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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment of patellofemoral pain often begins with simple measures. Rest your knee as much as possible. Avoid any activities that increase the pain, such as climbing stairs.
Medications
If needed, take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen (Aleve).
Therapy
A physical therapist may suggest:
- Rehabilitation exercises. Specific exercises can strengthen the muscles that support your knees and control limb alignment, such as your quadriceps, hamstrings and the muscles around your hips (especially the hip abductors).
- Supportive braces. Knee braces or arch supports may help protect your joint and improve the alignment of your kneecap.
- Taping. Your physical therapist may show you how to tape your knee to reduce pain and enhance your ability to exercise.
- Ice. Icing your knee after exercise may be especially helpful.
- Knee-friendly sports. During your recovery, you may want to restrict your activities to sports that are easier on the knees — such as bicycling and swimming.
Surgical and other procedures
If nonsurgical treatments aren't effective, your doctor might suggest:
- Arthroscopy. During this procedure, the doctor inserts an arthroscope — a pencil-thin device equipped with a camera lens and light — into your knee through a tiny incision. Surgical instruments are passed through the arthroscope to remove fragments of damaged cartilage.
- Realignment. In more-severe cases, a surgeon may need to operate on your knee to realign the angle of the kneecap or relieve pressure on the cartilage.
References
- Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1678/0.html. Accessed Dec. 5, 2012.
- O'Connor FG, et al. Patellofemoral pain syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/index.html. Accessed Dec. 5, 2012.
- Runner's knee (Patellofemoral pain). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00382. Accessed Dec. 5, 2012.
- Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2013: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-08373-7..00002-9&isbn=978-0-323-08373-7&about=true&uniqId=343863096-23. Accessed Dec. 5, 2012.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 6, 2012.
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