Chondromalacia Patella

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Definition

Chondromalacia patella is a wearing down of the cartilage around the kneecap.

Chondromalacia of the Knee

Causes

This problem may happen due to overuse. It may also happen when a kneecap is not in line.

Risk Factors

This problem is more common in women. It is also more common in people under 40 years of age who are very active. The risk is greater in athletes, such as runners.

Other things that may raise the risk are:

Poor training techniques, such as adding mileage too quickly
A change in training surfaces
Focusing on a single sport rather than cross training
Having muscles that are not balanced

Symptoms

Problems may be:

Knee pain that is worse with use, such as when running or using stairs
Pain that has gotten worse over time
A cracking sound when moving the knee
Pain and stiffness in the knee after sitting for a long time

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms, health history, and the activities that you do. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the knee. This is enough to make the diagnosis.

Treatment

The goal is to ease pain, improve motion, and stop or slow the problem from getting worse. This may be done with:

Home care, rest, and medicine to ease pain and swelling
Exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles in the leg
Crutches to keep weight off the leg
A brace to keep the knee and foot from moving

Some people may need surgery, but it is not common.

Prevention

The risk of this problem may be lowered by:

Raising activity levels slowly
Varying activities rather than focusing on one
Using the right techniques when playing sports
Doing exercises that stretch and strengthen the leg muscles
Wearing proper sports shoes or corrective footwear

RESOURCES:

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmed.org

OrthoInfo—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://orthoinfo.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org

References:

Knee pain. Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated January 2020. Accessed March 30, 2020.

Lester JD, Watson JN, et al. Physical examination of the patellofemoral joint. Clin Sports Med. 2014 Jul;33(3):403-412.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome . Updated November 6, 2019. Accessed March 30, 2020.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner's knee). Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed March 30, 2020.

Runner's knee (patellofemoral pain). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome/. Updated February 2015. Accessed March 30, 2020.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Teresa Briedwell, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Last Updated: 3/30/2020

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