Experiencing pain at the front of your knees is very common. In fact, it’s the most common place to get pain around the knee. Your symptoms may be coming from a few different structures, but usually they arise from the joint between your knee cap (patella) and your thigh bone (femur). This pain is called patellofemoral pain, and is typically exacerbated by walking downhill or down stairs, running and squatting.

It tends to be the result of an imbalance between muscular and soft tissue structures that causes the patella to track laterally in the groove that it sits in. The good news is that patellofemoral pain can usually be resolved by strengthening your quadriceps and gluteal muscles, while taping has been shown to be effective for early pain relief. There may also be a role for exercises and therapy around your hips and feet, depending on your individual biomechanics and movement patterns.

I am frequently told by clients that they would like to run further or faster but they can’t because their knees get sore. With the right assessment and rehab, this can be overcome and they can achieve their goals.

by Nick Rees, Senior Physiotherapist