Patellofemoral pain syndrome is one of the most common disorders of the knee. It is usually characterized by pain in or around the patella (kneecap). The pain is usually more noticeable when going up or down stairs, squatting, kneeling or running. It can also be aggravated by long periods of sitting with knees bent. Swelling is not a common feature of this disorder.
The pain associated with this condition is usually the result of the patella not tracking smoothly on the underlying bone (femur) when the knee is bent and straightened. There are usually a combination of factors that contribute to cause patello-femoral pain syndrome.
