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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 pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others).
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 more knee-friendly sports — such as bicycling and swimming.
Surgical and other procedures
If these measures aren't effective, in rare cases surgery may be an option.
- 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.
- 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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