Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffDoctors aren't certain what actually causes patellofemoral pain syndrome, but it's been associated with:
- Overuse. Repetitive stress on your knee joint — such as that sustained during running or jumping sports — may result in patellofemoral pain.
- Misaligned bones. Patellofemoral pain can occur if the bones in your knee or foot aren't aligned properly.
- Injury. Trauma to the kneecap, such as a dislocation or fracture, has been linked to patellofemoral pain syndrome.
References
- Hudgins TH. Patellofemoral syndrome. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/203760062-4/1007205249/1678/68.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50067-5--cesec14_1089. Accessed June 1, 2010.
- O'Connor FG, et al. Patellofemoral pain syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 1, 2010.
- Runner's knee (Patellofemoral pain). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00382. Accessed June 2, 2010.

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