Anterior Knee Pain

09 Jan Anterior Knee Pain

Have you ever experienced pain around or under your kneecap?  This pain is also known as anterior knee pain or specifically as patellofemoral joint pain (PFJP)

PFJP is incredibly common with higher prevalence in females and typically associated with non traumatic causes such as running with pain localised to the anterior/front of the knee. 

What is the cause of PFJ pain?

There are a number of factors that can contribute to patellofemoral pain.  

This can boil down to an increase or decrease in loading, changes in training, alignment of joints, influence of the back, hip and ankle, previous injuries above or below the knee, muscle imbalances and mobility at your foot and ankle. Fundamentally, changes in activity and physiological factors play the biggest roles in the onset of pain.

What are the best treatments for PFJ pain?

Treatment changes from client to client (because it needs to be individualised to you!) But treatments may consist of hip or gluteal strengthening exercises, quadricep or thigh strengthening exercises, taping or bracing of the knee and mobility exercises for the foot, hip or ankle.

Recovering from PFJ pain

The expected time of recovery will vary for everyone as we are all different and in different stages of the injury.  However, most people will start to notice significant improvement within 4-6 weeks after initiation of treatment.  The key to success is consistent rehabilitation initially aimed at a reduction in symptoms and progressing to address the fundamental components influencing your injury (and why it happened in the first place). 

With consistency in a home exercise program, you’ll feel as good as new in no time!