Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Therapy [Clinical Review Discussion]

The difficulty with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is not arriving at a proper diagnosis; the challenge is choosing a treatment that best addresses the etiology of the problem. Treatment can be aimed at strengthening the quadriceps, reducing foot pronation, lengthening the iliotibial tract or reducing ankle eversion, to name a few. Any of these biomechanical faults, plus many more, have been implicated in the etiology of PFPS although the evidence has not been conclusive as to their validity. The most effective interventions for PFPS must be specifically tailored for the individual patient.

The reader should note there is no treatment option that has clearly demonstrated efficacy through rigorous clinical trials.

Although it is presented as a case series, a comprehensive treatment protocol with very good outcomes was reported by Lowry et al. in 2008. Their study included many of the treatment options mentioned below with excellent descriptions as well as pictures of the interventions (1).