Anterior knee pain: the challenge of patellofemoral syndrome.

Pain in the anterior region of the knee is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints in children, adolescents and adults. Difficult and frustrating for the patient to endure, the disorder is also difficult for the physician to manage. The precipitating events and the location and duration of the pain are important factors in narrowing the differential diagnosis. A detailed physical examination further aids in the differential diagnosis. The treatment and rehabilitation of patellofemoral dysfunction, the most common cause of anterior knee pain, has four phases--acute, subacute, chronic and maintenance. These phases involve medication, a structured knee exercise program and activity modification before returning to normal activity. More than 80 percent of patients with patellofemoral dysfunction respond well to a nonsurgical approach.