanical reason has been proposed, particularly in females, as an altered Q angle.

About the vertical, this is the angle formed by the breadth of the hips and the alignment of the knees. It is thought that a high Q angle increases the lateral pull on the patella.

Some believe Pes Planus and Pes Cavus have an influence on the knees. Biomechanical influences are thought to alter Patello-Femoral function, resulting in PFPS.

Knee Valgus and Varus, on the other hand, may have a role in Patello-Femoral function.

2. Muscle-Related Factors

Muscles pull on the bones to move them. It is hypothesized that if the Quadriceps Muscles pull on the Patella unevenly, the Patello-Femoral function would be altered.

The most frequent argument for PFPS is because the Vastus Medialis Obliques muscle is weak, and so does not balance the pull of the other Quad muscles, causing the Patella to move laterally.

Many people believe that tightness or muscular imbalance in any of the leg muscles is an In order to move the bones, muscles pull on them.

While it must be understood that multifactoral reasons may exist in any one individual and that causes may differ between individuals, medical experts have presented far too many "red Herrings" in an honest endeavor to address PFPS. Trial and error appear to be the norm, but for the wounded person, this may be costly, time-consuming, and irritating.

Some things to ask yourself if you're going through this trial and error process with your knee pain:

Was the knee discomfort caused by a single traumatic incident or did it develop gradually?

Is there a difference in pain severity from day to day, or even from time to time?

Are there accompanying symptoms in the same leg, such as stiffness, heaviness, cramps, and so on, or do the locations of pain fluctuate slightly?

Is it tough to pinpoint the symptoms?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, there may be a single cause and hence a straightforward solution!

Keith Waldon has worked in professional sport for nearly forty years as a player, coach, instructor, physiotherapist, and sports therapist. He has lectured on injury treatment at Portsmouth University and has extensive expertise in a wide range of sports. For several years, Keith has run his own chain of sports injury clinics. This experience inspired him to co-author and design a degree program in sports injury treatment and rehabilitation. Keith is at the vanguard of a movement to make the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree available in numerous institutions across the United Kingdom. Keith's overarching belief is that everyone should have access to the same level of therapy and recovery that professional athletes receive.