Summary of Research on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

[Guest guest]

Dear Chondromalacia Community,

I've had knee pain for almost three years. At first I thought I had

Chondromalacia Patella (CP), but now I think I have Patellofemoral

Pain Syndrome (PFPS).

I also have a masters degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford

University. Before I graduated, I wanted to learn more about my

knee condition, so I took a class on biomechanics. For my final

paper, I read a large number of current research articles on PFPS,

and then I co-wrote a literature review---a summary of published

medical research---on PFPS.

Today I posted that summary to this group, under " Files " , in the

hopes that people who want to learn more about CP and PFPS will find

it useful.

[Guest guest]

Whoa, I hadn't heard of this before... I just came across this

reading on the net:

Anterior knee pain is often diagnosed as chondromalacia patella(2).

This diagnosis is only correct when a softened and fissured patellar

under-surface is seen during diagnostic imaging or surgery(2).

Often, no cartilaginous pathological findings are present in

patients who otherwise complain of severe knee pain and functional

disability, especially during prolonged sitting, stair climbing or

sporting activities.

http://www.bfe.org/protocol/pro01eng.htm

Does that mean many of us don't have CP, that we may have

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?

> Dear Chondromalacia Community,

>

> I've had knee pain for almost three years. At first I thought I

had

> Chondromalacia Patella (CP), but now I think I have Patellofemoral

> Pain Syndrome (PFPS).

>

> I also have a masters degree in mechanical engineering from

Stanford

> University. Before I graduated, I wanted to learn more about my

> knee condition, so I took a class on biomechanics. For my final

> paper, I read a large number of current research articles on PFPS,

> and then I co-wrote a literature review---a summary of published

> medical research---on PFPS.

>

> Today I posted that summary to this group, under " Files " , in the

> hopes that people who want to learn more about CP and PFPS will

find

> it useful.

>

>

[Guest guest]

As I understand it, CP (or at least using the " new wave " definition

of CP) is a subset of PFPS or PFS. So you can conceivably have PFPS

without having CP. But if you have CP, then you automatically have

PFPS.

In practice, since there isn't any " language police " that enforces

consistent, unchanging definitions, a lot of doctors (especially

older doctors) still use " CP " to describe what the newer literature

describes variously as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) OR

Patellofemoral Syndrome (PFS), Patella Femoral Syndrome (also PFS),

or as just Anterior Knee Pain. Anyway, in my opinion, the best

approach is not to get too hung-up on what the definitions ought to

be and instead do google.com and pubmed.com searches using ALL of the

above terms. Otherwise you will miss out.

BTW, a couple of new articles that just got put on the web:

http://www.physsportsmed.com/cover.htm

http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2004/0704/labotz_pa.htm

> > Dear Chondromalacia Community,

> >

> > I've had knee pain for almost three years. At first I thought I

> had

> > Chondromalacia Patella (CP), but now I think I have

Patellofemoral

> > Pain Syndrome (PFPS).

> >

> > I also have a masters degree in mechanical engineering from

> Stanford

> > University. Before I graduated, I wanted to learn more about my

> > knee condition, so I took a class on biomechanics. For my final

> > paper, I read a large number of current research articles on

PFPS,

> > and then I co-wrote a literature review---a summary of published

> > medical research---on PFPS.

> >

> > Today I posted that summary to this group, under " Files " , in the

> > hopes that people who want to learn more about CP and PFPS will

> find

> > it useful.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I didn't see the original posts that is replying to, but it's interesting

that in '95 when I had crippling ITBS pain and got an LR, my OS found (and I

have this on videotape) that the underside of my kneecap was " broken up " ,

" crazed " , or, I suppose it could possibly have been called " fissured " , though

not deeply. Its integrity has held up -- it hasn't fallen into 96 small pieces

on me. The OS who did my January '04 surgery (for torn meniscus and CP) didn't

say anything about the kneecap having a raku look, and from what I can discern

from the photos he gave me, it seems to have gone away. But I didn't think such

a thing could happen.

Ann

Re: Summary of Research on Patellofemoral

Pain Syndrome

As I understand it, CP (or at least using the " new wave " definition

of CP) is a subset of PFPS or PFS. So you can conceivably have PFPS

without having CP. But if you have CP, then you automatically have

PFPS.

In practice, since there isn't any " language police " that enforces

consistent, unchanging definitions, a lot of doctors (especially

older doctors) still use " CP " to describe what the newer literature

describes variously as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) OR

Patellofemoral Syndrome (PFS), Patella Femoral Syndrome (also PFS),

or as just Anterior Knee Pain. Anyway, in my opinion, the best

approach is not to get too hung-up on what the definitions ought to

be and instead do google.com and pubmed.com searches using ALL of the

above terms. Otherwise you will miss out.

BTW, a couple of new articles that just got put on the web:

http://www.physsportsmed.com/cover.htm

http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2004/0704/labotz_pa.htm

> > Dear Chondromalacia Community,

> >

> > I've had knee pain for almost three years. At first I thought I

> had

> > Chondromalacia Patella (CP), but now I think I have

Patellofemoral

> > Pain Syndrome (PFPS).

> >

> > I also have a masters degree in mechanical engineering from

> Stanford

> > University. Before I graduated, I wanted to learn more about my

> > knee condition, so I took a class on biomechanics. For my final

> > paper, I read a large number of current research articles on

PFPS,

> > and then I co-wrote a literature review---a summary of published

> > medical research---on PFPS.

> >

> > Today I posted that summary to this group, under " Files " , in the

> > hopes that people who want to learn more about CP and PFPS will

> find

> > it useful.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

When I saw this quote--

" Patients will sometimes report that the pain seems to be coming

from " behind the kneecap. " An early clue to a diagnosis is to ask

the patient to point with one finger to the spot of maximal pain.

Patients with PFS are often unable to pinpoint pain and instead will

rub the front of their knees and complain of diffuse... "

I thought Yes! Yes! That's what I feel, docs kept asking me to point

to a specific area and I'd rub my whole knee and say behind the

kneecap. But, all articles on the web say the same thing all docs

tell me- physical therapy.

> > > Dear Chondromalacia Community,

> > >

> > > I've had knee pain for almost three years. At first I thought

I

> > had

> > > Chondromalacia Patella (CP), but now I think I have

> Patellofemoral

> > > Pain Syndrome (PFPS).

> > >

> > > I also have a masters degree in mechanical engineering from

> > Stanford

> > > University. Before I graduated, I wanted to learn more about

my

> > > knee condition, so I took a class on biomechanics. For my

final

> > > paper, I read a large number of current research articles on

> PFPS,

> > > and then I co-wrote a literature review---a summary of

published

> > > medical research---on PFPS.

> > >

> > > Today I posted that summary to this group, under " Files " , in

the

> > > hopes that people who want to learn more about CP and PFPS

will

> > find

> > > it useful.

> > >

> > >