With so many moving parts that make up your knee joints, it鈥檚 often difficult to pinpoint the exact source of your knee pain. At the first sign of discomfort, you must receive an accurate diagnosis from a pain doctor in Manhattan at 杏吧原创. Patellofemoral pain syndrome is one of those conditions that often gets overlooked or misdiagnosed. Avoid painful treatments, surgery and other invasive plans by seeking treatment from pain doctors that not only correctly diagnose your condition, but offer safe, non-invasive treatments to ease your pain.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome occurs when you experience pain around and under your kneecap, which is called the patella. It鈥檚 a condition that affects children, teenagers and adults, and it can occur in one knee or both knees. It鈥檚 also known as jumper鈥檚 knee or runner鈥檚 knee.
Have your knee evaluated by a pain management doctor in New York whenever you have knee pain that:
- Lingers for more than a few days
- Hurts more after exercising
- Worsens after sitting for long periods of time

At our NYC pain relief center, you鈥檙e under the care of experienced knee pain doctors. They diagnose the cause of your pain and recommend an effective plan for patellofemoral pain syndrome treatment. Don鈥檛 settle for simply masking your pain when you can receive interventional treatment from doctors using modern diagnostic equipment and current pain treatment options.
Symptoms of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
The most common symptom of patellofemoral pain syndrome is a dull, aching pain in the front of your knee that begins gradually and seems to be activity-related. Other symptoms of this condition include:
- Pain after sitting with your knees in a bent position for a long period of time
- Pain during activities that require bending your knee constantly, such as climbing stairs, jumping or squatting
- New pain that develops while doing your normal sporting activities such as running, cycling or playing basketball or tennis
- A sensation of worsening pain as the intensity of your activity increases
- Cracking, grinding or popping sounds when standing up after sitting for a period of time or when squatting, climbing stairs or straightening a bent knee
- Tenderness in the kneecap when touched
Many of the symptoms of patellofemoral pain syndrome resemble other possible knee problems. So seek a diagnosis as soon as knee pain first begins to prevent aggravating the condition. When you鈥檙e experiencing discomfort, pain or instability in your knee, you must obtain an accurate diagnosis by consulting a pain management doctor in NYC.
Causes and Risk Factors for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Sports that require a lot of running and jumping put repeated stress on your kneecap or irritation under it. Overuse of the knee joint or weak muscles around your knee can also lead to this syndrome. If you鈥檝e experienced a trauma to your knee, such as a dislocation or a fracture, get medical help. If the muscles around your kneecap don鈥檛 keep it properly aligned, your risk of developing patellofemoral pain syndrome increases.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is usually associated with teens or young adults because the older you get, the more likely it is that your knee pain is related to arthritis. Additionally, teens and young women usually don鈥檛 have sufficient muscle mass to sufficiently support certain activities. Women are more likely to develop patellofemoral pain syndrome than men. This tendency appears to be related to the way a woman鈥檚 wider pelvis increases the angle where the bones of the knee joint meet.
Treatment for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome treatment starts with discontinuing activities that may be causing pain, such as jumping or running. Interventional therapies that your pain doctor may suggest include rest, ice and elevation, which may help to reduce your discomfort. Other treatment options for relieving patellofemoral pain include:
- Physical therapy. When overseen by a trained physical therapist, various stretching and strengthening exercises can improve the functionality of the muscles around your knee. The goal is to improve endurance, strength and range of motion, while correcting any muscle imbalances. Taping your knee may help to reduce pain and improve your ability to exercise.
- Orthotic inserts. Special shoe inserts provide arch support. They鈥檙e custom-made to stabilize and align your ankle and foot, which also serve to stabilize your kneecap.
- Corticosteroid injections. Knee injections may be used to relieve pain if there is significant inflammation. This provides relief on a temporary basis, as the effect of the injection lasts between several week s and several months, but it gives you time to strengthen your knee through treatments such as physical therapy.
Don鈥檛 ignore your symptoms because they鈥檙e likely to get worse over time if untreated. And you risk further knee injuries if you don鈥檛 get medical attention. The best patellofemoral pain syndrome treatment is based on a variety of factors including your age, your overall health and the intensity of your pain. Contact the expert pain management doctors at 杏吧原创 to find out the best treatment options for you.