BLOG: ‘Patellofemoral syndrome’ is a non-specific label that fails to identify pain source
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Recently, a young athletic male patient came in and was treated for “patellofemoral syndrome” for 6 months with no improvements.
After imaging and careful clinical examination, we found a symptomatic articular lesion that required arthroscopic debridement and subsequently yielded a complete relief of pain.
Core stability training helps many patients with patellofemoral pain and functional alignment dysfunction, which would be a better diagnosis than “patellofemoral syndrome,” but this diagnosis may not be appropriate for every patient with anterior knee pain. It is almost always from some specific physical, anatomic, structural, physiologic, kinesiological or functional aberration. As health care professionals, we must be very specific when defining the source of pain. Unfortunately, the term “patellofemoral syndrome” is a blanket, non-specific label, which often fails to identify where the pain is actually coming from.
My patients who have been given this “diagnosis” are usually relieved to find out what actually causes their pain. We do not use the term “patellofemoral syndrome,” and instead define the exact source of pain, which then dictates specific and effective treatment.
“Patellofemoral syndrome” is a little like "internal derangement of the knee" or IDK, which can also stand for: I don't know.
We can and should do better than that in the interest of optimal care for every patient.
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